14 August 2021: Ariya Jutanugarn took advantage of an early tee time to secure the halfway lead. Tvesa Malik played a spirited round of golf, eking out an even 72 to make the weekend at 1-over 145. Aditi Ashok, perhaps still dealing with the fatigue from a high octane campaign in the Tokyo Olympics missed the weekend after taking 155 strokes over 36 holes.
Tvesa made three birdies, including two on par-5 holes on either side. Unfortunatley, she also conceded just as many bogeys, posting an even 72 in the second round. The cut fell at 2-over 146.
Three years after winning the 2018 Women’s Scottish Open, Ariya Jutanugarn is -9 overall after a second-round 66 and leads once again, only this time at Dumbarnie Links. Jutanugarn, who has won twice already in 2021 at the Honda LPGA Thailand and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational alongside playing partner and sister Moriya, holds the 36-hole lead/co-lead for the eighth time in her career.
“I felt like after I played in the afternoon yesterday, it is really windy, and I feel like today going to be better in the morning, but actually it’s not, so the wind start to blow really hard since like first hole and last three holes even worse. I feel pretty lucky I finish before everything to come,” said Jutanugarn.
The 25-year-old notched two birdies on the front nine. After a bogey on No. 10, the Thai regrouped to birdie Nos. 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17, while making every effort to stay as “chill” as possible.
“I don’t really feel like I’m really confident or I’m not confident at all. But I think like just have to go day-by-day to me,” said Jutanugarn. “When I say I still have so much thing to work on, and to me, I just want to be chilling on the course because I know when I’m chilling on the course, everything going to take care of themselves.”
Charley Hull, Emily Pedersen and Atthaya Thitikul sit three strokes back of Jutanugarn in a tie for second at 6-under. Even with four birdies and only one bogey, Hull said she still felt a lower score was possible. “Left a few shots out there on the back nine. I left a seven-, eight-foot putt an inch off the hole but was dead in line. But the greens were slower today and they didn’t double cut them,” said Hull. “Felt really good. Nice to be around home turf, even in Europe. Feels more like home.”
Six players are in a tie for fifth at -5, including U.S. Women’s Open champions Jeongeun Lee6 and Yuka Saso, along with the leading Scot player through two rounds, Kelsey MacDonald. Lee6 is making her second appearance in the TGWSO and first since 2019, when she finished in a tie for second as a Tour rookie. “In the range, I prepared just control shot. The green is a little bit slow today. So I focused on just speed, putting,” said Lee6, who started bogey-birdie-bogey, and ended the day with five more birdies to post a 68.
71 players made the cut at +2, including defending champion Stacy Lewis (+1) and first-round leader Michele Thomson (+1). Notables to miss the weekend in Fife include major champions Hannah Green (+3), Brittany Lincicome (+3) and Minjee Lee (+6). Caroline Masson withdrew during the second round.
EMILY PEDERSEN IN CONTENTION AGAIN IN SCOTLAND
Emily Pedersen had one of the most colorful scorecards in the second round of the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open with six bogeys, five pars, five birdies and two eagles for a second-consecutive 69 at Dumbarnie Links, where she finished the day in a tie for second at -6. The five-time Ladies European Tour winner said she was disappointed in her putting but knows exactly what to work on heading into the weekend.
“I’ve only missed I think eight greens in two days, which is quite solid. My chipping has been really good. Obviously it’s frustrating feeling so many parts of the game is good, and then lacking the putting a little bit,” said Pedersen. “But there’s two more days, and I have time to fix it. I have fixed it before for a weekend, so hopefully I can do that again.”
Pedersen felt her game pick up last week in Tokyo, where she finished fifth at the 2020 Olympics. “Bummed not to bring home a medal. I was in it all the way into the middle of the back nine, so obviously it kind of sucks when you’re close,” said Pedersen. “But again, it’s probably the best event that I had this year. I had four rounds in a row under par. This is the first time this year that I have that.”
One year to the day, Pedersen found herself in second following the first round of the Women’s Scottish Open. Entering the event, she was No. 491 in the world, but would end the event in a playoff against Cheyenne Knight, Azahara Munoz and eventual champion Stacy Lewis and rise within the top 200 in just one week. The performance would propel her to a career resurgence, specifically four wins and the LET Order of Merit by the end of the 2020 season. After overcoming mental and play struggles since 2016, Pedersen’s ability brought her to the Olympics, closer to her second appearance in the Solheim Cup at Inverness Club and currently to No. 68 in the Rolex Rankings.
To think of where the Dane was at 365 days ago, Pedersen said she appreciates the journey she’s taken since one of the last times she was in the ‘Home of Golf.’
“I’m coming in a little bit more confident this year. But I’m happy to be where I am. I’m happy that I’ve grown from last year but I’m still trying to grow. I’m still trying to achieve a lot more than I have,” said Pedersen. “But it’s all good steps in the right direction.”
PATIENCE THE NAME OF THE GAME FOR ATTHAYA
Two days, two under-par rounds for Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul at the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open. With little experience on the links, the 18-year-old prodigy, who currently sits in a tie for second at -6, was surprised by her play at Dumbarnie Links. “I don’t even know how I can shoot under par today and yesterday,” said Thitikul. “It’s a good round, I’ll take it all.”
The three-time Ladies European Tour winner struggled at the start of Friday, recording bogeys at three of her first five holes. Thitikul responded with six birdies in the next 10 holes, including four consecutive from Nos. 12-15. Despite one last bogey on 17, Thitikul was satisfied with her comeback.
“I have to be patient today. Really be patient today, not go like really aggressive to the pin, just like time to be safe,” said Thitikul. “And if you can make it, but if not it’s okay, and then you just go into the next hole and keep it up.”
Through nine LET events in 2021, Thitikul has earned a win at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open along with five additional top-five finishes. This past May, she also finished runner-up to 36-hole leader Ariya Jutanugarn at the Honda LPGA Thailand in her 10th start on the LPGA Tour. She credited the momentum from her season as a helpful factor as she navigates a style of course she is adjusting to.
“I have so many good tournaments before, like the finish,” said Thitikul. “And then a good momentum helped me a lot in this week and so many weeks.”
