Young star missed out on nearly HALF A MILLION in prize money because she was an amateur

GOLF prodigy Lottie Woad has beaten the world’s top golfers to win her very first event as a professional.

Woad, 21, takes home £223,000 for winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open – after missing out on nearly HALF A MILLION in prize money because she was an amateur

Lottie Woad celebrates victory at the Women’s Scottish OpenCredit: Getty

Lottie Woad tees off on the 13th hole at DundonaldCredit: Getty

England’s Lottie Woad has missed out on nearly half a million pounds in prize moneyCredit: PA

Woad shot a final round of 68 at Dundonald Links to beat a star-studded field – that included World No1 Nelly Korda – by three strokes.

She entered the final round with a two-stroke lead and made birdies on the second, third, 13th and 14th before hitting a bogey on the 16th.

Woad made par on the 17th before a pinpoint approach set up a birdie on the 18th to wrap up the title

She turned pro last week after a remarkable month.

She TWICE had to turn down huge cash prizes because the rules of golf mean she cannot take prize money while still an amateur.

Woad claimed her maiden Ladies European Tour triumph at the Irish Open, and took third place finish at the Evian Championship.

At the start of July Woad won the Women’s Irish Open by six shots but because she was an amateur, she couldn’t receive the £58,000 prize.

Woad then missed out on £400,000 in prize money for coming third at the Evian Championship, the fourth women’s major of the year.

She finished just a shot outside the play-off won by Grace Kim – and a £1million first prize.

Woad was ecstatic after her win in Scotland.

She said on Sky Sports: “It’s a pretty good outcome, I guess.

“Definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event, but I knew I was playing well so I was kind of hoping to contend.

“I played really solid today. Links golf is really fun, don’t get to play it too often. This is my first time playing links golf since the Open last year. I wasn’t exactly sure how it would go, but it went fine.”

Woad, from Farnham, Surrey, turned professional just a week ago after a spectacular career as an amateur golfer.

She won the 2022 Girls Amateur Championship, then followed that up with victory at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur last year.

The last time a player won on their professional Ladies European Tour debut was Singapore’s Shannon Tan at the 2024 Magical Kenya Ladies Open.

Lottie Woad celebrates winning the Women’s Irish OpenCredit: Sportsfile