North Berwick's Catriona Matthew on being part of St Andrews' first Women's Golf Major

World No.1 Lorena Ochoa, three-time champion Karrie Webb and ten-time major winner Annika Sorenstam have all expressed their excitement as they look forward to the Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews (August 2-5).
 
But perhaps the player with most reason to be thrilled at the prospect of being part of a cast taking part in the first women’s professional event to be staged over the famous Old Course is Scotland’s very own Catriona Matthew. If it promises to be pure theatre, then the home favourite has high hopes of being the leading lady.
 
Matthew will certainly figure among the star attractions. She is not only the Scottish No.1 but is also the leading British player at No. 25 on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings.
 
More reason for optimism? She won the prestigious St Rule Trophy over the Old Course – Sorenstam is another former winner – when she was one of the best amateurs in the world back in 1993. What’s more, she learned her golfing trade over another renowned links course, North Berwick West.
 
“It certainly promises to be a great week and I know that everyone is really looking forward to it,” said Matthew. “There’s going to be a little extra pressure for the Scots, but it will be nice for the women to be the focus of attention for a change.
 
“I’ve got some great memories of the Old Course from my amateur days, although people tend to forget that you don’t get much chance to practise on links courses once you join the LPGA Tour. Everyone thinks I’ll have an advantage, but it doesn’t always work out that way.”
 
Matthew has won four times around the world in her glittering 13-year professional career, including a memorable win in the 1998 McDonald’s WPGA Championship of Europe over the King’s Course at Gleneagles.
 
“That was a super week,” she recalled. “We don’t often get to play in front of a Scottish crowd and to win the tournament was definitely a career highlight. It was special to have everyone cheering for you.”
 
The only previous occasion that the Women’s British Open was at Turnberry in 2002, when Webb walked off with the spoils. Matthew finished a so-so joint 35th.
 
This year, she will be aiming to complete a formidable record in the majors. She tied for second at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March when she was one putt away from taking Morgan Pressel into a play-off, she was joint ninth at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship, and then shared 16th place at the recent US Women’s Open.
 
As a new Mum – Katie will be seven months old when she watches her parents (Dad Graeme is the caddie) stride the famous St Andrews fairways – Matthew admits that she was a little concerned at how she would adjust to her new responsibilities this season. But it has been a remarkably easy transition.
 
“It’s definitely a lot different having someone else to think about, and there’s an awful lot of extra luggage to take on planes,” said Matthew, who has been described by her coach Dave Whelan, as one of the top ten ball strikers in the women’s game.
 
“But we’re lucky that Katie has been a great baby and sleeps really well. I’m really pleased with the way I’ve played all season, and I seem to have kept my very best form for the majors, which has been very nice.”
 
She is also all but assured of making her fourth Solheim Cup appearance at Halmstad in Sweden in September, and she will be doing her best to stage a repeat of Barseback 2003 when she clinched the point that sealed victory for Europe.
 
As she nears her 38th birthday, and with the extra responsibilities of motherhood, Matthew is fully aware that she is nearing the twilight of her tournament career. She already has a pretty high pile of memorable moments, but there’s no doubt that win at St Andrews would be the best of the lot.
 
“Everyone wants to win a major and to do it at St Andrews in the British Open really would be a dream come true,” she agreed. “I’ll certainly be trying my best.”

EB

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