ISPS HANDA WOMEN'S SCOTTISH OPEN

July 23, 2025

Gemma Dryburgh

Dundonald Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Obviously a great announcement just made about the Scotland golf and all that stuff. Talk about how excited and honoured to be the leader of this movement.

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, very excited. When I was Lorna and Hannah's age, I was lucky enough to get funding at that age, and I think it stopped after that. So it's really exciting to see it come back, and obviously the Sean Connery Foundation kind of put that into play. It'll be so helpful for Hannah and Lorna when they're first getting into the professional game. It's not easy, so to have that support, it's a great start to your career.

Q. Obviously being back home in Scotland, talk about getting to play here every single year, kind of playing host, if you will, bringing in all your LPGA friends. What do you like about showing LPGA the world Scotland?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, love to show people the haggis and all the iron brew and all the good stuff we have here, fish and chips. It's nice to have people come here, and obviously usually travelling everywhere else around the world, so it's nice to come here for the week. The British Open next week as well, so it's nice to be back in the UK and have the home crowds and obviously got a lot of friends and family coming to watch this week as well, so it'll be nice.

Q. Talk about getting to play links golf. This is our first introduction to it this year. What is it about links golf that is so different and so unique, creative, especially in this Scottish weather?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, like you said, it's very creative. I think you can hit more different shots around the greens than we can usually do week to week. You can hit it along the ground, up in the air, obviously pot bunkers make it difficult as well, and then the wind and conditions. Throws a lot at you and you never know what you're going to get. No day is the same, so it's just a different challenge that you go out there, depending on the wind, the weather, and where the pin is. It's always good fun.

Q. Talk about how do you prepare for a week like this? Obviously you're accustomed to it, get to play it quite a bit, but coming into this week, how do you prepare for links golf and Scottish weather?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me is the greens are a lot slower here than we're used to. Usually we're looking at 12, 13 on the stimp and I think this week is 10, so it's a lot slower than we're used to, so it's kind of dialling in that speed on the greens and then hitting some of those knock-down shots with the wind, just being prepared for that.

Q. Obviously you know players coming through the amateur ranks going into the pro game, something like what's been announced is massive.

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, massive. I was lucky enough 10 years ago now, I got some funding from Scottish golf at the time, which was so helpful. When you're first starting to go in the pro ranks, it's hard to get sponsors and the expenses suddenly rack up and you've suddenly got to pay for everything now. It's going to be fantastic for Lorna and Hannah. They're the perfect people for it, so it's amazing what the Sean Connery Foundation is going to do for them.

Q. Talk about the stresses that you can feel (indiscernible)?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Exactly right.

Q. How much of a difference is that going to make for them?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, then they can just focus on the golf, like you said, not so much how much is the flight going to cost next week, can I afford a caddie, all the stuff that you don't really have to worry about when you're an amateur. It's going to be great for them. Hopefully they can click on in their careers and not worry about the money aspect of it. Hopefully looking forward to seeing how they get on.

Q. Also inspiring that next generation as well, isn't it?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, absolutely. I looked up to Catriona Matthew my whole amateur career/professional career, so it's fantastic to kind of see Lorna and Hannah pushing on as well. Hopefully we'll keep inspiring the kids in front of us today.

Q. You looked up to Catriona; do you feel these guys are looking up at you?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, it's cool. It does. I feel old every day out here.

Q. Does it feel strange in a way?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: It makes it all worthwhile, all the work you put in and all the time out there. Sometimes it feels like why am I doing this. But for me, inspiring the next generation is part of why I do this, and doing things like this just makes it all that much more fun.

Q. You're hoping to put on a strong performance here?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, definitely. Like I said, this is one I have circled every year. Obviously a chance to see the family as well, so it's a nice week. Yeah, hopefully a top finish here would be very nice.