ISPS HANDA TO TITLE SPONSOR THE WOMEN’S SCOTTISH OPEN
Tickets Now on Sale for 2024 Event at Dundonald Links
ISPS HANDA, one of the most prolific supporters of golf in the world, has announced its sponsorship of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, August 15-18, 2024.
ISPS HANDA, founded in 2006 by the Japanese philanthropist Dr. Haruhisa Handa, is a long-term partner of professional and amateur golf events, as well as a wide array of other sporting events. ISPS HANDA utilises these events to promote the ethos that sport has the power to unite and inspire communities around the world, as well as shining a light on Dr Handa’s personal passion -supporting blind golfers.
Dr. Haruhisa Handa, ISPS Founder and Chairman commented, “We are delighted to add the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open to our portfolio of golf events, partnering with VisitScotland, the LPGA, and LET to deliver this important tournament in Scotland, the home of golf.”
Dr. Handa continued, “We believe that sport has the power to inspire, transform, and unite people and communities across social, racial and socio-economic barriers. This tournament will also provide us with an important platform to highlight the inspiring ambitions of blind golfers.”
Since its co-sanctioning in 2017, this event has been a significant stop on both the LPGA and Ladies European Tours. It consistently boasts one of the strongest fields outside of the majors, with this year’s lineup including 17 major winners who hold a combined 24 major titles. Additionally, this year’s field features 35 players set to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics next week, including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who has won both silver and bronze medals in the last two Olympics; British stars Georgia Hall and Charley Hull; and World No.2 Lilia Vu and No.9 Rose Zhang representing the United States in their first Olympics; and Sweden’s Maja stark and Linn Grant also making their Olympic debut for Sweden.
The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have been long-standing supporters of women’s golf, with a strong commitment to The Women’s Scottish Open. The event has grown in stature, both in strength of field and in terms of best operational practices with their support, becoming the first GEO Certified® Tournament on the Ladies European Tour, recognising the tournament’s leadership as a more sustainable golf event.
Ricki Lasky, Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer for the LPGA added: “This is a very important event for our players as they prepare for the final Major of the season, the AIG Women’s Open, and we are delighted to welcome ISPS HANDA as our valued title sponsor, adding to the strong backing already in place from the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and Dundonald.”
Sport Minister Maree Todd said: “The Women’s Scottish Open continues to be built on strong partnerships and I’m pleased to welcome ISPS HANDA as the title sponsor for the 2024 Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. Their ethos that sport has the power to unite and inspire communities aligns with Scotland’s own vision of equality, opportunity and community.
Todd continued: “As part of Scotland summer of world-class golf events, the Women’s Scottish Open is the perfect stage to showcase the best of women’s golf as they prepare for the final major of the season in St Andrews.”
ISPS’s most recent golf event was the DP World Tour’s prestigious 2024 ISPS HANDA Championship, held at the Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba Course in Japan in April. Previous events include the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open (2010-2020), ISPS HANDA Australian Open (2022-2024), ISPS HANDA Wales Open (2012-14 and 2020), ISPS HANDA Perth International (2012-14 and 2016), ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf (2013, 2016, 2018), ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth (2017-19), ISPA HANDA Vic Open (2019-20), ISPS HANDA UK Championship (2020), ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management (2021), ISPS HANDA Championship in Spain (2022) and ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by AVIV Clinics (2019, 21-23). ISPS HANDA has also provided its support to disability golf in a number of ways including the ISPS HANDA Australian All-Abilities Championship and ISPS HANDA Irish Open for Golfers with a Disability.
This year’s event will be held at Dundonald Links for the third consecutive year, following its return in 2022 after a £25 million makeover by owners Darwin Escapes to transform the club into one of the UK’s finest golf resorts. It was also previously held there in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Photo credit: ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open
