Women’s Scottish Open 2021 R4
August 12-15
Dumbarnie Links, Fife, Scotland
$1,500,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Ryann O'Toole, in her 228th event and 11th season on Tour, won her maiden title at the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open at Dumbarnie Links in Fife.

Women’s Scottish Open 2021 R4

An emotional O'Toole, who played in the 2011 Solheim Cup back in her rookie year, said at her Champion's press conference, “Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now. It didn't seem real. It seems very surreal, and definitely a dream come true. I can't believe it's taken this long to win but it's finally here.”

Few would have predicted this outcome given she was perhaps the least decorated of the players on the star-studded leaderboard.

And yet, it was the Californian who edged three shots clear of the field with a blemish-free 8-under taking her to 17-under overall without looking anything other than a seasoned winner at any point.

Women’s Scottish Open 2021 R4

O'Toole's love of links golf has come through during the week although it hasn't always been the case.

“I think regardless, winning over here, I guess take it back to my first year, second year on Tour and playing my first British Open and learning what true links was. I felt like I got my butt kicked at Royal Liverpool. It blew. One of the rounds got called for the day. I had never played in anything like that, and I remember hitting tee shots that just flung across, like those aren't going to work here. And after that I was like, wow, there's so much to learn and change and grasp on this style of golf and after that, I fell in love with it, how to hit a really low tee shot, how to play the contours of the green and the course and I just feel like I love this style of golf and to have this be my first win, it seems fitting.”

Women’s Scottish Open 2021 R4

Major and two-time Olympic medal winner Lydia Ko tied for second place when her 9-under final round was not enough to take her second title of the year. Alongside her in second place is Thai teenager and current leader on the LET's 2021 Race to the Costa del Sol, Atthaya Thitikul who finished with a 66. 

Thitikul, who spent much of the week saying she didn't like links golf seemed to soften her stance, “Yeah, of course, just a little bit more, not that much for sure, because you know, like links is tough for sure. Links is tough!”

Women’s Scottish Open 2021 R4

Past Champion and double Major winner Ariya Jutanugarn finished fourth while England's Charley Hull's closed with a 69 to finish fifth at 12-under.

“I think overall, having a good finish here, that gives me good momentum heading into next week," said Hull. "This was a great golf course leading up to Carnoustie. This is a true links and we know what Carnoustie is like. I'm super excited for next week and learn from this week and take the positives and work on the things that I feel like needs to be worked on and have fun out there and see what happens.”

The leading Scottish player was Kelsey MacDonald who finished T15 at 7-under. She wins the Jock MacVicar Leading Scot Trophy, created to honour legendary golf journalist Jock MacVicar, an ardent supporter of the event, who passed away earlier this year aged 83.

Women’s Scottish Open 2021 R4