STACY LEWIS CONFIRMS TITLE DEFENCE AT 2021 TGWSO

• Leading Scottish player to be awarded the new ‘Jock MacVicar Trophy’
• Scottish Government agrees new five-year commitment to the Women’s Scottish Open
• Trust Golf, VisitScotland and Dumbarnie Links host in-person media day for 2021 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open

American Solheim Cup star and Major winner, Stacy Lewis has confirmed she will return to Scotland to defend her title at the 2021 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open as UK media gathered at Dumbarnie Links for their first in-person media day since COVID-19 stopped play.

Lewis, who secured her victory at the first play-off hole with a birdie last year commented: “I love the links golf in Scotland and returning as the defending champion makes it extra special. Last year’s tournament was one of our first events back after COVID -19 stopped play so I was feeling pretty fortunate just to have the chance to be competing in Scotland, let alone win my first title since having my daughter Chesnee! I can’t wait to get a look at Dumbarnie Links in person – everything I have seen and heard makes it sound pretty special. I always seem to play some of my best golf on the links courses in Scotland so I am looking forward to seeing everyone this August at the 2021 Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.”

Together with new title sponsor, Trust Golf and long-term tournament partner, VisitScotland, media were able to play the acclaimed Dumbarnie Links course, Scotland’s newest professional tournament venue, hosting this prestigious LPGA and Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned tournament for the first time from 12-15 August 2021.

Sadly missing from the attending media ranks was legendary golf journalist Jock MacVicar, an ardent supporter of the event, who passed away earlier this year aged 83, and whose memory will now be honoured by the annual presentation of the newly created Jock MacVicar Leading Scot Trophy to the best finishing home player at the prize-giving ceremony. Trust Golf will also award a week long training block at their state-of-the-art science-based training golf training facility in Bangkok, Thailand to the winner of the Jock MacVicar Leading Scot Trophy.

Trust Golf is a Thai-based technology enterprise, founded by Dr. Prin Singhanart, working with the next generation of Thai golf professionals and today she explained how their sponsorship of the Women’s Scottish Open will facilitate forging closer relationships with Scotland and help to develop its educational programme.

Dr. Prin commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Scottish Government, IMG, the LPGA, and the Ladies European Tour for the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open as we look to bring our company’s ethos out into the wider world. Being here today at Dumbarnie Links, such a beautiful world-class venue, in the company of our new partners and to be able to share our plans with the Scottish media is very exciting moment for Trust Golf and feels like a very important step for our company as we grow internationally. I believe this is going to be a wonderfully beneficial partnership for us all and we cannot wait for the tournament week in August.”

The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have a long-standing commitment to women’s golf having supported the Women’s Scottish Open from 2007 and been partners of the AIG Women’s Open since 2011. The country also hosted the hugely successful Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019, setting a record for attendance at a women’s golf event. The recent five-year funding agreement will see the Scottish Government and VisitScotland continue to support the Women’s Scottish Open with investment of up to £6m through to 2025.

Paul Bush Director of Events at VisitScotland commented: “It has been a delight to be here today with our new tournament sponsor Trust Golf and also to have the opportunity to engage with our valued media colleagues in-person rather than on screen after such a long time. We are very proud of our association with the Women’s Scottish Open and the part we have played in growing it into one of the most important on the women’s golf calendar. Trust Golf have a lot to offer Scottish Golf and today will hopefully mark the start of a wonderful journey together as we work together to ensure this special tournament goes from strength to strength. We look forward to welcoming back our defending Champion Stacy as well as another world-class field to the spectacular Dumbarnie Links in August.”

New tournament host venue, Dumbarnie Links is one of Scotland’s newest courses yet most lauded as it made an immediate impression on golf aficionados worldwide when it opened in May 2020, already establishing itself as an unmissable golfing experience on the east coast. Situated on land that has a mile and a half of sea frontage with panoramic views over the Firth of Forth, it sits comfortably amongst the likes of St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Crail located just down the coastline.