ISPS HANDA WOMEN'S SCOTTISH OPEN

August 14, 2024

Gemma Dryburgh

Dundonald Links

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Please to be joined by Scotland's own Gemma Dryburgh. Before we get started, I heard you have a very exciting announcement to make with one of your sponsors. So I'll give you the floor for that.

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, one of my sponsors, Creative X Entertainment, they are on the side of my hat, early in the year in February we did a proper shoot. I was kind of like an actress for a few days. So hoping to release a short film kind of quite soon hopefully. It's quite exciting. It's kind of a mini story of my journey through golf. Hopefully it will inspire a few people. So excited for it to come out.

THE MODERATOR: What were some of those memories that got brought back to you as you were filming that?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, we kind went through from when I started golf when I was really young, four years old or so, and yeah, kind of went through all of any my journey with my parents and growing up and what they have sacrificed for me to get to this point; and my journey as a pro as well, going to Q-School a few times; and then obviously securing my card and then getting the win on Tour.

So it's kind of just a bit of a journey, and eventually getting on the Solheim team. It's a story through all that.

THE MODERATOR: We are excited to hopefully see that soon. Switching gears to golf, how does it feel to be back home and back at Dundonald Links?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: It feels really good. I've been here a few times. I think the first time I came here was in 2016. It's obviously changed a lot since then. I think we were in a port-a-cabin in the clubhouse back then. So it's nice to see how it's kind of grown.

But yeah good to be back in Scotland. My family is coming to watch this week and then even more next week, as well. So it's a nice time at home and just enjoying being back in Scotland.

THE MODERATOR: Last one before I open it up.

Speaking of next week, how excited are you to get to play such an historic, if not the most historic, golf course in all of the world?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, very excited. I went for a trip to St Andrews last weekend just to get a feel before everyone was there, which was very nice. Walked the course on Sunday and just got another feel for it. I have only actually played it once. So I have not played it as many times as people might think.

Excited to be there and play a Women's Open at St Andrews. It doesn't get much more iconic than that. Obviously lots of family and friends coming to watch as well. So it will be a special week.

Q. The new logo on your hat, seems only beginning of last season, you didn't have a sort of hat sponsor, and now you have logos everywhere. Talk about how pleasing that is that you've got the support that you now have.

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, definitely. Thanks to obviously my manager, James, helped with that, and it's been great to get more recognition and some support off the course.

Yeah, like you said, a year and a bit ago, I didn't have a logo on the front of my hat. So it's nice to have the support of the Old Course Hotel, such a big brand around the world, and it's nice to have big companies like that supporting you.

Q. You mentioned the Solheim Cup earlier. You came here last year in the frame. Where do you think you are now? What's the sort of position? Where do you feel you are?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: It's hard to really tell, but I think definitely in the running. But you know probably depends how I kind of go these next two weeks. It's probably in my own hands if I have a good two weeks and think I'll be on the team. But we'll see. It's up to Suzann and the other captains obviously.

I just focus on my game and do my own thing and hopefully the rest will take care of itself.

Q. This could be strongest of field for this event this week. Bob MacIntyre beat a similar world-class field. Has that given you an incentive for this week?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Watching Bob win as Renaissance was so inspirational. I sent him a message and just said how proud we are of him. It's just amazing to see what he's done the last year or so -- well, few years, actually. You know, to try and win The Scottish Open would just be a dream of mine like it was his.

It would be great to kind of go in the back of his footsteps.

Q. How great is it for Scotland to have an event like this, it's grown, and you look at the field this week. Do people take it for granted sometimes at how world-class stars performing this year this week?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: I thin so. I think like you said, this is going to be one of the strongest fields we've ever had. You've got Lydia Ko, who just won the Gold Medal last week and in the Hall of Fame. She supported this event for years I think. I remember playing if a practise round with her in 2016 or 2017 here.

You know, it's amazing to have these amazing golfers, top 10s in the world kind of coming to Scotland and playing. So hopefully everyone comes out and watches.

Q. You mentioned Lydia, and you've got her and Celine Boutier in the draw tomorrow. How exciting is that?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, very excited when I saw the draw. I had actually a few messages before I even saw the draw saying, Oh, great draw. I was like, I wonder who it is.

It's actually funny because I think one of the first times I played here, I played a practise round with Lydia, and I just remembered it being like overawed by her. Obviously still overawed by her. But a bit more used to it. Obviously know her well now, and excited to play with her.

And obviously Solheim teammate, Celine, as well, so it will be good fun.

Q. When I spoke to you a couple weeks ago at Evian, you were talking about seeing your coach and things worked out pretty well that week. Has there been any other progression since then? Have you seen him again?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I saw him last week. Yeah, so he's my coach since I was about 12. Just kind of got a little bit of a refresher with him. He's just very good at giving me good feels for the course, and it's not very technical at all.

So I just really like that coming into a tournament. And yeah, he kind of just knows my swing really well and knows what to say at the right time. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead this week.

Q. St Andrews?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: No. I went down to see him. He's at Burnham & Berrow . So I went to see him down there.

Q. But you played St Andrews --

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Well, I didn't actually get on the Old. I got on the New. And I had walked the course on Sunday. So played with Susan Wood; give her a shoutout, my girlfriend, so it was good.

Q. I take it no problem getting a room for next week?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: No problem. Got a room booked. Hopefully have a few of the course. We'll see.

Q. Has Suzann been in touch? Has she been keeping you in the frame?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, she's been in touch all year with kind of all of us, and so yeah, we've kind of been in the frame the last few months, which has been nice, and I think she's here today and she's obviously there next week as well.

Q. I was just asking general reflections on the season so far. What's the overriding kind of feeling? Is there an element of impatience or frustration or whatever?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I mean, there's been some really good weeks, and then there was a stretch in the middle of the season where missed a few cuts in a row. So it's just been a little bit up-and-down, but I guess that's kind of the way kind of golf goes for every player.

So I feel like that I'm kind of trending in a good direction now, and obviously I was happy with how I started the season. Hopefully could keep going in good stead.

Q. I was just going to ask, you're staying on site this week. How nice is that to be able to walk to the course, and how are you finding the course, the conditions of the course?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, it's fantastic. I'm even closer than I was last year. I can walk just a couple minutes to the course. It's super handy. No drive to the course or anything like that, and they are obviously very comfortable. We've.

Got a little putting green in the middle, not that I'll be putting on that; it's a little bit slower than the course. But it's good fun. The course is looking great. You know, it's been probably obviously maybe a little bit wetter than usual this summer but it's looking great considering. Greens are rolling well. It's looking good.

I think they have lengthened one par 5, so that will be a bit different, No. 5, I think it is. Yeah, the rest of it looks great.

Q. I just wanted to ask, how was your acting skills?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Well, I actually cried on cue, so quite good. Maybe I have a future in that after my golf career. Yeah, she got me in a real zone to channel my sadness, I guess. You'll see that in the video.

Q. I take it, was that on the topic of your gran or something?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: She kind of got me in the zone of kind of when I missed Q-School back in 2019 and how it felt like, sad to say, that you let down people that kind of supported you and stuff when you go through those times. So kind of got me in that frame of mind which is quite sad to think about now (laughing). But we're in a good spot now.

Q. Having reached the Solheim Cup and obviously you won on the LPGA Tour, can it be hard to try and replicate that? Getting the first win is hard, but trying to get a second win is probably harder, is it?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I mean, it's not easy to win out here. There's plenty of amazing golfers out here that have not won even yet. I feel privileged to have that win, and obviously goal is to kind of get that second win.

But yeah, hopefully it comes, whenever it comes, I'll be happy. But yeah, that's the goal, obviously to get that second win but it's not easy out here.