Charley Hull, Lottie Woad and world No.1 Nelly Korda all encountered a demanding start to the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, each posting scores above par as the wind roared across Dundonald Links on Thursday. While the two Americans, Jenny Shin and Lauren Coughlin, surged ahead with six-under 66 rounds to share the lead, the three British and Irish hopefuls struggled to find rhythm in the gusty conditions. Shin and Coughlin both carded impressive six-under 66s, navigating the blustery fairways with poise and positioning themselves one shot clear of South Korea’s A Lim Kim, who sat at five under, and Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson, who was four under after the first day.
Their steady play contrasted sharply with the difficulties experienced by the home crowd favorites. Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist also enjoyed a solid opening round, finishing at two under par. A couple of late bogeys on the final three holes prevented her from joining Pettersson on the leaderboard, but her performance underscored the fine margins that the weather imposed on every competitor. The wind truly picked up in the afternoon, turning the course into a test of patience and shot‑making.
Hull’s round was a vivid illustration of how quickly fortunes can shift. She opened with a missed par on the first tee, then proceeded to the fifth hole where a promising birdie attempt went awry.
A delicate tap with her putter caught a slope, rolled down a bank and into the rough. After three unsuccessful chips, Hull finally managed to get the ball back onto the green and holed the putt, but the mishap had already cost her dearly. A quadruple bogey on the par‑five fifth hole propelled her score to six over par, and subsequent bogeys on later holes cemented a final round of 84. Lottie Woad, the defending champion, also found the day unforgiving.
She started three over after the first four holes and ultimately posted a two‑over 74. A double bogey on the third and a single bogey on the fourth set a difficult tone, though she briefly recovered with a birdie on the fifth. The front nine finished at four over after another bogey on the eighth.
Woad reflected on the conditions, noting, "The wind was pretty strong from the get‑go and stayed that way all day. The pin placements on the front nine were tricky with the breeze, making it hard to get the ball close. I didn’t make enough putts to get under par, but two over isn’t disastrous. I’m still in contention; it’s just a matter of not trying to play myself out of it." Nelly Korda, renowned for her precision off the tee and iron play, also battled the gusts but managed to finish at even par.
She opened the front nine one over but responded with a decisive birdie on the par‑five 18th, bringing her back to level. Korda hit nine of the 14 fairways, a respectable figure given the wind, and showcased her putting prowess with a spectacular 70‑foot birdie putt on the par‑three fourth.
She also left an eagle putt tantalisingly close on the final hole, underscoring her resilience. Georgia Hall, who is gearing up for a return to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the 2026 AIG Women’s Open—where she captured her only major in 2018—had a particularly rough day, posting a 10‑over 82. Like Hull, Hall struggled on the par‑five 14th, where a quintuple bogey flanked by two additional bogeys turned a potentially manageable hole into a nightmare. The relentless wind, firm fairways, and tricky pin locations left her battling for every stroke.
In stark contrast, 2024 champion Lauren Coughlin turned the challenging conditions into a showcase of aggressive golf, tallying eight birdies in her round. She hinted that the firm, windy set‑up forced her to deviate from her usual tee‑shot routine, saying, "I’ve never played it when it’s been this firm, especially off the tee, so I had to make a few different choices than I normally would." Overall, Thursday’s play highlighted how the Scottish links can separate the adaptable from the vulnerable.
While Shin and Coughlin leveraged the wind to their advantage, the British and Irish players will need to regroup, adjust their strategies, and find ways to tame the gusts as the tournament progresses. The second round promises further drama, with the leaders set to defend their positions and the rest of the field eager to climb the leaderboard. Fans can catch the live coverage of round two on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9:30 a.m.
on Friday, and those interested in experiencing the course themselves can explore booking options at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. The Scottish Open continues to be a benchmark event for testing skill, composure, and the ability to adapt to one of golf's most unpredictable environments.