Linn Grant. Women’s Scottish Open

The 2023 Women’s Scottish Open gets under way today at Dundonald Links with a stellar field that includes all of the reigning women’s major champions: Lilia Vu, The 2023 Chevron Champion, Ruoning Yin, the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Champion, Allisen Corpuz, the 2023 US Women Open Champion,  Celine Boutier, the 2023 Amundi Evian Champion and Ashleigh Buhai, set to defend her 2022 AIG Women’s Open title next week.

Tournament in Numbers

  • Fifth edition held at Dundonald Links (2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023)
  • Six of the world’s top-10
  • 19 major winners including all of this year’s reigning major champions
  • More than 300 LPGA and LET titles between them
  • 18 Solheim Cup players with 52 appearances
  • 25 players making their debut at this year’s event
  • 31 nationalities represented
  • Four past champions in the field:
    Ayaka Furue (2022)
    Ariya Jutanugarn (2018)
    Mi Hyang Lee (2017)
    Laura Davies (1994)

What they said

Ashleigh Buhai
South African, 34

  • Reigning AIG Women’s Open champion
  • Won the AIG Women’s Open, her first LPGA title after 221 starts on the LPGA Tour
  • Won the 2023 Shoprite LPGA Classic

On links golf
“I always love coming to play links golf. There’s something about it. You have to be creative. You just have to figure it out, especially when the wind blows, you don’t have to strike it. You just have to be very smart.”
On the best thing about being in the UK
“Having a proper cup of tea!”
On her approach in the last year since winning the AIG Women’s Open
“My goal is for it to be not a first and not a one-off. I wanted it to be the start of something to kick off. To be honest I think a lot of people thought, oh, 33, one hit wonder a little bit. Had a pretty consistent career just didn’t really get over line on the LPGA. But that gave me the confidence to believe, and when I got in that situation, it gave me the belief that when I’m under pressure, I can pull it off.  So every time I’ve been in that situation, especially in Australia, it came down to the last few holes again. It’s like, okay, just stay calm and keep doing the one thing you’re trying to do that week. Again, it comes to sticking to those things and not veering and not thinking of the outcome. Get the job done and then you can think about them.”

Linn Grant
Swedish, 24

  • Five LET wins
  • Won first LPGA title last month at the Dana Open

On links golf
“I like to play links golf. I think it’s a challenge but I think it’s more of like, a challenge on your patience than anything else, which I don’t mind. I think it’s a fun mind game to play. It takes a lot of energy. You can’t hit the ball like you did last week. It’s a different kind of mindset. I like to play links golf. I think it’s a challenge but I think it’s more of like, a challenge on your patience than anything else, which I don’t mind. I think it’s a fun mind game to play. It takes a lot of energy. You can’t hit the ball like you did last week. It’s a different kind of mindset.”

Charley Hull. Women’s Scottish Open

Charley Hull
English, 27

  • World No.17
  • Finished second in the 2023 US Open taking home a runners up cheque of $1,188,000
  • Two-time LPGA winner

On links golf
“I actually embrace it now. You’ve just got to be patient and not expect too much. “
On loving Dundonald Links
“I am really enjoying it,  I think its because you can kind of see like the fairways and bunkers and stuff. Where a lot of links courses, it’s trying to hit open field where as here the course has a bit more character to it I think.”

Gemma Dryburgh
Scottish No.1, 30

  • Won the Toto Japan Classic – her first LPGA victory
  • Ranked No.50 on the Rolex World Ranking, her highest to date following a T8 at the Amundi Evian Championship.

On the pressure of being the home favourite
“Obviously it is a bit more. You want to do well. It’s an event that you look forward to all year. Kind of got it in my mind that I want to play well at the Scottish. But I think more experience playing it and coming back, you know, I think helps, and having a good week last week, as well, I think helps as well going into the next few weeks. Yeah, hopefully I can just relax and enjoy it.”
On Dundonald Links
“I think it actually really grew on me last year. We played it when I was a rookie on the LET, I think 2016 or 2017. Played it both years and it really grew on me last year, and obviously playing well probably helps, as well. Got some good memories. I think I had a nice eagle putt last year on, I think it was the fifth hole, par 5 over there, and kind of went birdie, eagle, birdie. So I have some good memories from last year.”