There was plenty of action near the top of the leaderboard on Saturday at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, but when the day was done and dusted, it was Lauren Coughlin who once again found herself in a familiar position on the LPGA Tour.

It’s been quite the summertime stretch for the Solheim Cup hopeful, and according to Justin Ray of Twenty First Group, she is a combined 57-under in her last four LPGA Tour events. She has had three top-10 finishes in a row, including a fourth-place showing at The Amundi Evian Championship and a tie for ninth at the Portland Classic. Sandwiched in between those two fine finishes was her maiden LPGA Tour victory at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Coughlin is more motivated than ever to notch a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team, as the event will take place about 90 minutes from where she grew up. And considering how she has played so far this summer, Coughlin has very quickly become a can’t-ignore contender.

In Scotland, Coughlin leads by one over last year’s CPKC Women’s Open winner Megan Khang. Her 6-under 66 on Saturday was bogey-free, and she hit all 18 greens in regulation, just the second player to accomplish that feat this week.

But Coughlin said her putter was the key to flying up the leaderboard, as she was able to convert some of those birdie chances she kept giving herself at Dundonald Links on Moving Day. Coughlin is tied for third in fairways hit, tied for eighth in greens in regulation and first in sand saves and putts, a complete effort so far this week in Scotland for the 31-year-old.

“I think a lot of it is putting. I started to get some confidence in the Asian Swing, and since then, I've been able to keep it going,” Coughlin said. “I'm starting to hit the ball extremely well, and I'm just starting to feel really good about my game and myself and trying to keep it going.”

Coughlin, who would join Nelly Korda and Hannah Green as the only other multiple winner this season if she were to take the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open across the finish line Sunday, said part of why she has managed to continue her fine play over the last six weeks is that she’s been able to keep her “feels” even when she wasn’t teeing it up in a tournament.

“I've actually kind of impressed myself that I've been able to keep it going,” Coughlin said. “Because it's not easy when you've got to go home. I've just been trying to rest at home and get my body feeling good so when I come here, I feel good, and I'm able to keep everything going.”

Coughlin admitted she lucked out not having to play in the rain on Thursday, but it’s been tricky to navigate the high winds all week. With it being extremely blustery, she said it all comes back to how well she has been able to trust those feels of hers.

Coughlin has been so dialed in that she said she finds what the wind is going to do and just commits to her shot. She’s not out there “guiding” her golf ball. The wind is just doing its thing, and Coughlin is riding it – and a serious wave of momentum, too.

“I was starting to get confidence with the putter but starting to get confidence with myself and my game,” Coughlin said, “and just going and being me and relaxed is all I need to do.”

Lauren Coughlin Close to Another LPGA Tour Victory

Related Articles