A TOP US golfer won’t receive any prize money despite winning a tournament.
Lottie Woad, a top ranked amateur, is banned from receiving a $79,000 check for first place in a tournament.
The Ladies European Tour, similar to the LPGA, doesn’t allow amateur golfers to receive any prize money.
Despite a dominant six-stroke victory, Woad cannot receive the $79,000 in prize money for first place at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
Woad is a rising senior at Florida State and was playing the tournament on a sponsors exemption.
Swedish pro Madelene Sagström, who finished second, will get the first-place prize money for the tournament.
Every other player who made the cut received payment one place higher than their finishing position out of the $530,000 tournament purse.
Many top LPGA players were competing in the Irish Open this weekend because there was no LPGA event scheduled.
Many amateurs compete on sponsors exemptions, but rarely do they ever win tournaments.
The last amateur LET winner was Jana Melichová, who won the Czech Ladies Open in 2022.
The last LPGA amateur winner was Lydia Ko who won the Canadian Women’s Open in 2012 and 2013.
Last year, an amateur won the The American Express on the PGA Tour, the first amateur winner since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Nick Dunlap was forced to forgo a $1.5 million paycheck due to the amateur rule.
Dunlap did go pro soon after his win and won the PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship last July.
Woad is hoping to turn pro soon as well, and is holding out hope she can make it onto the LPGA.
“No, not at all,” she said when asked about turning pro immediately.
“Still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA.
“So, I’m just trying to get those and then we’ll see what happens after that.”
Woad is projected to earn enough points to become an LPGA member later this year.
She already has major NIL deals with Titleist, FootJoy, and Upper Deck.
Woad has held the No. 1 amateur ranking since last July.
