It’s the women’s turn to tackle Gullane this week, when the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open gets under way in East Lothian from Thursday.
The five most recent major champions are in the field as world class golf continues in Scotland, following the men’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and The Open at Carnoustie.
Only a fortnight ago, South African Brandon Stone, won the equivalent men’s title at the same venue with a record-breaking 72-hole total of 20-under-par, after a final round 60, collecting a winner’s cheque for almost a million euros.
The ideal scoring conditions saw a number of impressive figures recorded at Gullane, including a 458-yard drive by US star Rickie Fowler on the 10th.
While breezier conditions are expected for the women, another scintillating week of entertaining golf is coming up when the Ladies European Tour and LPGA players compete at Gullane for the first time. Defending champion Mi Hyang Lee, from South Korea, will be joined by all of the stars of the women’s game, including Solheim Cup players Michelle Wie, Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist, Pernilla Lindberg and two-time champion Catriona Matthew.
The players are delighted to have Gullane Golf Club on the roster at an exciting time for Scottish golf, in the run up to the European Team Championships at Gleneagles in a fortnight and The 2019 Solheim Cup.
US-born and raised Beth Allen, the 2016 LET order of merit winner who now lives in Leith, Edinburgh, said: “I love Gullane. The town is great and all three golf courses are awesome. We play a composite and it’s tough, but the views are great and it’s a proper links. I’d love to win there and I feel that I’m coming into form and getting some confidence back at the right time.”
Scotland’s Michele Thomson, from Aberdeen, is also looking forward to playing in her home Open. She said: “I’ve played at Gullane a couple of times, because we played it in an order of merit event when I was an amateur. I’ve also got a friend, Katy McNicoll, who’s an assistant professional there. It’s a brilliant golf course and close to the border, so easy for people to come and watch and I hope we get large galleries. To have Aberdeen as a sponsor is unbelievable and I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to be part of the team. They do so much for golf in Scotland and around the world and I’m looking forward to representing them.”
The elevated prize fund of £1.5 million is the highest outside of the women’s Majors and the ability to play on a classic links course in Scotland the week before the RICOH Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes is hugely beneficial to the competitors.
Glaswegian Kylie Henry continued: “The Ladies Scottish Open is amazing. Aberdeen Standard Life have put in so much money and it’s the biggest event on our tour and I’m really proud of that. It’s exciting that it’s at Gullane this year, because it’s such a good course. I know it well and I’ve played there a lot. I think the chances are that it’s going to be windy at least one of the days, so I’ll be practising in the wind and focusing on my short game shots.”
Paul Bush, Director of Events with VisitScotland, said: “Gullane Golf Club is home to three of Scotland’s finest links courses and will provide an outstanding venue for both the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open in 2018. With strong men’s, ladies and junior sections it is the epitome of a traditional Scottish golf club at the heart of the local community and I am delighted it will once again get the opportunity to welcome the world’s best players to East Lothian. We are proud to have so many world-class venues in Scotland, the Home of Golf and I look forward to two more successful events in East Lothian in 2018.”
Martin Gilbert, co-CEO of Standard Life Aberdeen plc and Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “Both events are amongst the most highly regarded on their respective Tours and have become sought after fixtures ahead of both the Men’s and Ladies’ ‘Open Championships.’ Gullane is a spectacular course and together with our tournament partners we will continue to host our events at the best possible venues which showcase Scotland in all its glory to an ever-increasing global TV audience.”
The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open was reintroduced to the Ladies European Tour schedule 10 years ago, in 2008, when it was played over The Carrick at Loch Lomond and won by Gwladys Nocera. Fellow Frenchwoman Virginie Lagoutte-Clement, Catriona Matthew, Carly Booth, Trish Johnson, Rebecca Artis, Isabelle Boineau and Mi Hyang Lee have all won since then.
