You are what you eat. “People should eat more healthily because it's what you put in your body,” reasoned Charley Hull, as some of the sheepish golf writers hastily tried to hide our pokes of Greggs steak bakes and Empire biscuits.
Ahead of this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, there was plenty of food for thought.
At least the aforementioned scribblers found an ally in Nelly Korda. Well, in a fashion.
The world No 1 has arrived in Ayrshire after a few days spent recharging the batteries in her childhood home of Prague.
“Lots of calories and food,” drooled the four-time major champion of her indulgencies. “But lots of walking, too, so it kind of balanced out.”
Darn it. As for Hull? Her diet is even more disciplined these days due to the fact that a variety of niggling injuries have led to her cutting back on her gym work.
“It's a shame because I can't really go running because of my injuries,” she said. “So I just have to eat healthily.”
This Scottish showpiece looks in rude health too. Ahead of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham next week, an impressive field, which features seven of the world’s top-10, will parry and joust with the firm, fiery links of Dundonald.
Hull, who finished on the fringes of the top-20 in last year’s championship, continues to wrestle with the fickle quirks and curiosities of the links game but the world No 7 is relishing another battle with this type of golf.
“I'm kind of understanding links golf a little bit more,” said the 30-year-old, who has been a runner-up in two LPGA Tour majors this season.
“I got it out of my head that links doesn't suit me, and now I’m just trying to make it suit me.
“It's something that you have to deal with. I love the US Open. To me, it is the crème de la crème. The golf courses we play suit my eye so well, whereas links golf is just hard to visualise it. But you just have to trust yourself.”
Korda, who won the opening two women’s majors this season, made her debut in the Women’s Scottish Open 12 months ago and finished fifth behind winner, Lottie Woad.
This week, the 27-year-old has also made a debut appearance on a different type of Scottish terrain.
“I actually drove for the first time ever on the other side of the road,” she said with a smile.
We’re not sure if she tackled a birl on the Stanecastle roundabout near Irvine but Korda has certainly been kept on her toes in this parish.
“A lot of roundabouts here,” she gasped. “Roundabout, roundabout, roundabout, roundabout.”
While Korda gets to grips with the wacky races, Aberdeen’s Gemma Dryburgh is adapting to a much bigger change in her life.
Dryburgh’s partner, Anne-Lise Bidou, gave birth to a son, Leo, at the end of 2025 and the Scot continues to settle into life as a parent.
“It's obviously a different lifestyle now,” said the 33-year-old, who is one of just two Scottish players in the field.
“There’s somebody else to think about now. Usually, you were just thinking of going to practice all day and now you have to manage that time better.
“It’s a bit of a juggling act but I’m getting the hang of it now and I’m making sure my days are very focussed when I’m at the golf course.”
A share of 12th in the Dow Championship remains Dryburgh’s best result of a largely frustrating, inconsistent campaign on the LPGA Tour.
“There have been a few good rounds, but I’ve not been putting four of them together,” said the former Solheim Cup player, who earned a breakthrough win on the circuit in Japan back in 2022.
“I feel like my game is trending in a good direction. This week will be better than any to kick it into action and hopefully have a good end to the year.”
Georgia Hall, meanwhile, is dipping her toes back into the competitive waters after giving birth earlier this year.
The former AIG Women’s Open champion played in France on the Ladies European Tour in May but this outing at Dundonald is her first on the LPGA Tour.
Some pearls of wisdom from a Scottish golf super mum have aided Hall’s return to the fray.
“I sent a few texts to Catriona Matthew asking for some advice about coming back after a baby and the mindset of playing big events again,” said Hall of Matthew, who won the Women’s Open in 2009 just 11 weeks after giving birth.
“A top tip was to expect less. She said to me, ‘of course you're going to hit a bad shot because you haven't been around for like a year, so play more relaxed, and hopefully you play better’.”
What were we saying about food for thought again?
