When the UKSCA announced a new partnership with The R&A to launch an exclusive Strength & Conditioning placement at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, it was billed as a milestone moment, not just for the Association, but for the profession. The initiative promised an opportunity that blended elite-level exposure with mentorship and diversity, creating a pathway for young female coaches to step into high-performance sport.
Now, looking back on Royal Porthcawl, that promise has been more than fulfilled.
Two practitioners, Fiona Jordan and Becky Scott, were selected for the placement. Both came into the week with different backgrounds: Fiona, an experienced performance coach at the Scottish Institute of Sport with major multi-sport experience at Commonwealth and Olympic Games; Becky, an S&C coach working across private clients and a girls’ school in Winchester, passionate about golf and at the start of her journey in elite sport.
Together, they formed part of a multidisciplinary team supporting professional golfers through one of the biggest weeks in the sporting calendar.
“It was the first time I’ve ever been in an all-female S&C team,” Fiona reflects. “That in itself was a great experience and important for the players to see that level of service delivered by female practitioners.”
Becky echoes that sentiment: “I’ve often been the only female on courses or in other environments, but this placement gave us a real voice. It shows that these opportunities are there.”
For both practitioners, the placement was about far more than simply spotting athletes in the gym.
“We often talk about S&C as sets and reps,” Fiona says, “but in environments like this, it’s everything else that matters. Setting the tone, creating a welcoming space, removing barriers for players, making sure the environment works for everyone.”
Royal Porthcawl’s purpose-built gym became a hub of activity throughout the week. Some athletes arrived with their own support staff; others had no S&C provision at all. Fiona and Becky’s role was to ensure that every player had access to world-class facilities and felt comfortable engaging with them.
“There were players waiting at the door at 4:30 in the morning,” Fiona laughs. “That surprised me, but then you realise, for a six-hour round of golf plus all the preparation, they need every minute. Our job was to make sure nothing stopped them from getting what they needed.”
For Becky, the experience highlighted the importance of professionalism and service standards. “The R&A had thought of everything, from gym kit for players whose luggage hadn’t arrived, to wellness lounges. Our job was to meet the required high standards every day. It was about being proactive, professional and positive.”
While the week was intense with long shifts spanning dawn to late evening, it also created invaluable learning moments.
Becky recalls conversations with the LPGA physio and other practitioners: “Those quieter times were gold. We’d share ideas, discuss approaches and see how physio work could link into the gym. It really broadened my perspective.”
For Fiona, it was about understanding how professional golf differs from her usual sports. “At the Commonwealth Games or Olympics, athletes peak for one or two major events in four years. In golf, players compete almost every week. That changes everything. It made me think differently about how you maintain physical preparation over such a relentless calendar.”
The placement has already created ripple effects. Becky has since been invited to further R&A events, including LET and youth championships, while Fiona has expanded her network of professional contacts. Both emphasise that the experience has reinforced their confidence and opened new doors.
But perhaps most importantly, it has sent a signal to young female coaches.
“Sometimes the hardest step is just applying,” Fiona says. “We don’t see enough women even putting themselves forward for roles. Opportunities like this show what’s possible, they make it real.”
Becky adds: “Yes, it’s a male-dominated profession, but my advice to young women is simple: go for it. Every step you take builds your confidence and your place in this industry. And the people you’ll meet along the way will support you more than you might expect.”
For the UKSCA, the AIG Women’s Open placement was also about more than a single event. It was a statement of intent: to create meaningful pathways, to champion diversity and to showcase the profession’s role on the biggest stages in sport.
As Fiona and Becky’s stories show, when given the opportunity, S&C practitioners can not only deliver world-class support but also break down barriers, inspire the next generation and raise the profile of the profession itself.
And that’s exactly what the UKSCA, working with The R&A, set out to achieve.
Interested in the 2026 placement? Check out the job advert now in the Latest Jobs section of the website and here.
