Sally Watson wins place in US Open

Published in The Scotsman on 31 May 2013

Two-times Curtis Cup player Sally Watson this week won a United States Women’s Open championship qualifier at Broadmoor Golf Club, Colorado.

With only two places available in the major at Sebonack Golf Club, Southampton, New York State, Watson headed a field of 51 players with scores of 72-76 for 148 in testing conditions. It will be her third appearance in a women’s major.

Edinburgh’s Watson, 21, graduates at the end of four years as a student at Stanford University, California on 16 June, so she did not enter the British Women’s Open Amateur championship which is being played at Machy-nys Peninsula, near Llanelli, South Wales that week. She was the leading match-play qualifier in the British event at Carnoustie last June.

Although she has qualified for the US Women’s Open as an amateur, Watson, a former Scottish U18 girls champion who played for GB and I in the 2008 and 2010 Curtis Cup matches against America, will play in the event as a professional. This is permitted under USGA rules as long as she declares it in advance.

“I plan to play a combination of Paul Lawrie Scottish Ladies Open Tour and LETAS events before competing in the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Qualifying Schools at the end of the year,” Watson said.

As the dates of the US Women’s Open are 27-30 June, it is unlikely Watson will be able to make it back to Scotland in time for the Paul Lawrie Tour events at Downfield (2 July) and Carnoustie Burnside (3 July). It is more likely that she will make her debut as a pro in Scotland at Blairgowrie Rosemount (11 July) or Alyth (12 July).

Read the original article in The Scotsman