Robertson, the head coach of the University of Stirling, is pivotal in Duncan’s rise. His ability to keep her grounded had the best effect on the ninth after making three bogeys in a row. It looked like it would unravel at an alarming pace on the par five when she fell short on her third but a fantastic up and down stopped the rot and on the next hole there was another brave par save, thanks at a pitch of 70 yards to six feet. On the 13th, Duncan hit a luscious seven- to two-foot iron and in reality she should have been a few better, but that wasn’t going to spoil her optimism.
“I have to play the way I play and hit more fairways and greens because that ultimately means more opportunities,” she said. “Just stay there, because another top 10, or better, is of course possible from here.”
Due to the increase in prize money, a top 10 this time around would be worth at least £130,000, and that would change wedding plans for her and partner Jordan Hughes, an international swimmer she met in college.
“If it’s a big, big check, we’ll go abroad to finalize it,” Duncan said. “Oh, if that comes off badly, I mean it as nicely as possible. Sorry, Jordan. Otherwise it could be a ferry to Arran.’
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