North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew birdied the last for a 74 after a dramatic opening day for her and husband, Graeme, at the Evian Masters in France.

On the eve of the tournament, Catriona and Graeme had to dodge flames as they fled from the burning Pavillons du Golf Hotel close to the course. 

Graeme, who usually caddies for Catriona, burnt his foot escaping from the flames and ended up in hospital. 

Catriona bravely decided to compete and made three birdies in a round that included an hour’s delay due to thunder and lightning.

Wales’ Becky Brewerton and South Koreans In Kyung Kim and Na Cheon Choi led  by one on 67.

“It was a total nightmare,” said Catriona, who was relieved she had left her two children, Katie (2) and Sophie (two months) at home with the grandparents in Scotland. 

“We were in our room and at first we thought the noise was heavy rain. Then I opened the door and saw the flames. We had to run through them and we were very lucky to get out. The place is burnt down.

“Fortunately, my clubs were at the course, and we managed to save things like the computer and our passports. 

“But we’ve lost a lot of clothes and other stuff.  This is my first tournament since having Sophie and it’s definitely not what I needed on my comeback.”

After the overnight scare, it was little wonder that Catriona, who won a tournament in Brazil at the start of the year, made a slow start and she dropped a shot at the short second. 

She did pick up shots at the seventh and ninth, but also had four bogeys. The only Scot in the elite 90-strong field, she is hoping to use Evian and next week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes to prove she is ready for next month’s Solheim Cup.