Latest news with #Dryburgh
The Herald Scotland
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Golf's female professionals exposed by lack of TV coverage
"I have friends [on the tour] that worry a lot about money and the financial side of things, so I think being on tour and trying to make a cheque to pay the rent or pay for your expenses is quite stressful, and it can affect your golf quite a lot," Ms Dryburgh said. Read more: "I think over a whole career I've been able to kind of put that in the back of my mind and focus on the golf, but don't get me wrong, it has affected me at times." At the crux of the matter is exposure, most specifically, the amount of airtime given to coverage of women's events. The knock-on effects reverberate throughout a player's potential earning streams. 'We're not shown as much on TV, so people don't necessarily know we are on [[TV]]," Ms Dryburgh said. "They don't know where to look for us. We might be on recorded, later in the day, [so] not on prime time [[TV]], whereas the men are on consistently every week and people know where to find them." She added: 'It's still not easy for a women to get sponsorship because of the TV thing. Gemma Dryburgh says the pressure to earn money has affected her golf at times "Week-to-week it's kinda the same five to 10 [female] players that are on TV, and I would say those players are probably doing pretty well on sponsorship. But for example, for myself to get on TV, I have to be in the top 10 or the top 15, trying to contend, to get some TV time." Less airtime means less exposure for sponsors and their brands, pushing down the value of contracts. This has been alleviated to a degree by social media, which some players have successfully used to build a following that bypasses traditional media. Still, large disparities remain. Born in Aberdeen, Ms Dryburgh played at Tulane University in Louisiana before turning professional in 2015, playing on various circuits including the Ladies European Tour (LET) before joining the LPGA Tour in the US in 2018. Now based in New Orleans, she's back in the UK to compete in the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open before moving on next week to the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. The total purse for the Women's Open has roughly tripled since AIG became the title sponsor in 2019, reaching $9.5m in 2024. Last year's winner, Lydia Ko, walked away with $1.42m. Read more: By comparison, last week's Open winner Scottie Scheffler left Royal Portrush with a paycheque of $3.1m from a total purse of $17m. Ms Dryburgh's biggest financial win to date was a first place finish in the 2022 TOTO Japan Classic, earning her $300,000. This stacks up against annual outgoings ranging from $180,000 to $200,000 for expenses such as her caddie, travel, accommodation and tournament entry fees. "We have the same expenses as men," she said. "Obviously sometimes if they're making that much money they can fly private, etcetera, but on a base rate they are the same expenses and we're not making as much. 'It can be a discouragement but I would say on a positive note that since I turned pro, which was 10 years ago now, the prize money [for women] has gone up massively, especially the majors.' Read more: As a player director at the LPGA, Ms Dryburgh is among those representing the interests of her fellow competitors on the tour. She believes there are "big opportunities" to make further progress on financial parity under new LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler, who officially took over on July 15. "The more you can see us, the more you know who we are," she said. "I think women's sport has shown that, like recently in women's football. "If you actually get the eyes on it, people want to watch, and I think especially with women's golf because it's such a good product – you don't have to compare it to men's golf, it's its own product. I've heard from lots and lots of people who really, really enjoy watching us play, and I think they can learn a lot from the way we play the game."
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Gemma Dryburgh is back on Scottish soil, and her game could have her poised to win again
For Gemma Dryburgh, who spends most of her year in the U.S., plying her trade on the LPGA Tour, the past week has been spent shifting her mindset. Her return to Scottish soil for the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, which begins at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire on Thursday, presents a mixture of positives and a few welcome challenges. The positives first. For Aberdeenshire's Dryburgh, who has played on the LPGA Tour since 2018 and was part of Europe's Solheim Cup team in 2023, there are few things she embraces more than returning to her home country. And as Scotland's top female golfer, she's in the position that Catriona Matthew, who Dryburgh looked up to as a young, up-and-coming player was for countless years, which is, she admits, quite something. 'I'm very excited about the Scottish Open. I always love coming back to Scotland because I don't get to do it very often these days, so it will be so nice to see the family and play links golf again,' the 32-year-old says. "It's very cool going into the Scottish Open as the top Scottish player. One of the other Scottish girls has asked me to play a practice round, and it's things like that which are cool because I remember doing that myself with Catriona when I was younger. 'It's a nice position to be in." Encouragingly for Dryburgh, who won the 2022 Japan Classic, her form as she heads to Dundonald is good. Dryburgh hopes to better her previous best at the Women's Scottish Open As for 2025, it has been what she describes as a 'not spectacular but very solid and consistent season.' It's an accurate assessment of the first six-and-a-half months of the year, with cuts made in two of the four majors so far, as well as a couple of top-20 placings on the LPGA. Most pleasingly for the Scot, though, is how much better she feels about her game than she did twelve months ago. And that form, coupled with her experience and love of links golf will, she hopes, make for a strong showing in Ayrshire next week in what will be her ninth appearance at the Women's Scottish Open. More: Gemma Dryburgh reflects on her breakthrough victory in Japan, where she dined on octopus and won a toilet 'My form this season has been pretty solid and I've had some decent results, although nothing that massively stands out. But I have been consistent and I'm trending in the right direction,' she says. 'I'm feeling much more confident in my game at the moment than I was this time last year. 'Confidence is so easy to lose, but then so difficult to build back up. But this year, my swing has been so much more solid and that's helped my confidence off the tee, which is obviously massive. And my putting's been really consistent, too. 'Links golf is so different from the golf I play week in, week out on the LPGA, so it's nice to get back to my roots and play some more creative golf. 'And I know the course at Dundonald well, which always helps.' Return to Scottish soil should help Dryburgh Dryburgh's return to Scottish soil will, though, present some considerable tests as well. As Scottish number one, hopes of a home winner rest primarily at her feet and shouldering such expectation, particularly given the strength of the field which also includes world number one Nelly Korda, two-time LPGA winner Charley Hull, defending champion Lauren Coughlin and most recent major winner Grace Kim, has not always been something she's found easy. But the Scot's growing bank of experience has ensured she's as well-equipped to deal with her status as home favourite as she's ever been. 'I have struggled with the pressure of playing at home over the years, but I feel like I'm gradually getting better at coping with it,' Dryburgh says. 'There definitely is more pressure because being at home, you really want to perform well because you've got your family there, and obviously there's the home crowd there too. So while there is pressure, it's a privilege to have this pressure. This is the position I wanted to be in when I was growing up, watching the tournament on television.' And Dryburgh's return to links golf this week means she's forced to make subtle but important tweaks to her game if she wants to challenge the leaderboard next week. 'The biggest adjustment is that the greens here are much slower than what I'm used to out in the States, and so I just need to get used to the speed again,' she says. 'It's such a mindset change, and I noticed some of the guys at the men's Scottish Open were talking about that as well. So that's a priority in the days leading up to the tournament starting.' With the Women's Open taking place at Royal Porthcawl in Wales the week after the Women's Scottish Open, this is two of the most important weeks of the season for Dryburgh. She admits she's desperate for a strong showing, and optimistic that, all going to plan, she has the ability to produce some seriously impressive results over the next fortnight, as well as have a little fun. 'It can be difficult to enjoy these home tournaments because, in the moment, the nerves can take over. But in the last few years, I have got better at appreciating it, enjoying it and embracing the feeling of the nerves,' she says. 'Results-wise, obviously two wins over the next fortnight would be the dream. 'But outwith that, top 10 in one or both of the next two tournaments would be a nice result as well. 'I feel like making the top 10 at the Scottish Open is definitely achievable given my experience with the golf course and how I'm playing so I'm looking forward to it.'
The National
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Gemma Dryburgh, back on home greens at Women's Scottish Open
Her return to Scottish soil for the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, which begins at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire on Thursday, presents a mixture of positives and a few welcome challenges. The positives first. For Aberdeenshire's Dryburgh, who has played on the LPGA Tour since 2018 and was part of Europe's Solheim Cup team in 2023, there's few things she embraces more than returning to her home country. And as Scotland's top female golfer, she's in the position that Catriona Matthew, who Dryburgh looked-up to as a young, up-and-coming player was for countless years which is, she admits, quite something. 'I'm very excited about the Scottish Open. I always love coming back to Scotland because I don't get to do it very often these days, so it will be so nice to see the family and play links golf again,' the 32-year-old says. "It's very cool going into the Scottish Open as the top Scottish player. 'One of the other Scottish girls has asked me to play a practice round, and it's things like that which are cool because I remember doing that myself with Catriona when I was younger. 'It's a nice position to be in."Encouragingly for Dryburgh, who won the 2022 Japan Classic, her form as she heads to Dundonald is good. Gema Dryburgh hopes to better her previous best of 34th place at the Women's Scottish Open (Image: Getty Images) 2025 has been what she describes as a 'not spectacular but very solid and consistent season'. It's an accurate assessment of the first six-and-a-half months of the year, with cuts made in two of the four majors so far, as well as a couple of top-20 placings on the LPGA. Most pleasingly for the Scot, though, is how much better she feels about her game than she did twelve months ago. And that form, coupled with her experience and love of links golf will, she hopes, make for a strong showing in Ayrshire next week in what will be her ninth appearance at the Women's Scottish Open. 'My form this season has been pretty solid and I've had some decent results, although nothing that massively stands out. But I have been consistent and I'm trending in the right direction,' she says. 'I'm feeling much more confident in my game at the moment than I was this time last year. 'Confidence is so easy to lose, but then so difficult to build back up. But this year, my swing has been so much more solid and that's helped my confidence off the tee, which is obviously massive. And my putting's been really consistent, too. 'Links golf is so different from the golf I play week in, week out on the LPGA so it's nice to get back to my roots and play some more creative golf. 'And I know the course at Dundonald well, which always helps.' Dryburgh's return to Scottish soil will, though, present some considerable tests as Scottish number one, hopes of a home winner rest primarily at her feet and shouldering such expectation, particularly given the strength of the field which also includes world number one Nelly Korda, two-time LPGA winner Charley Hull, defending champion Lauren Coughlin and most recent major winner Grace Kim, has not always been something she's found easy. World number one, Nelly Korda, will play the Women's Scottish Open for the first time this year (Image: Steve Welsh) But the Scot's growing bank of experience has ensured she's as well-equipped to deal with her status as home favourite as she's ever been. 'I have struggled with the pressure of playing at home over the years, but I feel like I'm gradually getting better at coping with it,' Dryburgh says. 'There definitely is more pressure because being at home, you really want to perform well because you've got your family there, and obviously there's the home crowd there too. So while there is pressure, it's a privilege to have this pressure. This is the position I wanted to be in when I was growing up, watching the tournament on television.' And Dryburgh's return to links golf this week means she's forced to make subtle but important tweaks to her game if she wants to challenge the leaderboard next week. 'The biggest adjustment is that the greens here are much slower than what I'm used to out in the States, and so I just need to get used to the speed again,' she says. 'It's such a mindset change, and I noticed some of the guys at the men's Scottish Open were talking about that as well. So that's a priority in the days leading up to the tournament starting.' With the Women's Open taking place at Royal Porthcawl in Wales the week after the Women's Scottish Open, this is two of the most important weeks of the season for Dryburgh. She admits she's desperate for a strong showing, and optimistic that, all going to plan, she has the ability produce some seriously impressive results over the next fortnight, as well as have a little fun. 'It can be difficult to enjoy these home tournaments because, in the moment, the nerves can take over. But in the last few years, I have got better at appreciating it, enjoying it and embracing the feeling of the nerves,' she says. 'Results-wise, obviously two wins over the next fortnight would be the dream. 'But outwith that, top ten in one or both of the next two tournaments would be a nice result as well. 'I feel like making the top ten at the Scottish Open is definitely achievable given my experience with the golf course and how I'm playing so I'm looking forward to it.'
The Herald Scotland
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Gemma Dryburgh, back on home greens at Women's Scottish Open
The positives first. For Aberdeenshire's Dryburgh, who has played on the LPGA Tour since 2018 and was part of Europe's Solheim Cup team in 2023, there's few things she embraces more than returning to her home country. And as Scotland's top female golfer, she's in the position that Catriona Matthew, who Dryburgh looked-up to as a young, up-and-coming player was for countless years which is, she admits, quite something. 'I'm very excited about the Scottish Open. I always love coming back to Scotland because I don't get to do it very often these days, so it will be so nice to see the family and play links golf again,' the 32-year-old says. "It's very cool going into the Scottish Open as the top Scottish player. 'One of the other Scottish girls has asked me to play a practice round, and it's things like that which are cool because I remember doing that myself with Catriona when I was younger. 'It's a nice position to be in."Encouragingly for Dryburgh, who won the 2022 Japan Classic, her form as she heads to Dundonald is good. Gema Dryburgh hopes to better her previous best of 34th place at the Women's Scottish Open (Image: Getty Images) 2025 has been what she describes as a 'not spectacular but very solid and consistent season'. It's an accurate assessment of the first six-and-a-half months of the year, with cuts made in two of the four majors so far, as well as a couple of top-20 placings on the LPGA. Most pleasingly for the Scot, though, is how much better she feels about her game than she did twelve months ago. And that form, coupled with her experience and love of links golf will, she hopes, make for a strong showing in Ayrshire next week in what will be her ninth appearance at the Women's Scottish Open. 'My form this season has been pretty solid and I've had some decent results, although nothing that massively stands out. But I have been consistent and I'm trending in the right direction,' she says. 'I'm feeling much more confident in my game at the moment than I was this time last year. 'Confidence is so easy to lose, but then so difficult to build back up. But this year, my swing has been so much more solid and that's helped my confidence off the tee, which is obviously massive. And my putting's been really consistent, too. 'Links golf is so different from the golf I play week in, week out on the LPGA so it's nice to get back to my roots and play some more creative golf. 'And I know the course at Dundonald well, which always helps.' Dryburgh's return to Scottish soil will, though, present some considerable tests as Scottish number one, hopes of a home winner rest primarily at her feet and shouldering such expectation, particularly given the strength of the field which also includes world number one Nelly Korda, two-time LPGA winner Charley Hull, defending champion Lauren Coughlin and most recent major winner Grace Kim, has not always been something she's found easy. World number one, Nelly Korda, will play the Women's Scottish Open for the first time this year (Image: Steve Welsh) But the Scot's growing bank of experience has ensured she's as well-equipped to deal with her status as home favourite as she's ever been. 'I have struggled with the pressure of playing at home over the years, but I feel like I'm gradually getting better at coping with it,' Dryburgh says. 'There definitely is more pressure because being at home, you really want to perform well because you've got your family there, and obviously there's the home crowd there too. So while there is pressure, it's a privilege to have this pressure. This is the position I wanted to be in when I was growing up, watching the tournament on television.' And Dryburgh's return to links golf this week means she's forced to make subtle but important tweaks to her game if she wants to challenge the leaderboard next week. 'The biggest adjustment is that the greens here are much slower than what I'm used to out in the States, and so I just need to get used to the speed again,' she says. 'It's such a mindset change, and I noticed some of the guys at the men's Scottish Open were talking about that as well. So that's a priority in the days leading up to the tournament starting.' With the Women's Open taking place at Royal Porthcawl in Wales the week after the Women's Scottish Open, this is two of the most important weeks of the season for Dryburgh. She admits she's desperate for a strong showing, and optimistic that, all going to plan, she has the ability produce some seriously impressive results over the next fortnight, as well as have a little fun. 'It can be difficult to enjoy these home tournaments because, in the moment, the nerves can take over. But in the last few years, I have got better at appreciating it, enjoying it and embracing the feeling of the nerves,' she says. 'Results-wise, obviously two wins over the next fortnight would be the dream. 'But outwith that, top ten in one or both of the next two tournaments would be a nice result as well. 'I feel like making the top ten at the Scottish Open is definitely achievable given my experience with the golf course and how I'm playing so I'm looking forward to it.'
Scotsman
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Gemma Dryburgh and Stephen Gallacher off to strong starts in US events
Scottish No 1 teams up with Australian rookie to set pace in LPGA's Dow Championship Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Gemma Dryburgh teamed up with Cassie Porter to set the pace in the LPGA's Dow Championship as Stephen Gallacher started strongly on his US Senior Open debut. Dryburgh, the Scottish No 1, and Australian Porter carded a four-under-par 66 in their opening round at Midland Country Club in Michigan to lead by a shot from no less than six pairings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Playing an alternate shot format, Dryburgh and Porter posted five birdies, four of which came in a five-hole stretch from the 12th, and a bogey. Cassie Porter and Gemma Dryburgh celebrate during the first round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club in Michigan |The duo hit 11 of 14 fairways, 12 of 18 greens in regulation and recorded 27 putts in their opening salvo. 'Yeah, we obviously have different games,' said Dryburgh as she assessed the splendid day's work. 'Cassie hits it further than me, and I'm nice and down the middle usually. 'We kind of picked the right holes for each other, and I think we gelled really well. We complemented each other really nicely.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is the third time that Dryburgh has led or co-led after the first round of the LPGA Tour, the most recent time being at the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship in France. The pair are playing as the 'Kilted Koalas', with Porter, a rookie on the US circuit this year, revealing how it had come about. 'It's really original,' she said, laughing. 'I asked ChatGPT. I'm really sorry, I wish I could tell you that I came up with it myself, but I didn't.' Stephen Gallacher in action during the first round of the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs |Meanwhile, Gallacher sits just one shot off the lead after he also made a promising start in the 45th US Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The four-time DP World Tour winner posted a two-under-par 68, leaving him handily-placed as Irishman Padraig Harrington and Australian Mark Hensby set the pace. 'I think it's just getting used to the altitude really,' said Gallacher of his effort. 'That's the biggest thing. I think it helped a little bit [from] the rainstorms because it's playing a little bit softer. 'Once you get used to sort of how far the ball is traveling … it made it a little bit easier to hit the fairways. But it's still a great course. You just can't switch off for a second or you hit it [to] the wrong side of the pin and you're doing well not to make bogey'
