LPGA and NBC call audible to get Lottie Woad's potential history-making final round on linear TV broadcast
Paul Devlin
British star Lottie Woad is in position to win her first event as a professional, and the potential of her bright future caused the LPGA and its television partners to change their coverage plans on Sunday for the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.
There was no linear television coverage scheduled for the final round at Dundonald Links, and now there will be two hours of live TV on CNBC, timed to match the closing holes of the leaders from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. EST.
Woad, 21, shot a five-under 67 in Saturday’s third round to remain the leader at 17 under. She holds a two-shot lead over Sei Young Kim and Nanna Korestz Madsen. Hyo Joo Kim is three shots back at 14 under, and World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot a 70 to be five shots behind.
The championship appears to be a five-woman race, but only one player caused plans to be changed; Woad.
New LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler, who has officially been on the job for just nine days, saw an opportunity to put the newest superstar on his tour into an international spotlight in the final round. Earlier this month, Woad captured the Ladies European Tour’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open by six shots while still playing as an amateur.
With a win in the Scottish Open, Woad would become the first golfer since Rose Zhang at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open to triumph in her professional debut. Before that, it had been 72 years since Beverly Hanson won in her pro debut in 1951.
“We were keeping a close eye on how the tournament was shaping up, and with Lottie in the lead in her pro debut, we knew we had something special,” Kessler said in a statement to Golf Digest. “We worked with our partners at NBC and Golf Channel, who worked with CNBC to add another way for fans to watch the finish.”
Korda didn’t have this kind of fanfare when she made her first start as a professional in 2016, which was on the LPGA’s developmental Symetra Tour.
“That was so long ago. Gosh, this is my 10th year on tour …” Korda said on Saturday. “Obviously my professional debut was not as in the limelight like her. But for her to succeed and to be leading the event is pretty special.”
Korda tied for 18th in her debut and would go on to win an event in Sioux Falls four months later.
Woad is playing nearly mistake-free golf, with just two bogeys in 54 holes.
“I think I've been pretty solid tee-to-green,” Woad said. “I hit a lot of greens again and probably the best tee-to-green compared to the last two days. Just didn't hole maybe as many putts but generally had hit a lot of good putts. So can't complain too much.
Woad—the former No. 1-ranked amateur in the world and a six-time winner in college at Florida State—has been on plenty of big stages. They include capturing the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Next week, Woad will make her first major start as a pro in the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. She tied for 10th in the Women’s Open last year.
It’s a lot of pressure for Woad, who turned pro after she finished tied for third at the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this month and earned the final point in the LEAP (LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway) program to earn her LPGA Tour card.
That effort to get to 20 points to earn her tour card came with a lot of hype, too.
“I don't think it's too different,” Woad said. “I feel like there's a lot of attention kind of leading up with me trying to get my points. So this kind of feels a bit more free now that I've got my card.”