Sometimes there’s just nothing you can do and that was exactly the case for Celine Boutier on Sunday at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open. Tied for the lead with Lydia Ko entering the final round, Boutier shot a 3-under 69, but couldn’t match the round that LPGA Tour rookie Ayaka Furue put together, ultimately finishing in solo second. Though it’s her best finish of the season and the fifth top-five she’s carded in 2022, Boutier was still disappointed with the result, but hopes to have gleaned some invaluable experience from playing in the final grouping.
“Obviously a bit disappointed at the moment but I feel like my game has been very solid all week and I put myself in position,” said Boutier, who hit 9 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens. “Playing the final round, final group, is not always easy to manage. I feel like hopefully I'm going to gain some experience from this and next time I'll be lifting the trophy.”
Boutier started out strong, carding four birdies and one bogey on the front nine to hold a two shot lead at the turn. But as Furue caught fire, Boutier’s flame fizzled, and after making three birdies and three bogeys on her closing nine, she ended up three shots shy of her third LPGA Tour title, posting -18 for the week. While today’s loss will sting, Boutier will start again at next week’s AIG Women’s Open. With the final major of the 2022 season looming large, she’ll do her best to have a short memory, glean what positives she can from the week in Ayrshire and apply them to Muirfield, what’s sure to be another tough test of links golf.
“Starting the round I knew I had to shoot a low score, even though I was tied for the lead, this course, you can score pretty low,” said Boutier. “I was trying to focus on my own game and not pay too much attention to the leaderboard. (Ayaka) had a really great day there was nothing I could have done. I feel like my irons, approach shots and short game have been very solid so I'm just hoping to take that into next week. I'm not sure what the course looks like, but gives me a lot of confidence coming into the British.”
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