Out of the Rough: ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open (2026)

Just as their male counterparts have done two weeks back, the LPGA Tour heads to Scotland for one final tune-up prior to the AIG Women’s Open for this week’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open.

This event was originally a part of the Ladies European Tour (LET) and was first played in 1986. It became an annual staple on the LET Tour beginning in 2010.

In 2017, the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open became a co-sanctioned event between the LET and the LPGA Tour. It is annually played the week prior to the AIG Women’s Open.

The event will once again be held at the Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Dundonald Links first hosted this event in 2022 and it has been held there ever since.

The Field

Serving as the final tune-up prior to the final major event of the season, the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open has once again drawn a star-studded field.

It’ll be headlined by World No. 1 Nelly Korda who placed fifth here a season ago.

Joining Korda this week within the top-ten of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are Hyo Joo Kim (No. 4,) Lottie Woad (No. 5,) Miyu Yamashita (No. 6,) Charley Hull (No. 7,) Hannah Green (No. 9) and Sei Young Kim (No. 10.)

Woad comes in as the defending champion, having won last year by three strokes over Hyo Joo Kim. Woad won this event on her professional debut.

Lauren Coughlin (2024) and Ayaka Furue (2022) also won this event at Dundonald Links and will be teeing it up this week.

The Course

Dundonald Links in Gailes, North Ayrshire, Scotland plays as a par-72 at 6,538 yards.

Dundonald Links was originally designed by Kyle Philips to serve as the sister course for the members of Loch Lomong. Unlike the exclusive Loch Lomong, Dundonald Links would be open all year round for members and guests to play.

Now, as the ‘new kid on the block’ amidst some of the most historic and iconic golf courses in not only Scotland, but the World, Dundonald Links holds its own.

The course is best characterized by rolling fairways and natural dunes.

Due to the sand dunes, each hole at Dundonald Links is isolated and feels like their own amphitheater. Very rarely on this golf course can you see other players on opposite fairways.

There are plenty of blind tee-shots to deal with here. Additionally, there are deep, hidden bunkers that can easily swallow up a golf ball in a hurry.

There are multiple creeks that meander throughout the property as well. Some that run across holes and others that run parallel to them.

Needless to say, off-the-tee will be crucial here at Dundonald Links.

Around-the-green is where this course comes into its own. Being a links course, we all know that pot bunkers have a lot to do with that.

The greens here are typical Philips designs. They feature many slants, tiers and undulations.

Out of the gate, this course shows its teeth with two tough back-to-back par-fours to open. The first features a littering of bunkers on both sides of the fairway. There is also out-of-bounds down the right.

The second is shorter but is dog-legs to the right and demands an accurate tee-shot. Big hitters can cut the corner but that does come with a risk. The green is raised, undulated and is protected by bunkers short right and a steep run-off to the left. 

In all, Dundonald has a great blend of both long and short par-fours. These holes will require golfers to use all of the clubs in their bags. It’ll be a true test for each golfer as this course takes a complete range of shots.

When it’s all said and done, Dundonald Links can best be described as a modern links course.

The Weather

As of the time of writing this, Thursday is calling for just a ten-percent chance of precipitation. Friday is calling for a 20-percent chance as Saturday is calling for a 45-percent chance of morning showers. Sunday is also calling for a 35-percent chance of morning showers. Temperatures are set for a high of 65-degrees for both Thursday and Friday before hitting 67-degrees across the weekend. Winds will begin the week at 13 miles-per-hour on Friday before ticking up to 14 miles-per-hour on Friday. Winds will return to 13 miles-per-hour across the weekend.

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)

• Strokes Gained: Driving (SG: DRIVE)

• Driving Accuracy Percentage

• Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green (SG: ATG)

• Sand Saves Percentage

• Par 4 Average Scoring

• Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: PUTT)

• 3-Putt Avoidance

• Greens in Regulation Percentage (GIR%) when missing the fairway

• Scrambling 

Betting Card

Hyo Joo Kim (+1275)

Outside of Nelly Korda, per my stats based model, Kim is my favorite to win this week. She is currently third on Tour in driving accuracy percentage, fifth in par-four average scoring, ninth in three-putt avoidance, 11th in SG: PUTT, 14th in scrambling, 18th in SG: DRIVE, 19th in SG: ATG, 30th in sand saves percentage, 35th in SG: APP and 85th in GIR% when missing the fairway. She placed 26th at The Amundi Evian Championship, 42nd at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and second at the Dow Championship as of late. She won twice earlier this season, claiming both the Fortinet Founders Cup and Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. Of those with at least three starts at Dundonald Links for the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, Kim has the second best average finishing placement across the last four seasons. She was the runner-up a season ago. She also placed 33rd in 2024, second in 2023 and third in 2022. It’s about time she breaks through here and secures the victory. 

Charley Hull (+2500)

Hull is finding some form as of late, which is great as she heads into links golf. She placed 16th at The Amundi Evian Championship, missed the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and was second at the U.S. Women’s Open. Hull has also been great at this event and golf course across the last four seasons. She placed 21st last season, fifth in 2024, 35th in 2023 and 18th in 2022. Hull is currently 12th on Tour in GIR% when missing the fairway, 25th in SG: DRIVE, 41st in SG: PUTT, 47th in par-four average scoring, 53rd in both SG: ATG and scrambling, 55th in driving accuracy percentage, 60th in sand saves percentage, 70th in SG: APP and 100th in three-putt avoidance. 

In Gee Chun (+6000)

Statistically, Chun matches up to Dundonald Links rather well. She is currently ninth on Tour in SG: ATG, 11th in scrambling, 24th in SG: APP, 29th in par-four average scoring, 31st in sand saves percentage, 52nd in GIR% when missing the fairway, 56th in both driving accuracy percentage and three-putt avoidance, 68th in SG: PUTT and 73rd in SG: DRIVE. She too has been in great form coming into this week. She placed 24th in her latest outing at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, 12th at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, fourth at the U.S. Women’s Open, 29th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic powered by Wakefern and 21st at the Kroger Queen City Championship. Chun has played Dundonald Links rather well across the last four seasons. She placed 21st a season ago, 35th in 2023 and 11th in 2022. 

Grace Kim (+8200)

A massive number in this field for someone who won a major title a season ago. Kim missed the cut in her latest outing at The Amundi Evian Championship but prior to that placed 24th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, seventh at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, 22nd at the U.S. Women’s Open and 20th at the Mizuho Americas Open. She did miss the cut at this event a season ago but placed 15th in 2024. Kim is currently 21st in three-putt avoidance, 22nd in SG: APP, 26th in driving accuracy percentage, 45th in SG: DRIVE, 46th in scrambling, 49th in SG: ATG, 71st in sand saves percentage, 111th in GIR% when missing the fairway and 132nd in SG: PUTT. 

Jing Yan (+17500)

My longshot this week is Yan. She is currently seventh on Tour in SG: APP, eighth in sand saves percentage, 17th in three-putt avoidance, 29th in par-four average scoring, 30th in SG: ATG, 31st in scrambling, 41st in GIR% when missing the fairway, 97th in driving accuracy percentage, 98th in SG: PUTT and 106th in SG: DRIVE. She placed 35th at The Amundi Evian Championship, 48th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and seventh at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give as of late. Yan also placed 62nd at this event a season ago.