The LPGA Tour begins back-to-back weeks competing in Scotland with the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open in Ayrshire, Scotland. The co-sanctioned event features a field of 142 players, which is made up of members from both the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, and they will compete for a $2 million purse over 72 holes at Dundonald Links. Here are five things you need to know about the Tour’s return to Scotland.
ICYMI
Last week, Lydia Ko of New Zealand finished atop the podium in the women’s golf competition at the Paris Olympics. Ko, who won the silver medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, captured gold with a final-round 71 to win by two strokes over silver medalist Esther Henseleit of Germany. Xiyu Lin of the People’s Republic of China took home the bronze medal. Ko’s gold medal also earned her the last point she needed to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, and in doing so, the 27-year-old became the youngest to earn entry into the Hall. Both Ko and Henseleit are making the trip from France to Scotland to compete in this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.
Boutier Defends
Growing up just 30 minutes away from Le Golf National, France’s Celine Boutier enjoyed a dream-like start to the Paris Olympics, surging to the first-round lead and buoyed by overwhelming fan support. Boutier ultimately finished tied for 18th in the Olympic women’s golf competition and this week makes the trip to Scotland, where she’ll look to defend her title at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. In 2023, Boutier won by two strokes over Hyo Joo Kim, and her victory at Dundonald Links was her second win in back-to-back starts, as she had also won her first major the week prior at The Amundi Evian Championship. Boutier says she’s always loved playing on the links layout, where she also finished second in 2022.
Field
Three dozen Olympians are making the trip from the outskirts of Paris to Ayrshire for the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Former Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who finished in a tie for 25th in Paris, returns to the Women’s Scottish Open for the first time since 2022. In her last appearance, the Korean struggled with the wind at Dundonald Links, carding weekend rounds of 74-76 to finish tied for 71st. Lilia Vu, who came away with a tie for 35th last year in Scotland, is also back in the field this week after tying for 36th in her Olympic debut. Australia’s Minjee Lee returns to Scotland, where last season she rallied from an opening round of 80 to end up in a tie for 13th. Lee was tied for 22nd last week in Paris. Canada’s Brooke Henderson is making her tournament debut at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open on the heels of her T13 finish at the Olympic Games. Team USA’s Rose Zhang is also making her tournament debut following her T8 showing in her first Olympic appearance. Zhang said she’s heard amazing things about Dundonald Links and is excited to take on the unique test that is Scottish golf.
Sponsor Exemptions
The ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open extended four sponsor exemptions at this week’s tournament. One of those recipients is Stacy Lewis, the U.S. Solheim Cup captain and the winner of the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Lewis has struggled in recent months, missing the cut in six of her last seven starts, offset by a top-10 finish at the Dana Open. Three other invitations were awarded to two-time LET winner Kylie Henry, who is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, Laura Beveridge, who is making her second tournament appearance, and Erika Hara, a five-time winner on the JLPGA.
The Course
For the third consecutive year, Dundonald Links is hosting the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. The course, which is located about an hour’s drive from Glasgow, has been a frequent host of the Women’s Scottish Open since it became a co-sanctioned event on the LPGA Tour’s schedule in 2017. The venue also hosted the tournament in 2015 and 2016 prior to becoming an annual LPGA Tour stop. The traditional links-style layout presents a tough test and is a perfect tune-up for the athletes who will be making the drive across Scotland to St Andrews for next week’s AIG Women’s Open. The course will play to a par 72 at over 6,500 yards.
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