Last year’s champion Lauren Coughlin returns to Dundonald Links with her title on the line; but this year’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open is shaping up to be far more than a title defence. With hometown debuts from two of Scotland’s brightest young golfers; Hannah Darling and Lottie Woad; and a loaded international field, the 2025 edition of the tournament promises one of the most compelling lead-ups to the AIG Women’s Open in recent memory. Set to run from July 24 to 27 at the renovated Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, the event once again bridges the LPGA and Ladies European Tour calendars. It serves as the final competitive tune-up before the final major of the year, and the depth of the field reflects that. Coughlin, who claimed her second LPGA title here last year, returns to defend her title after collecting $300,000 from the $2 million purse in 2024. That prize pool and structure remain unchanged, with 15% to the winner, 9.3% to second place, and 6.75% to third; offering a consistent benchmark for comparing performance year over year.
But the competition is stiffer than ever. This year’s 144-player field features four of the current world top ten, and 27 from the top 50. That includes major winners Grace Kim (Evian), Minjee Lee (KPMG PGA), and Maja Stark (U.S. Women’s Open), as well as World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who has dominated the season with multiple wins and remains a top contender at every stop. Also in the mix: three-time major winner and Solheim Cup legend Anna Nordqvist, the ever-consistent Ayaka Furue, and veteran Amy Yang. The British contingent is particularly strong this year, with Charley Hull (currently ranked No. 17 in the world), Georgia Hall, Gemma Dryburgh, and Mimi Rhodes all in the field. Yet it’s the two Scottish first-time players – Darling and Woad – who are attracting local and international attention. Hannah Darling, 21, turns professional this week and launches her career on home soil. A former Curtis Cup standout and four-time NCAA All-American at the University of South Carolina, Darling holds the all-time lowest scoring average in USC program history. She enters the pro ranks ranked inside the top 20 in the world amateur standings. Lottie Woad, meanwhile, arrives with serious momentum. The 20-year-old is fresh off a win at the KPMG Irish Open, a T3 finish at the Evian Championship, and a headline victory at this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Like Darling, she makes her pro debut this week – just one more reason the Scottish Open feels like a generational shift in real time.
The venue itself, Dundonald Links, has undergone a £25 million transformation, now offering a true modern links experience: coastal winds, rolling dunes, firm turf, and championship-ready bunkering. This marks the fourth straight year the event has been hosted here under ISPS HANDA sponsorship, solidifying its place as one of the standout venues on the combined LPGA-LET schedule. With past champions returning, rising stars stepping forward, and Scotland’s own emerging talents entering the professional fray, the 2025 Women’s Scottish Open is poised to deliver more than headlines.
