Major champions Patty Tavatanakit and Ariya Jutanugarn headline the field over Scotland's newest links, designed to critical acclaim by renowned course architect Clive Clark. The pair will arrive in Leven, Fife, fresh from representing Thailand in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Tavatanakit is currently 12th on the World Rolex Ranking and 2nd on the LPGA Race to CME Globe. The 21-year-old arrives in Scotland after the best season of her life, one that has produced her first major victory in the ANA Inspiration along with another six top 10 finishes.
Former World No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn is one of Thailand's most decorated female golfers, with 12 LPGA Tour titles including 2 majors. Since 2016 she has finished in the top ten in at least one major a year.
The twelve-time LPGA winner, Ariya Jutanugarn explained, "I love coming to Scotland, I have great memories of winning in 2018, so it feels special to come back, but it's a totally different golf course and I know it will be tough for me. The new golf course this year looks beautiful and I am so proud to see Trust Golf creating more opportunities for Thai golfers. There are so many young golfers in Thailand and their determination and hard work is really inspiring to me."
Moriya Jutanugarn joins younger sister Ariya at Dumbarnie. Both are well-experienced links golf players with top finishes in the Women's Scottish Open. Ariya was champion in 2018 and finished 5th in 2019 when Moriya finished 2nd. The dynamic duo recently won the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, a team event held in Michigan.
Jasmine Suwannapura will be returning to Scotland after she finished runner up in the AIG Women's Open at Royal Troon last year, her best major championship finish.
Former No 1 World Ranked Amateur Atthaya Thitikul has her sights set on this year's Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open. Thitikul already has a strong track record golfing in the UK and is a two-time Smyth Salver winner as leading amateur in the 2018 and 2019 AIG Women's Open. She is in the Ladies European Tour history books as the circuit's youngest winner, winning the 2017 Ladies European Thailand Championship at age 14. Currently ranked 86th on the Rolex World Rankings, Thitikul recently came 2nd in the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand, losing out by one stroke to Ariya Jutanugarn.
Among the other qualified players is Wichanee Meechai, who has three top-15 finishes this season, including 12th place in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship; two time LET winner Pornanong Phatlum; and Pajaree Anannarukarn, who recently beat Emma Talley in a playoff at the ISPS Handa World Invitational to secure her first LPGA Tour victory.
As the new title sponsor, Trust Golf aim to create more playing opportunities for rising Thai players and as such, will invite players who are not otherwise exempt into the field at Dumbarnie Links. Among the invites are Thai golfers, Prima Thammaraks a Symetra Tour card holder with three top 15 finishes this season as she chases playing status on the LPGA Tour. Chanettee Wannasaen is rising professional star who won the qualifying event for the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand as a 16 year old. Trichat Cheenglab takes her place alongside Thammaraks and Wannasaen. Cheenglab's career best finish came in the 2019 the PTT Thailand LPGA Masters, where she finished 6th. The 4th invite will be given to the winner of the Rose Ladies Series Qualifier at Scotscraig Golf Club on the 7th August.
The new tournament title sponsor, Trust Golf, is a Thai-based technology enterprise, founded by Dr. Prin Singhanart, working with the next generation of Thai golf professionals with the intentions to now expand internationally with the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open as their first international venture, partnering with the Scottish Government and VisitScotland. Having supported the Women's Scottish Open since 2007, and recently announcing a further five-year funding agreement with investment of up to 6m through to 2025, the Scottish Government and VisitScotland are amongst the most prolific supporters of women's golf globally having hosted the most successful Solheim Cup to date in 2019.
New tournament host venue, Dumbarnie Links is one of Scotland's newest courses yet most lauded as it made an immediate impression on golf aficionados worldwide when it opened in May 2020, already establishing itself as an unmissable golfing experience on the east coast. Situated on land that has a mile and a half of sea frontage with panoramic views over the Firth of Forth, it sits comfortably amongst the likes of St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Crail located just down the coastline.
For any questions contact:
IMG Media Enquiries: ??????
Michele Mair VP Golf Comms
IMG Tel: +44 (0)2082 335300??????
Visit Scotland Enquiries:
David Connor
Golf PR Manager
VisitScotland
0131 472 2063
07794 046 295
About Trust Golf
An incredibly successful enterprise in Thailand, Trust Golf advocates utilising innovation and technology as it aims to develop the next generation of Thai golf professionals. Employing technology, education with a focus on mental and physical health, founder Dr. Prin Singhanart has devised a programme that aims to support Thailand's next generation of golfers through to the professional ranks.
Trust Golf supports all aspects of the game, including juniors, players and caddies, with ambitious plans to open the first Trust University in Thailand to further the education of Thailand's golfers with the intention to grow their offering around the world. With technology at the heart of Trust Golf's philosophy, the Women's Scottish Open will allow Dr. Prin to share her philosophy and vision for Trust Golf globally, as well giving her students the chance to be part of something bigger with the partnership offering the opportunity for her elite students to gain a place in the star-studded field of the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open.
Scotland, the Home of Golf:
Scotland is renowned around the world as the Home of Golf. It is the birthplace of the game and to this day remains its spiritual home. It is also a modern, dynamic and world-class golf events and tourism destination welcoming hundreds of thousands of golfers every year and regularly playing host to the biggest tournaments in the world.
The golf industry in Scotland is worth more than 1 billion annually to the Scottish economy, of which golf events and golf tourism plays a major role.
Through activity delivered by organisations including VisitScotland, Scottish Development International and Scottish Golf, the Scottish Government is committed to continuing to support the growth of the game in this country. This includes; supporting economic and business growth within the Scottish economy, driving increased participation in the sport and helping to nurture the next generation of Scottish golfing stars through the Clubgolf programme of junior golf activities.
For more information on the Scottish Government and its partners: www.scotland.org? |? www.visitscotland.com | www.scotent.co.uk | www.sdi.co.uk | www.scottishgolf.org | www.clubgolfscotland.com? ?
About Dumbarnie Links
Leven, Fife, Scotland Golf Course | Dumbarnie Links
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world's greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company.
About the LPGA
The LPGA is the world's leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women's golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management.
The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental, humanitarian and golf community initiatives, including LPGA*USGA Girls Golf, the LPGA Women's Network and the LPGA Amateur Golf Association.
Follow the LPGA on its television home, Golf Channel, and on the web via www.LPGA.com. Join the social conversation at www.facebook.com/lpga, www.twitter.com/lpga and www.youtube.com/lpgavideo, and on Instagram at @lpga_tour.
About the Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour (LET) is Europe's leading women's professional golf tour and formed as the WPGA in 1978.?With 324 members from 38 different countries who inspire fans at more than 20 golf tournaments on five continents, the Ladies European Tour brings people and brands together through shared experiences and promotes world class sport entertainment through exceptional events which receive extensive international media and television coverage. At each event, it's not just about the swing - it's about a day that goes with a swing: a big day out with fun entertainment and a festival atmosphere set in beautiful scenery. The LET members captivate and excite with their strong performances, but don't just appear and leave; they create a legacy by connecting with local communities and developing the game in the regions they visit. The Board of Directors are the guardians of the tour and along with the?Players Council ensure the tour continues to grow and improve for players, fans and all associates. ?
Source: Vivaldi