'High pressure' displays give Dryburgh US Open confidence

Gemma Dryburgh believes there is no reason why she cannot challenge at this week’s US Women’s Open, saying she has already proved she can compete "in the highest pressure situation in a major".

The 30-year-old Aberdonian, who is the only Scot in the field at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania, will be teeing up for the third time at the event.

Dryburgh’s best showing in a major to date was an eighth-placed finish at last year’s Evian Championship in France.

And she told BBC Scotland: "I got my first top 10 in a major last year at Evian, so I feel like another goal of mine this year is to finish higher in the majors and hopefully one day get a win, so why not this week?

"That is obviously the goal every week, to try to win, so just take one day at a time, that old saying. It is so true, especially in a US Open - everyone is going to have a tough few holes I am sure over the four days, so just stay patient and try to take your chances when you can."

Dryburgh says the Evian finish "gave me a lot of confidence".

"It shows you that you can compete at the highest stage in the highest pressure situation in a major," she said. "It came at an important time of the year last year as well."

Dryburgh finished tied for 31st in last year’s US Open at Pebble Beach and made history in 2022 when she won the Japan Classic, ending an 11-year wait for a Scottish winner on the LPGA Tour.

She was also part of the European team that retained the Solheim Cup in Spain last year.

"I feel really comfortable on the tour and I feel like I really belong out here," added Dryburgh.

"Even though Nelly Korda seems to be winning every event at the moment, I feel like I can still win out here and winning another event is a really big goal of mine.

"The putting I think is going to be key. The fast greens, very slow pace, you want to make sure you leave yourself below the hole if you can.

"I genuinely do putt quite well on fast greens, so hopefully that will be an advantage to me. You just have to stay patient as well.

"These greens, you get onto the green and go, ‘oh wow, this is interesting‘ pretty much on every green, so I think that will be the main challenge this week.”