A Scottish Springboard to the Season's Fourth Major

SCOTTISH SPRINGBOARD

Michelle Wie, who has five wins and 59 overall top-10 finishes in her LPGA career, finished 19th at last year’s Ladies Scottish Open and followed that with a T3 performance at the 2017 Ricoh Women’s British Open tying her best finish in the event. 

“I love playing links golf,” the 28-year-old said. “I really enjoyed myself last year, and I felt like it was a great British Open prep. So I made sure that I put it in my schedule again this year, and I'm very excited for this week.”

Eight of the ten players who finished in the top 10 at last year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open also played in the Ladies Scottish Open the week prior – here’s a look at the players that used the LSO as a springboard to strong performances in the LPGA’s fourth major championship: 

LPGA AND LET TEAM UP FOR SECOND EDITION OF LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN

The world’s best female golfers from the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour return to the Home of Golf this week at Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland for the second playing of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. The event is the first of three LPGA tournaments in Europe alongside the Tour’s final two major championships in next week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open and The Evian Championship.

Two-time LPGA winner Mi Hyang Lee will attempt to defend her 2017 title, where she came from nine shots behind on the weekend and earned a one-stroke victory over Mi Jung Hur and Karrie Webb. Ten of the 11 players who finished inside the top 10 at last year’s Ladies Scottish are back this year in a field that also boasts top-five world talents in No. 2 Sung Hyun Park, No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn and No. 4 So Yeon Ryu. There will also be a strong presence from the LET with 27 of the top 30 from the 2017 Order of Merit.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN

This is the second edition of the co-sanctioned tournament by the LPGA and LET – this is the 16th Ladies Scottish Open overall (first played on the LET in 1986)

For a second consecutive year, the Ladies Scottish Open is being played on the same course as the men’s European Tour’s Scottish Open which was won by South Africa’s Brandon Stone two weeks ago (both will be played at Renaissance Club in 2019),

Gullane Golf Club also hosted the 2015 Scottish Open on the European Tour, won by Rickie Fowler

10 of the top 15 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will compete this week

30 different countries will be represented in the field this week, including seven players from Scotland

Mi Hyang Lee will defend after securing her second career LPGA title in 2017

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEFENDING CHAMPION MI HYANG LEE

Lee’s victory in 2017 was the second of her LPGA career (became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2014 Mizuno Classic)

Lee has 17 career top-10 finishes since her LPGA rookie season in 2012

Lee overcame a nine-stroke deficit heading into the weekend to win last year’s Ladies Scottish Open 

Lee’s rounds of 68-66 on Saturday and Sunday at last year’s event were the lowest of any player in the field each day respectively

In 2018, Lee has made five of 14 cuts with a season-best T8 finish at the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic

Lee also has wins at the 2014 ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open (co-sanctioned by the LET and ALPG) and the 2012 Epson Classic (Epson Tour)

The 25-year-old is from Incheon, Republic of Korea and currently resides in Columbia, S.C.

AMERICAN PRESENCE FELT

The United States lead all countries with 33 players in Scotland this week, with top Americans Cristie Kerr (No. 14) and Michelle Wie (No. 18) leading the charge. With four victories this season, including Wie’s win at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, the United States are currently tied for second with Thailand in wins by country in 2018 – Republic of Korea lead all countries with seven wins in 2018.

HOMECOMING FOR BRITS, TOO

Along with the seven Scottish players in the field, there are 15 players from England teeing it up this week who will feel somewhat at home returning to the United Kingdom, including top-ranked English player Charley Hull (Rolex Rankings No. 25). Hull, who finished T44 last year in Scotland, is the Tour’s most recent winner from the UK having earned her lone career LPGA win at the 2016 CME Group Tour Championship. 

“I am happy to be here,” the 22-year-old said. “I obviously haven't played links golf since the British Open last year, so it's always nice to come back to it, especially after playing in America and those pattern golf courses. So it's good. And I feel like my game is in good shape.”

LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN IS LAP 21 IN RACE TO THE CME GLOBE

This week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open marks the 21st lap of the 2018 Race to the CME Globe. Ariya Jutanugarn continues to sit atop the standings with 2,654 points, followed by her sister Moriya Jutanugarn with 1,860 points. Minjee Lee sits third with 1,805 points, followed by Brooke Henderson(1,692 points) and Nasa Hataoka (1,690 points).

Throughout the season’s official events, LPGA Members will battle for position, with the top 12 players after the Blue Bay LPGA heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship with the opportunity to take home a $1 million bonus, the biggest prize in women’s golf. 

All tournaments have the same point values except for the five major championships, which carry 25 percent more value. For all events with a cut, points are awarded to members who make the cut, while for events without a cut, points are awarded to members who finish in the top 40 and ties. 

Points will be reset for the CME Group Tour Championship following the Blue Bay LPGA, with the top 72 LPGA Members, as well as any non-Member winners and alternates, seeded into the championship field. For the top five players, it’s easy – win the CME Group Tour Championship and take home $1 million. However, the top 12 in the points race all have a mathematical chance to take the title of Race to the CME Globe Champion and win the coveted check. 

In 2017, Lexi Thompson became the first American winner of the Race to the CME Globe and the accompanying $1 million prize. She joined Lydia Ko (2014, 2015) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2016) as the only players to hoist the crystal trophy.