England’s Charley Hull will be one of the sentimental favourites at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open after her dramatic exit from her previous tournament.
Hull’s legion of fans were all gravely concerned when she fainted and was stretchered off the course during the first round of the recent Evian Championship in France. She’d felt tired, had body aches and was running a temperature before that first round yet nothing prepared her for collapsing on course.
Hull (pictured above) says she is back to feeling “80 per cent” this week and is looking forward to the challenges of the Dundonald Links when play gets underway on Thursday.
Physio will keep loosening up her back and shoulder, a legacy of her fall.
“I’ve got it strapped up now but I’ll be sound,” Hull said.
The popular ISPS HANDA ambassador plays at an admirably brisk pace and is not one for being idle.
“Sitting still drives me bonkers,” she said of getting back into action with her Pro-am round, “You probably won’t see me strolling 30 yards ahead of everyone like I usually do. Probably, I’ll be 30 yards behind everyone but I’ll get it done.”
Playing on this redeveloped links layout on the Ayrshire coast may also bring out new qualities in Hull. The parkland courses of the US are her preferred style of golf but she is always up for expanding her game on the undulations of a course like Dundonald Links.
“I didn’t play much links golf when I was growing up, apart from the British Amateur and stuff. (The course) is looking really nice. It’s playing really good. Obviously, it’s kind of like a newer links golf course and it’s playing quite soft out there with the rain we’ve had.”
Hull last played at Dundonald Links a decade ago before the dramatic transformation to a new clubhouse and course improvements.
Having ISPS HANDA sponsor the event is something she connects with.
“I have them here on my chest. They do so much for women’s golf. It’s brilliant. It’s just nice to like be in Great Britain and having your sponsor sponsoring the event. I think it’s great for what they are doing in women’s golf,” Hull said.
Hull will play the opening two rounds in a feature group with world No.1 Nelly Korda and Irish Open winner Lottie Woad, who is making her professional debut this week.
The international field, representing 32 nations, for the Women’s Scottish Open is elite as the lead-in tournament to the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
Very few tournaments worldwide boast a field with 15 major winners with 23 titles. There are 36 LPGA winners apart from the 46 LET winners with 118 titles.
Korda is upbeat about making her Women’s Scottish Open this week.
“I really enjoy it (links golf). It’s a different type of golf. You’ve just got to take it how it is, and you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get but it’s fun,” Korda said.
“You get really creative hitting different types of shots, hitting it a lot lower, trying to take the spin off the ball. It’s definitely a lot of fun playing links golf and mixing it up.”
World No.5 Minjee Lee had a similar take on what see enjoys about links golf.
“I think just the creativity. Sometimes we’re hit with a ton of wind, rain, the conditions are much harder usually, like the surface. So, I think just being able to like picture it in your mind and executing it just gives me a lot of joy when I can do it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nelly Korda (US). The two-time major winner is the reigning LPGA Player of the Year. Measuring herself on the links will be the fun of this week.
Minjee Lee (Australia). She won her third major earlier this year at the Women’s PGA Championship in the US. She has five top 10s at the Women’s Open so she knows the nuances of links golf.
Lottie Woad (England). Making her professional debut this week after time as the world’s No.1 amateur. She led the Evian Championship as an amateur before finishing third so she has the game.
Rio Takeda (Japan). Already the world No.11 at just 22. She won eight times during a remarkable 2024 on the LPGA of Japan Tour. Testing herself on the links.
Grace Kim (Australia). The newest of major champions after her stunning eagle-birdie-eagle finish to win at the recent Evian Championship. At home on fast links layouts.
