Lottie Woad Says More LPGA Amateur Stars Are Coming
By Staff Writer
2 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- Lottie Woad says the LPGA's amateur pathway will keep sending new players onto the tour, calling it a "conveyor belt."
- Amateurs need 20 points over three seasons to graduate from the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway Program (LEAP).
- Oregon's Kiara Romero became the second LEAP graduate two weeks ago, opening her pro debut with a 64.
- Four more amateurs sit within striking distance of graduating: two at 17 points and two at 13.
- Woad opened the FM Championship with a bogey-free 68, four shots behind leader Sei Young Kim.
Lottie Woad expects the LPGA's amateur-to-pro pipeline to keep producing players like her, pointing to a growing group of college and amateur standouts closing in on tour cards through the league's pathway program.
How does the LPGA's amateur pathway work?
Under the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway Program, amateurs accumulate points over three seasons; 20 points earns LPGA membership. Woad became the first player to graduate the program last summer, then won her first start as a pro at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open. Oregon's Kiara Romero became the second graduate two weeks ago and opened her pro debut at the CPKC Women's Open with a 64, finishing tied for 23rd.
"I think it will be a conveyor belt coming through," Woad said.
Who is next in line to graduate?
Arkansas' Maria Jose Marin and Farah O'Keefe, the 2026 NCAA champion and Annika Award winner, each have 17 points. Asterisk Talley, the 17-year-old U.S. Women's Amateur champion, and Stanford's Paula Martin Sampedro sit at 13 points apiece. Martin Sampedro rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking this week after Romero turned pro, and is playing in this week's FM Championship field.
| Player | LEAP Points | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Lottie Woad | 20 (graduated) | Won first LPGA start as a pro |
| Kiara Romero | 20 (graduated) | T23 in pro debut at CPKC Women's Open |
| Maria Jose Marin | 17 | NCAA and ANWA champion |
| Farah O'Keefe | 17 | 2026 NCAA champion, Annika Award winner |
| Asterisk Talley | 13 | 2026 U.S. Women's Amateur champion |
| Paula Martin Sampedro | 13 | No. 1 in World Amateur Golf Ranking |
The LPGA's amateur pipeline now has two graduates and four more players within a handful of points of joining them.
Woad, now a top-10 player in the world and an FM Championship ambassador, chose to play this week rather than defend her KPMG Women's Irish Open title on the Ladies European Tour, which she won as an amateur last year. She opened at TPC Boston with a bogey-free 4-under 68, trailing leader Sei Young Kim by four strokes, and is set for her first Solheim Cup appearance as a rookie on Anna Nordqvist's European team.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do amateurs need to join the LPGA through LEAP?
Amateurs must accumulate 20 points over three seasons through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway Program.
Who are the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway Program graduates?
Lottie Woad and Kiara Romero are the two players to have graduated the program so far.
Is Lottie Woad playing in the Solheim Cup?
Yes. Woad is a rookie on Anna Nordqvist's European team for the upcoming Solheim Cup.
- lottie woad
- lpga
- kiara romero
- leap program
- solheim cup
- fm championship
- amateur golf
