STAR-STUDDED INTERNATIONAL LINE-UP FOR WOMEN’S SCOTTISH OPEN

Dundonald Links welcomes the biggest names in women’s golf

Dundonald Links will once again welcome some of the biggest names in women’s golf for the FreeD Group Women’s Scottish Open from August 4-6.

Allisen Corpuz and Aditi Ashok – present Order of Merit leaders in the LPGA and Ladies European Tour respectively – are among the favourites to win in Ayrshire but face stiff competition from the likes of Lilia Vu and Ruoning Yin, currently ranked fourth and fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, and defending champion Ayaka Furue from Japan, who lifted the trophy at Dundonald 12 months ago.

Charley Hull, runner-up to Corpuz at the US Women’s Open in July, will be England’s highest-ranked player in Scotland. Other names to keep an eye on at Dundonald Links include last year’s Chevron Championship winner Jennifer Kupcho, two-time Major winner Minjee Lee and former world number one Atthaya Thitikul.

Also among the field are Anna Nordqvist and Dame Laura Davies, who boast a combined seven Major wins between them and who will both serve as Europe vice-captains at September’s Solheim Cup. Davies is one of England’s most prolific ever golfers, winning 65 events on the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour across a 38-year career, and regularly lends her voice to Sky Sports’ golf coverage.

After successfully staging the Women’s Scottish Open in 2022, Dundonald Links was confirmed as hosts for the 2023 edition – the first to be sponsored by Hong Kong-based technology company FreeD Group. UK viewers can follow all the action on Sky Sports Golf - or spectate in person, with limited tickets still available to buy.

The victor across four rounds will need to conquer Kyle Phillips’ challenging layout, which claimed some big names in Open Championship final qualifying at the start of July. Michael Block, Jason Kokrak and Robert Rock were among the stars to miss out on the par-72 course, characterised by strategically placed bunkers, undulating greens and deep rough.

Ashley Pheasant, head of golf at Darwin Escapes, said: “It’s an honour to host one of the best events on the women’s golf calendar for the second year in a row.

“The strongest ever Women’s Scottish Open field and our course at Dundonald Links, which really showed its teeth at Open Championship final qualifying a few weeks ago, are ingredients for four thrilling days of golf and we can’t wait for the action to get underway.”

Away from the fairways, Dundonald Links is in the midst of a rapid rise into one of the UK’s most popular golf resorts. Guests can stay in one of the 22 hotel-style rooms or 18 popular two, four and six-bed luxury lodges, which are built beside putting greens perfect for practice or casual competition with friends.

Between rounds on the course, guests can enjoy a meal at the Canny Crow restaurant, situated in the resort’s new modern clubhouse, or a tasting session in the adjacent whisky room.