After a four month’s maternity leave, North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew showed some great form going into this week’s Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes with a brace of impressive weekend rounds at the Evian Masters in France.

At the end of a tournament that started with a dramatic fire at her hotel close to the course, the 39-year-old East Lothian star had bogey-free closing rounds of 69 and 70. 

While Japan’s Ai Miyazato  beat Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson in a play-off to win the title on 14 under par, Matthew climbed into a tie for 30th on three under.

Evian was Matthew’s first tournament since the birth of daughter Sophie in mid-May, and it proved she will be firmly in contention for a fifth Solheim Cup appearance in Illinois next month.

European Captain Alison Nicholas will name her team that includes three wild card selections at the end of the British Open next Sunday. 

Miyazato, who won 12 titles on the Japanese LPGA and became a superstar in her homeland before heading to America full time in 2006, carded a final round 69 to set the target of 14 under par 274. Moments later, Gustafson birdied the long 18th for a 70 to force the play-off.

In sudden-death, it was Miyazato who secured the $487,500 prize – the joint highest in women’s golf. Playing the 477-yard 18th, Gustafson missed her 10 foot birdie putt and then Miyazato slotted hers home from just three feet. 

Mathew was the only Scot in the 90-strong elite field at Evian and, along with Krystle Caithness, is the only Scot straight into the field.