Scotland’s No.1 Catriona Matthew faces a huge week at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes. 

She goes into the final major of the season hanging on to a European Solheim Cup spot, and the team will be picked on Sunday evening. 

Considering she has missed most of the season following the arrival of baby Sophie in mid-May, the 39-year-old has done remarkably well to still qualify through the world rankings. 

She is currently in the fourth and final qualifying place at No. 64 – 12 spots higher than nearest challenger Minea Blomqvist.

European Captain Alison Nicholas will name her 12 strong team- the top five from the Ladies’ European Tour Solheim rankings plus the next top four from the Rolex World Rankings - at the end of play at Lytham on Sunday.

At five months pregnant, Matthew opened this season by winning the Brasil Cup and she said:  “Getting into the European Solheim team again has been my goal since the start of the season.”

Even if she slips out, she is clearly in Captain Alison Nicholas thoughts for a wild card selection. “We need people who have played in America and faced the big players,” said the skipper. “Catriona played great in Evian last week.”

Krystle Caithness, Janice Moodie and Vikki Laing are the other Scots in the field.