Alice Hewson embraced the elements on Friday at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open as the Englishwoman fought back admirably to fire a round of 70 (-2) and move inside the top-25.
After opening with a round of 75 (+3) at a windy Dundonald Links, the Englishwoman found herself in trouble early doors on Friday as she double-bogeyed the par-4 2nd.
With low scores proving hard to come by in Scotland – only 14 players were under-par on day one – Hewson soon changed her fortunes carding six birdies kickstarted by a bunker hole-out at the par-3 6th. She would drop a shot either side of the turn to post a two-under par scorecard and surge up the leaderboard heading into the weekend.
“I didn’t get off to the best of starts,” the three-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner said. “I hit a pretty wild drive on the 2nd and ended up making a double-bogey. So it was a good fight in the end. The first birdie actually came because I holed out from a bunker at the par-3 6th, so that’s always nice, especially as I hadn’t seen many putts drop. That really kickstarted my round. I started making some more putts, made a few birdies in a row. All three of them came from good putts.
“At the same time, there were two birdies out there today, the 12th and 15th, where I turned around to Charlie [my caddie] and said, ‘that feels like we’ve stolen one today!’ It’s playing tough out there. It’s very windy and the pins are very challenging. I’m very happy with my round today and very happy with the fight I’ve put up. I’m proud of my day.”
Hewson finished T10 at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open in 2025 – an event co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour. One of five top-10 finishes last season a group of results which included a win at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open and runner-up at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, Hewson is hoping this week can kickstart her hot form once again.
“I’ve not been shy in saying I’ve had a rough start to my year,” the 28-year-old said, currently 34th on the LET Order of Merit. “We’re halfway through the season now and I’m still waiting for the tides to turn. I feel like weeks like this can do that – putting two solid rounds together, making the birdies, holing some good putts. There’s such fine margins between the good and the bad. It’s nice to see some more of the good today.”
This week’s tournament is one of three events in a row in the UK on the LET, with Hewson and Europe’s best next teeing up at the AIG Women’s Open before she competes in another home fixture at the PIF London Championship.
“I absolutely love this home swing,” the Englishwoman explained. “Just being able to drive to three tournaments in a row rather than having to fly makes such a big difference. I’ve got my dad out here with me too which is really, really great. He’s my number one supporter and has been there since the very start of my golf career. Mum is coming up next week too. It”s just great to be at home.”
Follow all the action throughout the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram, TikTok and X, and Ladies European Tour on YouTube and Facebook – #WSO26.
