- £1.5 million to support prestigious sporting event
The ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Golf Open is one of the most
prestigious events in the sport's global calendar, the Public
Finance Minister has said.
will attend the
tournament which is being supported by £1.5 million of Scottish
Government funding at Dundonald Links, Troon, this weekend.
Ms Goodlad said:
The ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open is one of the most
prestigious annual women's golf tournaments outside the five
global majors, reinforcing Scotland's place as the home of golf
and the critical role that golf plays in supporting our visitor
economy.
I am looking forward to attending this year and seeing the world
class line-up, particularly leading Scottish players like Gemma
Dryburgh and Hannah Darling. The event's strength reinforces
Scotland's credentials in hosting major women's sporting events,
along with the likes of the AIG Women's Open.
We also know that the success of major events can help raise the
profile of women in the sport in Scotland and attract new players
and fans, which is important to our efforts alongside partners
such as Scottish Golf to ensure that golf is accessible for
all.
The event is also happening during Scotland's Summer of Sport, a
nationwide programme of free and low-cost sporting activities to
help increase participation and enable more young people to
remain active long after the final whistle of the Summer's major
sporting events.
The tournament's positioning in the week before the AIG Women's
Open attracts many of the world's leading players and a growing
audience, with a record 11,000 spectators attending last year.
Background
The 2026 ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open takes place from 23 to
26 July. The tournament is co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the
Ladies European Tour.
The Scottish Government is providing support of £1.5
million per year from 2026-28. This is a mix of sponsorship
and core delivery funding and continues long-term Scottish
Government/VisitScotland support.
