Carnoustie memories helping Louise Duncan feel 'more comfortable' for US Open

Having raised her game once already on a huge stage, Louise Duncan is hoping she can do so again as she makes her US Women’s Open debut along with fellow Scot Gemma Dryburgh at Pine Needles in North Carolina this week.

“Yeah, loads,” said Duncan of the confidence she took from her brilliant performance in last year’s AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie, where she was in the mix heading into the final day before trying for tenth behind Swede Anna Nordqvist.

“It makes me feel a bit more comfortable coming into this week. I kind of know what to expect in some aspects and I know that I can go out and play well in these sorts of circumstances.”

Duncan, who secured her spot through winning the R&A Women’s Amateur at Kilmarnock (Barassie) last year, is among 31 amateurs in the field, led by world No 1 Rose Zhang and Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner Anna Davis.

“Yeah, it’s a great honour to be here and play in my first US Women’s Open,” added the West Kilbride player. “To have that many amateurs in the field is a good challenge and I’m really looking forward to the week.”

Her mindset is a lot better than it was when she created history along with Hannah Darling as the first Scots to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April.

“There’s a lot of difference,” said Duncan of how she’s feeling about this week’s test. “I went into Augusta not being overly confident but I feel pretty happy with how my game is at the moment.

“It’s a really good golf course. You need to be straight off the tee, which I am mostly. I think if I can hit some nice long balls off the tee I’ll be in good stead.”

This event will also help Duncan acclimatise ahead of next week’s Curtis Cup at Merion, where she is joining forces with Darling for