The LPGA didn't want this to necessarily be an annual thing – more like every three to four years.
Lottie Woad became the first amateur to graduate from the tour's new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program and will make her pro debut next week in Scotland.
So, who's next?
The LPGA designed the program with the idea that only amateurs with exceptional records would reach the threshold of 20 points. Last November, when the tour outlined the new program to its membership, officials noted that in the past 12 years, Lydia Ko, Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang were the only players who would've earned enough points to qualify for a card.
The LPGA didn't want this to necessarily be an annual thing – more like every three to four years.
Before Woad won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, she had only one LEAP point from the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup. She earned two points with the ANWA victory and that came with a host of major championship starts, which Woad took advantage of with top-25 finishes in the 2024 Chevron Championship and 2024 AIG Women's British Open.
When she reached No. 1 amateur in the world, she earned another three points, and the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal garnered another four.
In all, Woad earned 19 points in the span of 15 months.
Woad turned professional this week, which means she'll drop off the rankings, as former No. 2 Mirabel Ting did after making her pro debut last week at Evian.
The next month is crucial for accumulating points as the McCormack Medal will be decided after the U.S. Women's Amateur at Bandon Dunes, which ends Aug. 10. The medal comes with four points and exemptions into the U.S. Women's Open and AIG Women's British Open. A player could reach No. 1 for the first time and win the medal in short order, taking a total of seven LEAP points.
Winning the U.S. Women's Amateur earns two points and a chance to play in four majors.
Oregon's Kiara Romera currently ranks No. 2 in WAGR, but it's worth noting that her 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior title will soon roll off the two-year window. Two Spanish players who play for Stanford – Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea and Paula Martin Sampedro – are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Martin Sampedro has an exemption into the Women's British at Royal Portrush for her win at the 2025 Women's British Amateur.
As for the current LEAP standings, Anna Davis now leads the way with nine points. Maria Jose Marin is second with eight and Jasmine Koo has seven. Kiara Romero, Rachel Heck (who has no intent on turning pro) and Catherine Park have six points.
The window for earning LEAP points is any given year, plus the previous three calendar years.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Here's a look at which amateurs are next in line for LPGA LEAP program
Category: General Sports
