The LPGA Tour heads across the pond to Scotland for the second edition of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.
Co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and LPGA, the Ladies Scottish Open will be contested at Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian with a 156-player field vying for a $1.5m purse. Betting favorites include Ariya Jutanugarn, So Yeon Ryu, and Jin Young Ko.
It’s the first of three-straight stops in Europe with the season’s final two majors to follow: Ricoh British Open and the Evian Championship.
2018 ASI LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN
6 THINGS TO KNOW
- This is the second edition of the co-sanctioned tournament by the LPGA and LET – it’s the 16th Ladies Scottish Open overall (first played on the LET in 1986)
- For a second consecutive year, the Ladies Scottish Open is being played on the same course as the men’s European Tour’s Scottish Open which was won by South Africa’s Brandon Stone two weeks ago (both will be played at Renaissance Club in 2019)
- Gullane Golf Club also hosted the 2015 Scottish Open on the European Tour, won by Rickie Fowler.
- 10 of the top 15 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will compete this week.
- 30 different countries will be represented in the field this week, including seven players from Scotland.
- Mi Hyang Lee will defend after securing her second career LPGA title in 2017.
THE SKINNY
Tournament: Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open
Managed By: LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour
Title Sponsor: Aberdeen Standard
Dates: July 26-29
Course: Gullane Golf Club
Where: East Lothian, Scotland
Vitals: 35-36–71, 6,480 yards
Purse: $1,500,000
Winning Share: $225,000
Defending: Mi Hyang Lee
Marquee Players: Lee, Ariya Jutanugarn, So Yeon Ryu, Jin Young Ko, Minjee Lee, Sung Hyun Park, Anna Nordqvist, Lydia Ko, Charley Hull, I.K. Kim, Georgia Hall, Michelle Wie, Pernilla Lindberg, Karrie Webb, Paula Creamer, Laura Davies, Mel Reid, Carly Booth
TV AND ONLINE COVERAGE
TV coverage via the Golf Channel. Weekend broadcast on tape delay.
Round 1: Thursday 9:30-11:30 AM
Round 2: Friday 9:30-11:30 AM
Round 3: Saturday 3-6 PM
Round 4: Sunday 3-6 PM
Online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
THE HOST COURSE
The history of Gullane No. 1 Course stretches back to 1884. Carved into the ancient links turf with pot bunkers, wispy grasses and smooth-running greens the course is a unique challenge for the serious golfer.
Add to that the fabulous views across to Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, Fife and beyond and you have one of the world’s most cherished golfing experiences.
Not surprisingly, the course has been the setting for a host of highly acclaimed tournaments including the 2015 AAM Scottish Open and final qualifying for the Open Championship on five occasions.
The Scottish Amateur Championship and the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship have both been hosted over No. 1 on four occasions.
– Gullane Golf Club
DEFENDING CHAMPION
Mi Hyang Lee shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to cap off an epic weekend comeback at Dundonald Links, and win the Ladies Scottish Open.
After two rounds of 73 and 75, the 24-year old Lee was 4-over, and nine off the lead heading into the weekend. But after posting the two low scores of the weekend rounds (68 and 66), she finished at 6-under, and as a champion.
Karrie Webb, the leader for much of the tournament, made eagle on 14 to gain sole possession of the lead again at 7-under, and held a one-stroke advantage with three to play.
But the veteran Webb made a mess of 16 (double bogey) and 17 (bogey) to drop back of Lee, who was in the clubhouse at 6-under par.
FINAL TOP 5
1. Mi Hyang Lee -6
2. Karrie Webb -5
2. Mi Jung Hur -5
4. Carlota Ciganda -4
4. Cristie Kerr -4
THE FIELD
The 156-player field in Scotland includes 10 of the world’s top-15 ranked players, headlined by the world’s No. 2, 3 and 4 in Ariya Jutanugarn, Sung Hyun Park, and So Yeon Ryu, respectively.
Jutanugarn, Park and Pernilla Lindberg (ANA Inspiration) give Gullane all three of the year’s major winners. Karrie Webb is back via sponsor exemption, as she plays a trimmed-down schedule.
Cristie Kerr (No. 14) and Michelle Wie (No. 18) lead a 33-player contingent from the United States.
Overall, the field includes 12 players who have won on Tour this year: Jutanugarn (Kingsmill Championship, U.S. Women’s Open), Park (VOA LPGA Texas Classic, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Wie (HSBC Women’s World Championship), Ryu (Meijer LPGA Classic), Lindberg (ANA Inspiration), Jin Young Ko (ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open), Moriya Jutanugarn (HUGEL-JTBC LA Open), Lydia Ko (LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship), Minjee Lee (LPGA Volvik Championship), Nasa Hataoka (Walmart NW Arkansas Championship), Sei Young Kim (Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic), and Thidapa Suwannapura (Marathon Classic).
Other marquee names include Carly Booth and Paula Creamer.
FULL FIELD & ODDS
Gullane Golf Club | East Lothian, Scotland | July 26-29, 2018
Credit: LPGA Tour, Gullane Golf Club, Bovada
