The field is set for this week’s 2023 FREED GROUP Women’s Scottish Open with seven of the world’s top ten, 19 Major Champions, including the newest Major winner Celine Boutier, and 19 Solheim Cup stars gathered at Dundonald Links August 3-6.
Scottish No.1 Gemma Dryburgh enjoying her best major finish to date at the Amundi Evian Championship at the weekend of tied 8th, long term tournament partner VisitScotland further strengthened Scottish interest this week, awarding invitations to Louise Duncan and Heather Macrae as part of their long-standing commitment to women’s golf and the FREED GROUP Women’s Scottish Open. Duncan won the 2021 Women’s Amateur Championship to qualify into the 2021 AIG Women’s Open where she finished tied 10th to win the Smyth Salver award for low amateur. The 23-year-old turned professional ahead of last year’s event and has earned three top-15 finishes this season.
Louise Duncan said: “Last year’s Women’s Scottish Open was my first start as a professional and a huge life moment for me. I am extremely thankful to VisitScotland for their continued support in my career and hopefully I can use what I’ve learnt from the first year of being professional to have a great week at my home open.”
Stirling native Heather Macrae has made over 60 starts on the Ladies European Tour (LET) including a tied 6th place finish at the 2013 Women’s Scottish Open. In 2019, Macrae was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer and just two weeks before a major operation she won the WPGA Championship to book a place on the Women’s PGA Cup team later that year.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events said: “VisitScotland are long term supporters of the Women’s Scottish Open and are thrilled to be able to invite these talented Scottish women to compete amongst the world’s best at Dundonald Links this year. We are delighted to help provide Louise this platform to continue progressing her career after turning professional ahead of last year’s event. We are also thrilled to be able to welcome Heather back to this world class event.”
New title sponsor FREED GROUP awarded invitations to Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan, Virginie Ding and Wei Wei Zhang who are not otherwise exempt into the field this year. Chan, a two-time Olympian and winner of the 2016 Hong Kong Ladies Open, will be making her second appearance at the FREED GROUP Women’s Scottish Open this year. Ding is a junior at Vanderbuilt University in Nashville who recently won the Women’s Orlando Amateur Championship. The 21 year old earned top-10 finishes at both the 2022 and 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship and will be making her debut on Scottish soil next week at Dundonald Links. Zhang is playing her second year on the LPGA after winning five-times on the CLPGA, including four times in 2019; her win at the Trust Golf Thailand LPGA Masters made her the first player to win four times in one season on the CLPGA.
The 2023 FREED GROUP Women’s Scottish Open is the only professional golf event taking place in the West of Scotland this summer. Tickets are available to purchase at www.womensscottish.com.
