Venue: Dundonald Links — Ayrshire, Scotland
Par: 72
Yardage: ~6,400–6,550 yards (varies with setup)
Purse: $2 million
First Tee Time: Thursday, July 23, 2026 — approx. 7:00 AM local (BST)
Venue Profile — Dundonald Links
A true Scottish links test:
Firm, running fairways
Pot bunkers guarding landing zones
Large, undulating greens
Coastal winds that can change scoring conditions dramatically
Thick fescue rough penalizing inaccurate tee shots
Dundonald rewards trajectory control, creativity, and elite short‑game touch. Players who thrive in windy, firm conditions typically excel here.
Weather Forecast — Ayrshire, Scotland (July 23–26, 2026)
(Based on typical late‑July Scottish coastal patterns)
Temperature: 63–68°F
Humidity: 70–80%
Wind: 12–22 mph (prevailing westerly coastal winds)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, breezy, occasional showers
Impact:
Wind will be a major factor every day
Morning waves likely score better
Firm turf → long hitters gain extra rollout
Approaches must be kept low and controlled
This is classic Scottish Open weather — expect volatility.
Field Strength & Key Players
The Scottish Open is a co‑sanctioned LPGA/LET event, attracting a major‑caliber field one week before the AIG Women’s Open.
Top Contenders
Nelly Korda
World No. 1
Elite ball‑striker
Strong wind player
Multiple wins already in 2026
Lilia Vu
Former World No. 1
Excellent in major‑style setups
Strong links record
Celine Boutier
Defending champion (2025)
One of the best European players in the world
Superb wedge game
Charley Hull
Home‑region advantage
Thrives in windy conditions
One of the best drivers on the LPGA
Atthaya Thitikul
Elite iron player
Consistent top‑10 threat
Brooke Henderson
Strong ball‑striker
Excellent in firm conditions
Tournament History
Recent champions:
2025: Celine Boutier
2024: Maja Stark
2023: Celine Boutier
2022: Ayaka Furue
2021: Ryann O’Toole
Key historical notes:
Winning scores typically range from −12 to −18, depending on wind.
European players have dominated due to links familiarity.
Dundonald Links produces high‑variance leaderboards — conditions often dictate outcomes more than pure form.
Recent Player Form (2026 Season)
Nelly Korda
Multiple wins
Top‑5 in SG: Tee‑to‑Green
Best player in the world entering the event
Lilia Vu
Two top‑10 finishes in last three starts
Trending upward after early‑season injury recovery
Celine Boutier
T3 at Meijer LPGA
T8 at KPMG Women’s PGA
Defending champion with strong momentum
Charley Hull
T2 at ShopRite
T12 at KPMG
Excellent form heading into home‑region event
Atthaya Thitikul
T5 at U.S. Women’s Open
T7 at KPMG
One of the most consistent players on tour
Key Player Matchups
Korda vs. Vu
Korda: superior driving and ball‑striking
Vu: better in tough, windy major‑style setups Edge: Korda (slightly)
Boutier vs. Hull
Boutier: elite wedge game
Hull: massive advantage in wind and distance Edge: Even
Thitikul vs. Henderson
Thitikul: better iron control
Henderson: better in firm, fast conditions Edge: Thitikul
Betting Trends & Angles
Nelly Korda: +450
Lilia Vu: +900
Celine Boutier: +1200
Charley Hull: +1400
Atthaya Thitikul: +1600
Brooke Henderson: +2000
Course Fit Angles
Players with low‑trajectory iron play perform best
European players historically outperform Americans
Wind specialists (Hull, Boutier, Furue) gain major value
Long‑Shot Values
Maja Stark (+3500) — former champion
Ayaka Furue (+4000) — elite in wind
Leona Maguire (+4500) — strong scrambler
