With a one-shot lead and only an 18-inch putt on the final hole, Lottie Woad had her third LPGA title in her grasp. But as the ball lipped out, the trophy (and a massive financial windfall) slipped away.

For most of the final round, Woad had her lead. Even the highlight of her tournament came on the par-4 17th, when Woad holed out from a greenside bunker to take a one-shot lead.

"Obviously, 17 was pretty—a bonus," Woad said. "Didn't have the easiest bunker shot and obviously made it. Thought it was going a little bit past, so was happy with that."

Miyu Yamashita, who had already finished her round with an eight-under 64, wasn't expecting a playoff. She was simply standing and watching it from the clubhouse.

But the 18th hole turned the tide. Woad, who had been aggressive all week, especially at the par-5's, opted to go for the green in two. Her approach from the rough left her with a tricky third shot and forced a three-putt bogey. She missed her last shot from only a mere 18 inches.

"And 18, hit a decent tee shot. I would always go for it in two, but kind of wishing I didn't now," Woad added.

"Next time, I think I should have laid up and tried to chip on," she said. "Been going for it every day, so I thought might as well. Got a pretty bad lie in the rough and hit an OK shot. Yeah, obviously wish I got the first putt a little closer and kind of wish I putted first, too, instead of watching Cassie [Porter’s] putt. Kind of tricked me."

In the playoff, Woad’s ball sat in the fairway, but Yamashita’s was in the rough. They both lay short of the green. Yamashita chipped first and left the ball just two feet from the hole, while Woad’s chip raced well past, and she missed her long birdie try.

“Felt like I hit an OK putt. Obviously lipped out on the high side. Miyu played great in the playoff hole,” Woad said at the end.

But finishing runner-up instead of winning, Woad won $305,678—a difference of $181,822 from the $487,500 winner's prize.

What’s next for Woad?

Despite the sting, Woad does not have time to sulk. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the third major of the season, begins this week at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

She will be there, and she will try to shake off the memory of that missed putt.

"Definitely felt like I played good this week, obviously. Felt pretty comfortable in the final group the last two days," Woad added.

"Just kept myself in it. Made a lot of clutch putts this week, so I’m going to try to shake off this missed one. Hopefully, next week is my week instead."

Meanwhile, Yamashita carries immense momentum into the majors after capitalizing on Woad's mistake to win her third career LPGA victory.

The 2026 KPMG field also features #1, Nelly Korda, who skipped the Meijer LPGA Classic and has already won the season's first two majors—the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Md Saife Fida

Edited by

Ankita Yadav