A two-time winner in 2020 on the Rose Ladies Series, a one-off women’s professional tour organized by PGA TOUR member, major champion and Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose and his wife Kate to provide playing opportunities during the pandemic, Gemma Dryburgh is hoping to ignite that champion’s mentality over the weekend in Northern Ireland.
The Scotland native used a 2-under par 70 at Massereene Golf Club in the second round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management to share fourth at 9-under overall.
“It was a different challenge, a bit different to when we played the practice round on Tuesday because we’ve had a lot of rain. Not quite as bouncy as what we expected from Tuesday,” said Dryburgh. “It was good, though, and I hit it well again. I went bogey-free yesterday, so had a few more bogeys today but a few birdies as well. Still a good round.”
Making her 50th career start on the LPGA Tour since her rookie year of 2018, Dryburgh owns one career top-10 result of a tie for sixth at the 2020 LPGA Drive On Championship—Inverness. Her performance so far at Galgorm may be unfamiliar territory, but simply competing is an opportunity the Tulane University alumna is not ready to let go from her grasp.
“It would mean so much to win on the LPGA or LET. Obviously, we’ve got a two-for-one this week and it would mean everything to me. But I’m not putting too much pressure on myself,” Dryburgh said. “This year, I have been struggling for starts on the LPGA. I started six events and had to play Monday qualifiers and all that.
“If you play well, you can get reshuffled and that means a lot as far as events and opportunities. It would be amazing really to get a top 10 or anything up there.”
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