Charley Hull, Lottie Woad and world No.1 Nelly Korda all found the first day at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open a true test of skill and temperament, each finishing well above par as the wind roared across Dundonald Links. While the two Americans, Jenny Shin and Lauren Coughlin, posted six-under 66 to share the lead, the three British and Irish hopefuls struggled to find a rhythm in the blustery conditions. Shin and Coughlin both carded impressive rounds of 66, a remarkable six strokes under par given the gusty weather that swept the coastal course on Thursday.
Their scores placed them a shot ahead of South Korea’s A Lim Kim, who posted a solid five-under, and Sweden’s Lisa Pettersson, who was four under after the first eighteen holes. The two Americans demonstrated a blend of power and precision, navigating the firm fairways and fast greens with confidence despite the challenging wind. Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist also enjoyed a strong start, finishing at two under after a series of well‑executed shots. A couple of late bogeys on the final three holes prevented her from joining the leaders, but her performance underscored the depth of talent in the field.
The wind intensified as the afternoon progressed, turning the round into a battle of endurance for many competitors. Hull, who entered the tournament with high expectations, ultimately recorded a six‑over‑par 78. Her round began poorly when she failed to secure a par on the opening hole and soon after encountered a disastrous quadruple bogey on the par‑five fifth. The trouble started when a tentative birdie attempt on the fifth saw her putter catch a subtle slope, sending the ball rolling down a bank into the rough.
Hull attempted three chips to get the ball back onto the green, but each effort fell short, forcing her to rely on a long wedge shot that finally found the putting surface. She then holed the resulting putt, a moment of relief that nevertheless could not erase the damage already done. Two additional bogeys and a solitary birdie later, Hull closed with a six‑over total. Defending champion Lottie Woad also wrestled with the conditions, opening with three over par through the first four holes and ultimately posting a two‑over‑par 74.
She recorded a double bogey on the third and a bogey on the fourth before salvaging a birdie on the fifth. The front nine proved especially unforgiving; a further bogey on the eighth left her four over after nine holes. "The front nine was very difficult.
The wind was pretty strong from the get‑go," Woad explained, noting that she found only eight of fourteen fairways. "It pretty much stayed the same all day. There were a few interesting pin placements on the front nine with the wind, and it was tough to get it close. I didn’t make enough putts to really be under par.
But for me, two over is not disastrous. I’m still going to be in it.
A day of not trying to play yourself out of it, really." Nelly Korda, the current world No.1, also felt the wind’s bite but managed to stay level par with a 72. After a modest one‑over front nine, she rallied on the back nine, finishing with a decisive birdie on the par‑five 18th. Korda’s accuracy off the tee remained evident as she hit nine of fourteen fairways, and her putting shone on the par‑three fourth where she sank a 70‑foot birdie putt.
She also left an eagle opportunity on the 18th within striking distance, demonstrating that even in adverse weather her game can adapt and thrive. Georgia Hall, who is gearing up for a return to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the 2026 AIG Women’s Open, endured perhaps the toughest day of all, posting a 10‑over 82. Like Hull, Hall was battered by the wind, culminating in a quintuple bogey on the par‑five 14th, flanked by two additional bogeys. The string of high scores highlighted how the coastal elements can quickly turn a normally manageable round into a struggle.
While many players wrestled with the wind, Lauren Coughlin, the 2024 champion, turned the conditions to her advantage, racking up eight birdies and could have finished two strokes clear of Shin if not for a late mishap. "I played really solid," Coughlin said after her round. "It was pretty difficult out there.
I've never really played it when it's been this firm, especially off the tee, so quite a few different things off the tee than normal where I used to be able to hit driver a lot of places." The first round therefore set up an intriguing leaderboard: Shin and Coughlin sharing the lead at six under, Kim and Pettersson close behind, and a pack of seasoned players trying to recover from early setbacks. The wind is expected to remain a factor for the remainder of the tournament, meaning that strategic shot‑making, careful club selection, and resilient putting will be essential for anyone hoping to climb the leaderboard. Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, with round two slated to begin at 9:30 a.m.
on Friday. For those looking to experience the tournament in person, a wide range of UK and Irish courses are available for booking, offering the chance to play on some of the same links that challenge the world’s best. Overall, Thursday's play illustrated the classic Scottish Open narrative: brilliant golf from the leaders, a relentless wind that tests every facet of a player’s game, and a field of competitors determined to adapt, recover, and perhaps surprise in the rounds to come.