Lottie Woad 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: First Major Bid at Hazeltine

Lottie Woad heads to the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship as one of the hottest players in women’s golf, chasing her first major just days after a gutting playoff loss. The 22-year-old Englishwoman lipped out a three-foot par putt on the 72nd hole at the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday June 21, dropped into a playoff, and lost to Miyu Yamashita on the first extra hole at Blythefield Country Club.

Now she resets at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, where the third women’s major of the 2026 season runs Thursday June 25 through Sunday June 28. Woad already owns two LPGA Tour titles in barely a year as a professional, and a maiden major would be the natural next step.

How Lottie Woad lost the Meijer LPGA Classic

Woad closed with a four-under 68 on Sunday to reach 17 under at Blythefield, holing out from a greenside bunker for birdie at the 17th to take the lead. Then came the 467-yard par-4 18th, where she three-putt bogeyed, her short par putt lipping out, to fall back into a tie with Yamashita. In the playoff Yamashita hit a flop shot to three feet, Woad pitched roughly 10 feet past and missed the comebacker, and Yamashita rolled in her short putt for the win.

It was a painful finish, but Woad has framed the heavy schedule as a positive heading into the major. She said she is leaning into playing the week before big events to keep her game sharp.

“I think I’m finding out I do like playing the week before,” Woad said. “When possible I want to do that to get the momentum going.” She added that “it’s nice to kind of go somewhere else where it’s a little bit more scorable and see those birdie putts go in before another major.”

Lottie Woad’s rapid rise

Woad turned professional in 2025 after a decorated amateur career, and the results came almost immediately. She won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in July 2025 by three strokes, becoming one of the rare players to win in her first start as an LPGA professional. In May 2026 she added the Kroger Queen City Championship in Cincinnati, closing at 12 under to win by two.

Two wins and a runner-up in this kind of stretch put Woad firmly among the names to beat at any event she enters. The one box left unchecked is a major championship, and Hazeltine gives her the next chance.

Lottie Woad 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA betting and DFS outlook

Woad profiles as one of the shorter-priced contenders in the Hazeltine field, and the case is built on more than reputation. She is a complete ball-striker with a sharp short game and a putter that has produced under pressure, the exact mix a long, demanding major test rewards. The only caution is the schedule, because she will be playing a fourth competitive round on Sunday for the second straight week.

For DFS and placement bettors, the value play is to lean on her elite consistency rather than overpay for the outright. A top-five or top-10 look captures the high floor she has shown all season without needing her to convert the win she has been knocking on the door to claim.

Betting the Travelers this week? The Rabbit Hole gives you the strokes gained PGA data to build your own model, and code BSG26 gets you 25% off any plan.

Lottie Woad KPMG Women’s PGA FAQ

When does the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship start?

The 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is played Thursday June 25 through Sunday June 28 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. It carries a record purse of 13 million dollars, the richest in the championship’s history.

Has Hazeltine hosted the Women’s PGA Championship before?

Yes. This is the second time Hazeltine National has hosted the event. Hannah Green won the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship there for her first major title, holding on by one shot. For 2026 the course added a new 16th tee elevated about 30 feet for a fuller view of Lake Hazeltine.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Responsible Gaming Resources