Lottie Woad has been named the winner of the Performance of the Year Award at the 2026 England Golf Awards, recognising a season that has firmly established her as one of the most exciting young talents in world golf.
The reigning 2025 winner of this award, Woad continued her remarkable ascent throughout 2025-26, delivering world‑class performances across professional, amateur and collegiate golf.
Ranked the World No. 1 Amateur for much of the season, she displayed exceptional consistency, competitive maturity and an ability to rise to the biggest moments.
Her year was defined by two landmark victories that captured global attention. Still an amateur, she claimed the Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour, before producing a stunning triumph at the Scottish Open on the LPGA Tour in her debut event as a professional — an achievement that immediately underlined her readiness for the highest level of the game.
Woad also excelled on the major championship stage, finishing a superb 3rd at the Evian Championship as an amateur and securing a tied-31st finish at the US Women’s Open, one of the sport’s most demanding tests.
Her season featured further standout performances while representing her teams with distinction: winning the Arnold Palmer Cup for the Rest of the World team, helping Great Britain & Ireland win the Vagliano Trophy, and representing Europe in the Patsy Hankins Trophy.
Her award recognises a season of exceptional achievement, global impact and a trajectory that continues to inspire the next generation of golfers.
Father Nick Woad, who accepted the award with wife Rachel on Lottie’s behalf at the Awards, said: “This award will mean a huge amount to Lottie. She obviously had a fabulous year, but going back, she was always hugely proud to play for England. The England Golf Performance Pathway was a huge part of developing her as a player and a person. And she knows that she owes an awful a lot for her place in the game to England Golf and is hugely appreciative to all the coaches and the staff as she wouldn’t be where she is now without them.
“She's just got back from Singapore, back to Florida, but she's told us on the phone earlier, she's back to practice tomorrow - that's our Lottie!”
Lottie's mum Rachel added: “We’re incredibly proud of Lottie. She's had an amazing year. The summer was just phenomenal to watch. Of course, she was chasing her LPGA card, but she delivered beyond that. She went to the Evian chasing a top-25 place to get the card, but that's not Lottie – she wanted to win it, and that's how she went out and played.
“And then of course, going to the Irish Open and winning that against some very top players. It was absolutely amazing to watch her win in Scotland and to do it in such a composed way. Watching how the crowd were reacting to her and cheering her on and the sense of pride that you've got of everybody watching your daughter willing her to succeed.
“She made an amazing decision actually on the 18th and she laid up after watching a number of people go over the green, which showed real maturity. And then that amazing shot into the 18th green and holing the putt. It was just amazing to watch her do that in such a calm way and then see the crowd react to her.
“Lottie always has one target and that's to contend. It's her first full year on the LPGA, and she’s started really well. She’d love to win a major of course, but it's about contending in every event and building and learning from that. And she's got a good sense of belief and we just watch from the sidelines waiting to see what happens."
Asked about what advice she tries to give Lottie now she’s travelling the world and competing on the Tour, Rachel added: “Well, I suppose I do it in two ways. I suppose there's the one that is as a mum that is about, have you done your washing?! Are you going out meeting new friends?! Have you kept up with all the admin and media commitments that you've got to do? But on the other side is, not as a mum, but it's more about go and enjoy the experience, go and see these countries, learn a lot, and enjoy all those special moments. She's getting to go to some fabulous places, meeting some amazing people, and it’s about taking it all in and to keep doing what she's really good at.”
Ranked the World No. 1 Amateur for much of the season, she displayed exceptional consistency, competitive maturity and an ability to rise to the biggest moments.
Her year was defined by two landmark victories that captured global attention. Still an amateur, she claimed the Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour, before producing a stunning triumph at the Scottish Open on the LPGA Tour in her debut event as a professional — an achievement that immediately underlined her readiness for the highest level of the game.
Woad also excelled on the major championship stage, finishing a superb 3rd at the Evian Championship as an amateur and securing a tied-31st finish at the US Women’s Open, one of the sport’s most demanding tests.
Her season featured further standout performances while representing her teams with distinction: winning the Arnold Palmer Cup for the Rest of the World team, helping Great Britain & Ireland win the Vagliano Trophy, and representing Europe in the Patsy Hankins Trophy.
Her award recognises a season of exceptional achievement, global impact and a trajectory that continues to inspire the next generation of golfers.
Father Nick Woad, who accepted the award with wife Rachel on Lottie’s behalf at the Awards, said: “This award will mean a huge amount to Lottie. She obviously had a fabulous year, but going back, she was always hugely proud to play for England. The England Golf Performance Pathway was a huge part of developing her as a player and a person. And she knows that she owes an awful a lot for her place in the game to England Golf and is hugely appreciative to all the coaches and the staff as she wouldn’t be where she is now without them.
“She's just got back from Singapore, back to Florida, but she's told us on the phone earlier, she's back to practice tomorrow - that's our Lottie!”
Lottie's mum Rachel added: “We’re incredibly proud of Lottie. She's had an amazing year. The summer was just phenomenal to watch. Of course, she was chasing her LPGA card, but she delivered beyond that. She went to the Evian chasing a top-25 place to get the card, but that's not Lottie – she wanted to win it, and that's how she went out and played.
“And then of course, going to the Irish Open and winning that against some very top players. It was absolutely amazing to watch her win in Scotland and to do it in such a composed way. Watching how the crowd were reacting to her and cheering her on and the sense of pride that you've got of everybody watching your daughter willing her to succeed.
“She made an amazing decision actually on the 18th and she laid up after watching a number of people go over the green, which showed real maturity. And then that amazing shot into the 18th green and holing the putt. It was just amazing to watch her do that in such a calm way and then see the crowd react to her.
“Lottie always has one target and that's to contend. It's her first full year on the LPGA, and she’s started really well. She’d love to win a major of course, but it's about contending in every event and building and learning from that. And she's got a good sense of belief and we just watch from the sidelines waiting to see what happens."
Asked about what advice she tries to give Lottie now she’s travelling the world and competing on the Tour, Rachel added: “Well, I suppose I do it in two ways. I suppose there's the one that is as a mum that is about, have you done your washing?! Are you going out meeting new friends?! Have you kept up with all the admin and media commitments that you've got to do? But on the other side is, not as a mum, but it's more about go and enjoy the experience, go and see these countries, learn a lot, and enjoy all those special moments. She's getting to go to some fabulous places, meeting some amazing people, and it’s about taking it all in and to keep doing what she's really good at.”
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org