The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open kicks off tomorrow at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, as LET golf resumes after a five-month hiatus.
For the first time since the Investec Women’s South African Open, the LET gets back underway as the Race to Costa Del Sol resumes at 6.30am with Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh striking off alongside Solheim Cup veteran Azahara Munoz and 2020 Race to Costa Del Sol leader, Julia Engstrom.
The Scot, who is one of seven in the field this week, came agonizingly close to making the cut last year after a valiant performance in the worst of the weather conditions, and is fresh off her first top-10 finish on the LPGA and a brace of victories on the Rose Ladies Series.
Due to the preventative measures put in place by tournament organisers, Dryburgh will not be followed by the usual home crowd and family support but was undeterred by competing in front of no spectators this week.
“It’s just amazing for Scotland to have a women’s event going ahead and hopefully the TV ratings will go way up, it’s great to get some women’s sport on the TV.”
With no less than seven of the triumphant European 2019 Solheim Cup Team on show, and many more of the world’s best players, fans may not be able to watch the action up close but can see the drama unfold on Sky Sports from 12Noon – 4pm BST and on the Golf Channel at 7am – 11am EST.
Among the Solheim Cup stars off in the morning groups are major winner Anna Nordqvist (9.48am), English duo Bronte Law (10.10am) and Charley Hull (10.32am), as well as Scotland’s own, Catriona Matthew (10.21am).
Hull, who has been one of the most active golfers in lockdown and was recently crowned the Rose Ladies Series Order of Merit winner, begins her quest to ‘Rule The Links’ alongside 2017 champion Mi Hyang Lee and Rolex Ranking No. 2 Danielle Kang at 10.32.
Not one to stand still for too long, Hull has been ‘doing laps in her room’ instead of her usual fitness routine and has visited the gym as late at 11pm in a bid to keep some normality to her pre-tournament routine.
At the other end of the field in the second to last group of the day is England’s Georgia Hall, who tees it up at 2.56pm. She is joined by her Solheim Cup partner, Celine Boutier, for the first time in Scotland since that magical week in September, and the 2018 ASI Ladies Scottish Open winner, Ariya Jutanugarn.
It is no secret that the former Women’s British Open winner enjoys links golf and her excitement for this tournament was visible.
“This is one of my favourite events of the year because it’s so close to home and I love playing links golf. I don’t really treat it as like a warmup for next week. Both are just as important.”
When asked about her off course preparation, Hall not only gave away her secret recipe but some of her fellow competitors.
“Dinner is kind of the main event after everyone’s finished golf because that’s all we can really do, a lot of people have been getting Nandos, so I think I am going to get that tonight.”
Follow all the action LIVE on the LET website and via social channels @LETgolf, Ladies European Tour, @LadiesScottish #ASILSO #RuleTheLinks.
