Lottie Wood sparks ‘rock star’ status after thrilling Scottish Open comeback win golf news

Lottie Wade returned to the scene to win her stunning debut as a professional to defend the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open this week.

Last year, the then 21-year-old took a two-shot lead into the final day at Dundonald Links, holding off Hyo Joo Kim and the chasing pack to win the title.

In doing so, Wade became just the third player in LPGA Tour history to win her first professional start, following Rose Zhang in 2023 and Beverly Hanson in 1951.

“I didn’t appreciate it at the time, obviously my first event,” Wade said ahead of his return this week – the Scottish Open, live on Sky Sports Golf Thursday from 9.30 am.

“I didn’t know what to expect. But now that I’m playing every week and playing with the same people and obviously seeing how good everyone is, it definitely feels more special now.

“Excited to be back. It’s a little different than last year, I’ve got the family here too. It’s going to be a fun week.”

Wade’s victory in 2025 was exactly what he described, specifically, seeing him immediately deliver his long-time talent that shined as an amateur into the pro ranks.

Her name first appeared on the radar in May 2022 when she made her Ladies European Tour debut with a 10th-place finish at the Madrid Open, before enrolling at Florida State where she was the WGCA Freshman of the Year, a junior FSU Female Athlete of the Year and the ACC Golfer of the Year.

She continued her rise by winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April 2024, while she later claimed the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and was named the world’s top amateur by Mark H. McCormack became the first English woman to win the medal.

She was the leading amateur when she finished tied for 10th at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, after her Scottish Open win last year was followed by a maiden LET win at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and a narrow miss of making history as an amateur at the Amundi Evian Championship.

That tie-third finish followed further major top-10s at the 2025 Women’s Open (eighth) and 2026 Chevron Championship (seventh), while she held half the lead at the 2026 Evian Championship before fading to a tie-16th finish two weeks ago.

The 22-year-old is already an impressive fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, registering a second LPGA Tour win at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May.

“It’s definitely been a long year,” Wade reflected. “I played a lot of golf, got a lot of new experiences.

“I’ve definitely learned a few things this year.

“It’s nice to be back where I guess it all started, here’s my professional debut. I’m happy with the way I’m playing.

“At Evian, it wasn’t the weekend I wanted there. But I’m trying to take what I can from there, still playing good golf but also learning.”

During Wade’s Scottish Open win last year that launched her professional career, she was grouped with world number one Nellie Korda.

“He’s not afraid to compete against the biggest names in the game,” Sky Sports Golf Dame Laura Davies at the time. “He has every part of his game and his results already suggest he has all the qualities to be a future rockstar.”

And ‘rock star’ Wade could be in the headlines this time as he once again teams up with Korda and Hull for the first two rounds of his title defense at Dundonald Links.

Not that the humble Wade sees it that way.

Speaking of Korda, who this year doubled her career major tally to four with wins at Chevron and the US Women’s Open, Wade said: “I think every event that she’s at, she’s the person that everybody’s coming to see. She’s No. 1 in the world.”

“Last year I was playing with him and we got a really big crowd. Playing with him again this year so I expect it to be the same.

“I expect it to be the same as last year.”

Who will win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open? Watch exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf from 23-26 July. Get Sky Sports or Flow without any contract.