FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
Louise Duncan will partner former champion Georgia Hall when she makes her debut in the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie on Thursday.
The Scottish international, who this week was named in the GB&I Curtis Cup squad, tees off at 11.54am alongside the 2018 winner at Royal Lytham and American Megan Khang, who made such a good run at the US Women’s Open in June before finishing fourth.
Louise is just one of seven amateurs in the 144-strong field. England’s Annabell Fuller is the first reserve having agonisingly missed out at final qualifying at Panmure. She lost out at the fifth extra hole to Thailand’s Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras.
“After getting the draw through earlier today my excitement levels have went even higher if that’s possible,” said Louise tonight.
“It’ll be good to go out with two experienced players and see how they handle the situation playing in one of their biggest tournaments of the season.
“Winning the Women’s Amateur Championship was the biggest moment of my career but playing the AIG Women’s Open is right up there.
How Louise Duncan thrived at the AIG Women’s Open
“The chance to rub shoulders with some of the players I look up to is so exciting and the fact my friends and family are able to come and support in the crowd is an added bonus.”
The West Kilbride star’s main target will be the Smyth Salver, which is presented to the leading amateur who competes all four rounds.
However she faces stiff competition, not least in shape of the world’s top amateur Rose Zhang. The 18-year-old won the US Women’s Amateur Championship in 2020 and in June dominated the US Girls Junior Championship. During the second qualifying round at Columbia Country Club she shot a 62.
Also in the hunt are Japanese teenager Tsubasa Kajitani, who won the second edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and Germany’s Aline Krauter, the 2020 British Amateur champion.
Aussie-based English Amateur champion Kirsten Rudgeley qualified from Panmure while Swedish world No 3 Ingrid Lindblad will tee it up thanks to her victory at the European Amateur Championship in Italy last month.
Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, who will play alongside Louise at the Curtis Cup at the end of the month, makes it in as the highest ranked GB&I player on WAGR.
For all the tee times click here