Hannah Darling opens up on feeling 'proud' to become new LET card holder

With fellow Scot Heather MacRae on her bag, Darling followed a brilliant six-under-par 67 at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech in Friday’s penultimate circuit with a four-under 68 in the closing round at Royal Golf Marrakech on Saturday.

Giving her a 13-under-par total, the two eye-catching efforts lifted the 22-year-old from joint-35th at the halfway stage into a position where she comfortably secured a spot in the all-important top 20 and ties.

“Relief, excited, happy, proud - just everything,” replied Darling, who was handed a boost at the outset of her professional career when she received support from the Sean Connery Foundation via Scottish Golf’s new women’s professional transition programeme.

The Scot’s success came after she’d suffered an earlier disappointment when falling at the first hurdle at the LPGA Q-Series following her switch to the professional ranks in the summer.

“It’s been quite a year and quite a couple of months,” added Darling, a two-time Scottish Girls’ champion. I’ve put a lot of hard work in and I am really excited to go and play on the LET next year.

“It’s been a dream for a while, so very proud and really proud of how I have handled the last couple of weeks as it’s been tough. But I’m very happy and excited about what’s to come.”

Coming through one of the pre-qualifiers meant the Broomieknowe player had secured a status on the LET Access Series for 2026. Instead, though, she’ll be sitting at the top table in her first full season in the paid game with a Category 12 card.

“Honestly, pretty well,” she said of how she’d handled the nerves. “Last week was hard because, if you don’t make it through, you don’t really have anything whereas going into this week I was trying to remind myself I have a job for next year no matter what through having starts on the LET.

“There were positives there, but the way I handled today I was really proud of that because I didn’t let myself get ahead and kept going. I’ve played really good golf the last two days.”

As for having MacRae, who played on the LET for a spell and has just been appointed as the GB&I captain for the next Women’s PGA Cup, on the bag, Darling said: “She’s one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet.

“She captained the Scottish team in my last amateur event at the European Ladies’ Team Championship last summer. She offered to do these last two weeks and she’s just been awesome. She’s been a psychologist, caddie, friend and I’m super grateful to her.”

Darling’s dad David had made the journey to Morocco and was overcome with emotion as her success hit home. “I could probably count on one hand the times I’ve seen my dad cry and today was one of them,” she admitted with a smile. “He’s been there through it all and both my parents are great, as my whole family is. Yeah, super, super happy that my dad was able to be here and I’m excited to see my mum tomorrow.”

The 2026 LET season starts in February with the $5m PIF Saudi Ladies International before heading Down Under for a four-event Australian Swing.

“Any time to you get to represent Scotland is something that makes you feel super proud,” admitted Darling of becoming the latest player from the home of golf to earn the right to fly the Saltire on the circuit.

“I’m trying to not get too far ahead, but the Australian Swing looks pretty good but “!I’ll maybe look at the schedule a bit more tomorrow and I am happy that I have full access to the LET next year, which is really, really cool.”

As Pole Dorota Zalewska took pride of place by finishing three shots clear of the field on 19 under, others to secure Category 20 cards included Ireland’s Aine Donegan and English duo Caley McGinty and Meghan MacLaren.

Louise Duncan finished next best among the Scots but, after being just outside the card zone after 36 holes, she had to settle for a tie for 66th on two under, four better than both Laura Beveridge and Lorna McClymont while, at the end of a tough week, Gabrielle Macdonald finished 153rd on 23 over.