Lottie Woad is back at the Amundi Evian Championship for the first time since the tied-third finish here last summer that secured her LPGA Tour card and sent her into the professional ranks. Twelve months on, the 22-year-old from Farnham returns a two-time LPGA winner with a maiden Solheim Cup on the horizon.
Woad’s week at Evian in 2025 was the pivotal point of her career. She finished tied-third, a single stroke out of the playoff and one shot away from becoming the first amateur to win a women’s major in 58 years. The result banked the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway points she needed, and she turned professional days later — going on to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open on her professional debut and the Kroger Queen City Championship this May.
This is the first course she has returned to all season, and she said the familiarity is welcome after a year of new venues. “It feels like the longest year probably ever,” Woad said, reflecting on how much has changed since she earned her card at Evian. “It’s nice to come back somewhere that I played before.”
Family week in the Alps
Woad has her whole family with her in Evian, including her younger sister Millie, who — Woad noted with some amusement — is not enjoying the heat and was less than thrilled about a 7:30am tee time. The group is staying locally, walking to dinner and, by Woad’s account, working through the town’s ice cream supply most evenings. She said Evian feels more like home than the courses she plays in the United States.
There was a lighter aside, too: spotted around town in an England shirt during the World Cup, Woad admitted to drawing a few looks from the locals — and did not rule out an England–France final.
Solheim Cup on the horizon
The forward marker for Woad is her first Solheim Cup, with European qualification closing after the AIG Women’s Open at the end of July. She said the prospect has been a source of extra motivation, particularly with this year’s match staged in Europe. “Obviously always wanted to play in the Solheim Cup,” she said. “This one being in Europe definitely was extra motivation.”
Advice for the next one through
Woad also finds herself in a role she occupied a year ago from the other side. Amateur Kiara Romero arrives at Evian on 19 LEAP points, needing to make the cut to reach the 20 that would earn her an LPGA card — the exact position Woad was in last summer. Woad’s advice was simple: “You’ve got to try and put it out of your mind as much as possible.” She added that she was certain Romero would get there, and cautioned against treating any single week as the week.
The Amundi Evian Championship runs 9–12 July at Evian Resort Golf Club, with two new bunkers added at the 18th among the changes to the course this year. UK coverage is live on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage begins Thursday from 6-11 a.m. ET on Golf Channel and continues from 11 a.m. ET until 12 p.m. ET on Golf Channel mobile for US readers.
For Round 1 Tee-Times – https://amundi.evianchampionship.com/tee-time
Round 1 Leaderboard – https://amundi.evianchampionship.com/leaderboard
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