Baby’s first Mardi Gras was a resounding success – as far as Leo’s parents were concerned, anyway.

While the nearly two-month-old contentedly dozed in his stroller, sound asleep despite the loud noises, bright colors and throngs of exuberant partygoers parading the streets in New Orleans, his mothers, Gemma Dryburgh and Anne-Lise Bidou, reveled in every second of this latest cherishing the opportunity to make another memory with their son as a family of three.

Leo made his grand entrance late in 2025, a perfect little buzzer-beating bundle of joy who couldn’t have arrived at a more ideal time for Gemma and Anne-Lise, as they have been able to spend ample time with their baby boy during the LPGA Tour’s offseason, a rare luxury when you’re playing full-time professional golf and acting as a physio for several Tour athletes.

Both Gemma and Anne-Lise’s parents were even able to travel to the Scot and Frenchwoman’s adopted NOLA home to welcome and hang out with their grandkid, eager to partake in the quiet insulation that comes in the days and weeks after a child is born and tagging along on many of Leo’s first adventures, infusing those experiences with an exuberance that only a grandparent can feel.

So, when it came time to pack her bags and head off to Thailand to begin yet another season on the LPGA Tour, what’s generally an exciting time of year for Gemma was tinged with a touch of bittersweet sadness, as this was her first time traveling for work with a baby at home.

“It's honestly been a big adjustment, but all for the better,” Gemma admitted on Thursday at the Honda LPGA Thailand. “It's been seven weeks now, so it was tough to leave (Anne-Lise and Leo). I'm away for three weeks now, so going to miss (Leo) a lot. Seeing him on FaceTime and stuff, so I miss him a lot.”

The Honda LPGA Thailand marks Gemma’s 2026 season debut, and the Scotswoman actually hasn’t teed it up on Tour since The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican last November, missing out on qualifying for the CME Group Tour Championship after finishing 70th in the 2025 Race to the CME Globe.

And while Gemma has had a pretty lengthy break from competitive golf to prepare for what’s set to be her ninth season as a Tour member, the last couple of months have proved to be quite a learning curve for the new mom, particularly as it pertains to her off-course schedule.

“It's been a different offseason, obviously, juggling the parent life and new lifestyle, but it's been great,” Gemma said. “A little bit less practice but still been getting enough in there. Obviously, feeling good this week, so, yeah, kind of makes you more focused when you have the time.”

But Gemma was clearly feeling more than just good in round one at Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course. She fired a 6-under 66 to kick off her week in Thailand, a day-one performance that saw the 32-year-old immediately hole out for eagle from 79 yards on the par-5 10th hole and then birdie her next three holes to race out to 5-under early on Thursday at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

She cooled off a bit with pars on her next five holes, ultimately turning in 31, and then made her first bogey of the round on the par-4 second hole. Gemma cleaned up that mistake with a birdie on three and added a birdie on the par-3 fourth hole to climb to 6-under.

The LPGA Tour winner stumbled again with another bogey on five, but she landed a late one-two punch of birdies on the par-4 sixth and par-5 7th holes to move to 7-under on the day. A closing bogey on the par-4 ninth hole saw Gemma ultimately post at 6-under, a strong early showing that has her sitting one shot back of 18-hole co-leaders Nasa Hataoka and Chanettee Wannasaen, who each shot a 7-under 65.

“Lots of things, actually,” said Gemma when asked about what went well in the first round. “I hit the ball well off the tee. Obviously, hit the ball well into the green. I had an eagle on my first hole, which was pretty fun. I was seeing the lines on the putts, as well.

“I changed putters end of last year, so just getting more used to it. Been working a lot on it. Saw my putting coach, Nick, over the winter and worked a lot on it. I see the results today.”

And even though her golf on Thursday will certainly be one of the overall highlights of her week at the Honda LPGA Thailand, what has made this season debut even more significant for Gemma is the warmth her fellow athletes have showered her with when inquiring about Leo.

Gemma’s popularity amongst her peers is widely known and has never been more on display than when she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the TOTO Japan Classic back in 2022.

But she’s had a real blast catching up with her colleagues in Thailand and answering every question they gushingly ask about her son, always happy to pull out her phone and swipe through every frame that she’s taken of (Leo) in the seven weeks he’s been earthside.

“It's been great,” Gemma said. “They've all wanted to see photos of him and are excited to meet him soon, so it's been nice to see everyone again.”

New Mom Gemma Dryburgh Starts 2026 Season in Style at Honda LPGA Thailand

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