Scotland’s Mhairi McKay, one of three Scots on the US-based LPGA Tour, will miss most of next season as she is expecting her first baby at the beginning of May.

The 33-year-old married American Dave Smith last year and they are now based in New Mexico.  “I’ll not be playing at all now before the baby is born, but I do hope to be back competing again before the end of the season,” said McKay.  

A member of the LPGA since she graduated from the prestigious Stanford University in California in 1997, McKay won the 2003 Women’s Australian Open and has played for Europe in two Solheim Cups during her successful professional career.

This season, she finished a slightly disappointing No. 116 on the LPGA Tour money list with £60,000 – she finished in the top 20 at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies’ Scottish Open at the Carrick, Loch Lomond, in May. 

McKay is now set to complete the set of Scottish mums on the LPGA Tour.  Janice Moodie’s son, Craig, arrived in September 2006, while Catriona Matthew’s daughter, Katie, recently celebrated her second birthday.

They have both returned to play full-time, with Matthew finishing at No. 41 on this year’s LPGA money list with £300,000 and Moodie at No. 64 with £150,000.