Aberdeen golfer Gemma Dryburgh can’t wait to return to competitive action in the Rose Ladies Series tomorrow.
Ex-world number one Justin Rose and his wife Kate have given £35,000 to the seven-event series as prize money. And retailer American Golf doubled the fund by matching their contributions.
The series of one-day closed-door events are a chance to compete for British female professionals with the Ladies European Tour currently suspended due to the pandemic.
Dame Laura Davies, Charley Hull, Amy Boulden and Meghan MacLaren are among those in action at Brockenhurst Manor.
Dryburgh, who has spent lockdown at her parents’ home near London, is relishing her first tournament since February.
She said: “It is going to be a good field and, although it is only a one-day event, it will be nice to have a card in my hand and try to post a score.
“We have been playing golf in England for about a month now.
“I was quite rusty for the first couple of weeks as the greens were quite firm after lockdown, whereas before then they had been quite wet and soggy. It took a bit of getting used to.
“As a professional golfer, you are always looking forward to the next event.
“You are used to knowing your schedule so it was weird to not have a date and a tournament to aim for.
“That’s why it is nice to have the Rose Ladies Series because it has given me something to practise towards.”
Dryburgh, who came fourth in the Australian Ladies Classic in February, is fifth on the Ladies European Tour order of merit.
The 27-year-old, who also has status on the LPGA Tour, is still hopeful the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open due at Renaissance in August, can go ahead.
She said: “I think we will hear about that one towards the end of the month as the tour are waiting to hear from the government.
“They seem pretty positive about the Ladies Scottish Open and the British Open at Royal Troon the following week.”
