Matthew was a three-time Curtis Cupper and the first captain to lead Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup wins.
For those who don’t follow the Curtis Cup closely, the appointment of Catriona Matthew as captain of the 2024 Great Britain and Ireland team at Sunningdale might seem like a no-brainer. Of course she’s qualified for such a position as the three-time Curtis Cupper and major champion became the first captain to lead Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup victories in 2019 and 2021.
What’s historic about the appointment, however, is that a professional player has never captained a Curtis Cup team. Matthew will be the first LPGA pro to lead the team of eight in the biennial competition against Team USA. GB&I last won the Curtis Cup in 2016 at Dun Laoghaire.
The 43rd Curtis Cup match will be played at Sunningdale’s Old Course for the first time, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2024. Matthew has practically seen it all in the event. She was on the losing side in 1990, the winning side in 1992 at Royal Liverpool and again in 1994 when GB&I retained the trophy.
Winner of the 2009 AIG Women’s British Open and the 1993 Women’s British Amateur, Matthew still works in a mentoring role with Scottish Golf.
“As a player I remember the emotions of competing in the Curtis Cup,” said Matthew in a statement, “the excitement of being on a team rather than competing individually, as well as the desire to perform well for your team and pressure you put on yourself not to let them down. As a captain, it is my job to navigate the players through these situations and to help them believe what is possible.”
Last summer, GB&I lost to the Americans at Merion by a score of 15½-4½. The USGA has also traditionally appointed outstanding amateur golfers to captain its Curtis Cup squads.
“The Curtis Cup has long been a prominent event for women’s elite amateur golf and Great Britain and Ireland has enjoyed some fantastic wins,” said R&A CEO Martin Slumbers in a release. “We are now seeing the amateur level of the sport evolve into a more competitive era and believe that Catriona is the best placed captain to guide the team in this period.”
Who’s going to capture the final women’s major of the year?
Whoever wins this week’s AIG Women’s British Open will forever hold a special place in women’s golf history. Three years ago, Muirfield, host of 16 men’s British Opens, invited its first female members in the club’s 275-year history.
The club was actually removed from the R&A’s rota of British Open host venues after a 2016 membership vote failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to change the rule to admit women.
The membership voted again in 2017 and pushed it through. Needless to say, the final major of 2022 carries great significance.
Jennifer Kupcho, winner of the first female event ever hosted at Augusta National, won the final Chevron Championship at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course to kick off major season. Minjee Lee’s dominant performance at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles followed.
Then, In Gee Chun nabbed her third different major at the KPMG Women’s PGA, and two weeks ago, the Amundi Evian saw Brooke Henderson snap a six-year drought between her first and second major titles.
Here’s a look at 10 players to keep an eye on at Muirfield:
Catriona Matthew has a monumental tee shot to hit Thursday.
Catriona Matthew will hit the first tee shot at the 2022 AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield at 6:30 a.m. local time Thursday. The historic moment fully belongs to Matthew, who grew up on the Wee Course at nearby North Berwick Golf Club, where she still lives with her husband and their two girls, Katie and Sophie.
Matthew understands better than most what it means for the best women in the world to finally compete at Muirfield, site of 16 men’s British Opens. She volunteered at several of those championships growing up, picking up trash the first time.
“I think probably one of the first times I remember I was a litter picker for one of The Opens here,” she said, “and then I was actually a scorer a couple of times.”
Matthew, of course, grew up to win the 2009 Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter. Her most recent claim to fame: Becoming the first captain to lead Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup victories.
She’s a legend in East Lothian, with North Berwick recently reopening a clubhouse lounge in her name.
“For me personally, obviously living along the road and growing up along road,” she said, “I never would have imagined them ever playing a major so close to home.”
Matthew, 52, is a four-time winner on the LPGA but hasn’t played a full schedule on that tour in several years. While she joked about the challenge of getting her kids up early enough to make it to the first tee on Thursday, the meaning of the moment will be front and center for the woman many call “super mum.”
A general view of the 18th hole at The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers Muirfield the venue for the 2013 Open Championship on August 30, in Gullane, Lothian, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
It was only three years ago that the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers invited its first female members in 275 years. Matthew said she has couple of female friends who are members.
The club was actually removed from the R&A’s rota of British Open host venues after a 2016 membership vote failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to change the rule to admit women.
They voted again in 2017 and pushed it through.
This year’s AIG champion will join a list of 16 men who have won an Open at Muirfield, including the likes of Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.
“I think you just have to look forward rather than look backward,” said Matthew.
“Golf, starting in Scotland, we had a lot more traditions perhaps; that we’re just gradually moving with the times.”
Team Europe captain Catriona Matthew is hoisted onto her players shoulders to celebrate her teams win during the final day singles matches of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles on September 15, 2019 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
As for the golf, Matthew said stronger winds than are forecasted would play to her advantage. Players will need to take advantage of scoring on the front nine, she said, and then hang on coming in. The par 3s, she noted, are particularly tough with no bail-out areas.
“It’s very fair, actually,” she said. “It’s not one of these ones where if you hit a shot down the middle of the fairway, you’re still watching it thinking, ‘Oh, is it going to kick into a bunker.’
“I think here, if you hit a good shot you’re going to stay on the fairway and you’re going to stay on the green. I think in that respect, it’s probably quite fair.”
Make it two in a row for Europe over the Americans in the Solheim Cup. But it was not without some drama.
Make it two in a row for Europe over the Americans in the Solheim Cup. But it was not without some drama.
Europe held a 9-7 lead heading into Monday’s singles matches and kept the momentum going by winning the first 3 ½ points of the day.
Leona Maguire struck first with a 5-and-4 win over Jennifer Kupcho. Maguire, the first Irishwoman to play in the event, went 4-0-1 during the week.
Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden then closed out Ally Ewing, 3 and 2, to give the Europeans an 11-7 lead. Moments later, France’s Celine Boutier knocked out Mina Harigae, 5 and 4, giving the Europeans 12 points, two shy of the 14 they needed to retain the cup.
Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, just 15 days removed from winning her third major at the AIG Women’s British Open, earned a half point in her match against Lexi Thompson, making the score 12 ½-7 ½.
The U.S. finally got on the board when Nelly Korda defeated England’s Georgia Hall, 1 up, cutting the European lead to 12 ½-8 ½.
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Austin Ernst earned a half-point for the U.S. in her match against Nanna Koerstz Madsen, making it 13-9, and leaving Europe just a point away from retaining cup.
Megan Khang then claimed a 3-and-2 win over Germany’s Sophia Popov to cut the U.S. deficit to 13-10.
Brittany Altomare then knocked out Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, 2 and 1, tightening things even further to 13-11.
Lizette Salas and Matilda Castren went to the 18th tied. Castren hit an amazing shot from the sand to set up a par putt, which she made to give the Europeans the crucial 14th point they needed to retain the cup.
Catriona Matthew, who led Europe to 14 ½ to 13 ½ win in 2019 at Gleneagles in Scotland, makes it two wins in row as captain. This is also the second time since the event started in 1990 that Europe won on U.S. soil. The first came in 2013 in Colorado.
The 2023 matches will be held in Spain for the first time, just one week ahead of the Ryder Cup’s first-ever stop in Rome.
In 2024, the Solheim Cup returns to the U.S. while shifting back to even years. The dates and location will be announced at a later date.
After play concluded at the AIG Women’s British Open, the six automatic qualifiers for Team Europe were confirmed.
Anna Nordqvist’s victory at the AIG Women’s British Open vaulted her to No. 16 in the world and into one of six automatic qualifying spots for Team Europe. The 2021 Solheim Cup, staged Sept. 4-6 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, will be captained once again by Catriona Matthew.
On Sunday after play concluded at Carnoustie, the six automatic qualifiers for Team Europe were confirmed. Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen topped Europe’s points standings. She was one of Annika Sorenstam’s captain’s picks in 2017.
Georgia Hall moved into the second position on the points list with her share of second place at Carnoustie.
Sophia Popov, Charley Hull and Carlota Ciganda join Nordqvist in earning their spots off the Rolex Rankings.
Matthew’s six captain’s picks will be announced at 3:30 a.m. ET Monday.
Here’s a closer look at the first six qualifiers on Team Europe.
Ernie Els, Catriona Matthew, Padraig Harrington and Nick Price have joined the R&A’s elite list of Honorary Members.
A foursome of British Open champions accepted invitations to become Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.
Catriona Matthew, Ernie Els Padraig Harrington and Nick Price join an all-star list of past and present members that includes Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam, Peter Thomson, Roberto De Vicenzo, Renee Powell, Kel Nagle and Louise Suggs.
“I would like to congratulate Catriona, Ernie, Padraig and Nick on becoming Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club,” said Clive Edginton, captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, in a release.
“They have each distinguished themselves with their long and hugely successful careers in golf. As well as being great champions, they are superb role models for any young golfers to follow and embody so many of the qualities which make golf such a special sport. They have done a great deal to help promote golf around the world and this recognition is extremely well deserved.”
With 11 major championship victories between them, each have captained teams at the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and Presidents Cup. (Harrington and Matthew are current Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup captains.)
Scotland’s Matthew won the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2009 and has 11 professional victories worldwide. She also led Team Europe to a thrilling Solheim Cup victory at Gleneagles last year. She was among the first recipients of an R&A Scholarship at the University of Stirling.
Els, a four-time major champion, won at Muirfield in 2002 and Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2012 along with his two U.S. Open titles in 1994 and 1997. The former No. 1 has 73 professional wins around the world. In 1999, he established the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation to support children from families of limited resources to progress in golf and has helped the careers of numerous young players.
Harrington won the British Open in back-to-back years at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale in 2008, winning the PGA Championship that same year. In 2011 he became an ambassador for The R&A, helping to support to support and promote a wide range of participation, coaching and Rules education initiatives.
Price is a three-time major champion and former No. 1 who won at Turnberry in 1994. The Zimbabwean has 48 professional titles and represented the International team in the Presidents Cup on five occasions and captained the team for three matches.
Team USA’s Pat Hurst has lobbied for more Solheim Cup captain’s picks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
With the COVID-19 pandemic shrinking the number of playing opportunities on the LPGA, Solheim Cup captain Pat Hurst thought changing the qualifying criteria for Team USA might be in order. She first inquired about changing the points system, but when that didn’t get far, suggested increasing the number of picks.
“I think four would be great,” said Hurst in a media round table. “I don’t know if we’ll get that.”
Currently eight players will qualify off of Solheim Cup points, two get in off the Rolex Rankings and two are captain’s picks.
The Solheim committee that makes such decisions includes LPGA commissioner Mike Whan, the chair of the board, the player president and the three previous U.S. Solheim Cup captains. The committee is expected to meet later in the year.
European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew said her side has already made the change to two players from LET points, four off the Rolex Rankings and six picks. (Europe previously had four picks.)
“We just felt with the players not playing as much and kind of all the schedules being up in the air,” said Matthew, “that it was just nice to do that and give you a bit more options and what you might do going forward next year.”
Earlier this year the PGA of America announced that U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker’s picks would jump from four to six after the event was postponed one year. The men’s European Team has three wild card picks.
The 2021 Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 4-6 in 2021 at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, three weeks ahead of the Ryder Cup and about six hours away from Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
As Laura Davies said, anyone who makes the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open has a chance to take the title at Royal Troon.
Laura Davies birdied the 18th at Royal Troon and popped into the booth for her second job as a commentator for Sky Sports. Her takeaway going into the weekend: Anyone who makes the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open has a chance to take the title.
After two days of brutally difficult weather, Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist remains the only player under par at Royal Troon. Rounds of 71-70 put her one shot ahead of American Austin Ernst and Sophia Popov of Germany and two shots clear of a bunched group at 1 over that includes Lydia Ko and Minjee Lee.
Ko sounds as if she has moved on from that botched finish at the Marathon LPGA Classic, but there’s no way to really know until she gets in the thick of it again on Sunday.
“The more times I put myself in contention or in a good position, it gives me confidence about my game,” said Ko. “Sean (Foley) has been trying to get me to swing aggressively and freely and I feel like I hit it better that way. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but you know, I’ve just got to go out there and not worry about it and just believe in myself.”
Dani Holmqvist of Sweden plays her second shot on the 18th hole of the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo: R&A via Getty Images)
Holmqvist, playing in her second Women’s British, started working with Brad Faxon on her mindset and short game during the LPGA’s five-month break. The extra time to work on her game and rehab her back has paid off handsomely thus far for the 32-year-old, who tied for 29th last week and leads at Royal Troon.
In the fall of 2018, Holmqvist injured her back at the Blue Bay LPGA event in China when a shuttle cart transporting players between holes lost control on a steep hill and slammed into a wall.
“I had a disk, which is leaking, and also really inflamed facet joint,” said Holmqvist. “So I injected that many times, and then it’s just been rehab and ice and kind of rest and you know how it is with backs, it’s a long process and very tedious. It’s an everyday thing.”
This marks the first time Holmqvist has ever led an LPGA event.
Lindsey Weaver can’t possibly go unnoticed at Troon as she’s been out there battling the elements without a caddie. The Arizona grad, playing in her first British Open, has been using a push cart since the LPGA restarted its season in mid-July. A second-round 72 puts her in a share of fourth at 1 over.
Nelly Korda found it difficult to stand up early on in Thursday’s round but found Round 2 even more of a challenge as the wind was consistently strong throughout. Korda posted a second-consecutive 72 and sits three shots back. She played alongside 2018 British champ Georgia Hall and took comfort in the face that it was tough for her too.
“We were like, are you scared over 1-footers, too, with this wind?” said Nelly, “because we were like shaking over it with wind and the gusts. She’s like, me, too. I’m like, OK, good.”
Sophia Popov of Germany plays a shot from a greenside bunker at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon. (Photo: R&A via Getty Images)
Inbee Park matched the day’s low round, 2-under 69, to vault up the board into a share of 17th, five shots back. The seven-time major winner won the last time she teed it up on the LPGA, the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, back in February. This week she has her husband, Gi Hyeob Nam, on the bag (longtime caddie Brad Beecher will be back next week). Park noted earlier in the week that Nam sometimes gets his math wrong.
After two rounds in exceptionally trying conditions, Park gave her man high marks. There is one area, however, where they can certainly improve.
“A couple of decisions that I had was probably wrong,” she said. “It was No. 16, I hit into the water twice yesterday. We laid up in the water. Today we tried to go over the water, but we went into in the water. That was the only hole maybe we have to change the plan the next two days.”
Park thought it might be “impossible” to break par on Troon in these conditions, but the 2015 British Open champion proved herself wrong. The LPGA Hall of Famer counts Scotland as one of her favorite places to play.
“I’m not going to say I’m enjoying this weather,” she said, “but it is fun competing in this weather.”
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew spent a brief time atop the board in red numbers at Troon before faltering a bit to a 76. The European Solheim Cup captain turns 51 next Tuesday and looks to become the oldest player to win an LPGA major. Fay Crocker won the 1960 Titleholders Championship at 45 years, 7 months and 11 days.
Matthew, the 2009 Women’s British champ, trails by six heading into the weekend.
“It was a lot tougher out there actually, a lot tougher today,” said Matthew. “It was just a crosswind today, so downwind played as tough coming as going out, actually. I didn’t hit it great to be fair. Made some quite miraculous up-and-downs.”
Kang has three wins in her last seven starts on the LPGA and three other top-3 finishes. Her scoring average in those seven starts: 68.22
Danielle Kang boarded the LPGA’s charter flight after back-to-back victories in Toledo, Ohio, and headed to Scotland in search of a three-peat. Ariya Jutanugarn, who happens to make her return to competition this week at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, was the last player to win three consecutive starts on the LPGA in 2016.
The overseas bubble is considerably tighter in Scotland than it was in Toledo. Players are staying 45 minutes away from North Berwick’s Renaissance Club at a Marriott property in Edinburgh. Players and caddies were tested for COVID-19 before getting on the charter and again before they were allowed to go to the golf course. There’s no going out for food or even a run this week. Kang, who currently ranks No. 2 in the world, appreciates the strict procedures that are in place.
“Yes, it’s definitely exceeded my expectations,” she said. “We are really strict in how we are moving about. No one has any intent on breaking any rules, but it’s more so the safety for us and safety for people in the country … I wasn’t really that nervous coming over here. I just thought it was interesting, you know, being able to fly international because there have been so many talks about not being able to fly from country to country. I felt excited more than anything to come here.
“Only thing I can do is look outside the window of a car and see Edinburgh. I can’t go anywhere, although the fact that I get to play golf, that’s what I’m the most happy about and the safety protocols on the way we walk from the car park to the golf course to how spread out everything is and dining and you have to wear masks. We have to have the temperature checks at the hotel, leaving the hotel, at the golf course, sanitizing everything before … even with dining with the take-out food and spaced seating, outside and inside, it’s pretty great actually.”
European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew lives in North Berwick and while she’s able to stay home this week, it’s certainly not business as usual for the rest of the family.
Danielle Kang from Las Vegas, Nevada talks with her caddie, Oliver Brett, about a long putt from just off the green on the 17th hole during the final round of the Marathon LPGA Classic golf tournament at Highlands Meadows Golf Club. Kang is looking for a three-peat this week in Scotland. (Photo by Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports)
“Even our dog’s been thrown out,” she said. “The kids and the dog are all with my mum.”
There are 144 players in the field at Renaissance, including seven Scots: Carly Booth, Gemma Dryburgh, Kylie Henry, Kelsey MacDonald, Alison Muirhead, Michele Thomson and Matthew.
Dryburgh, who won twice on the Rose Ladies Series before posting a career-best finish at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness — a tie for sixth — will hit the first tee shot at 6:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. Sadly, no fans will be onsite to see it.
“Yeah, so I’d say to be honest, I’m not a morning person,” Dryburgh admitted. “So I think tomorrow works out, I’m going to have to wake up at half-past three because it’s a 45-minute drive and I have to stretch and all that and eat breakfast. It’s going to be an early, middle-of-the-night start. Once I’m up and on the course, I’m sure I’ll be fine, and I think take advantage of the hopefully calm conditions that early in the morning.”
Kang has three wins in her last seven starts on the LPGA along with three additional top-3 finishes. Her scoring average in those seven starts: 68.22
Such consistently stellar play, however, doesn’t mean that she’s cruising in Scotland. Quite the contrary. She’s already grinding, noting that the Renaissance will test every part of her game.
“This might sound very generic,” said Kang, “but acceptance, to be honest, is going to be toughest for me … I don’t really have control over that here, and I think that’s going to be the toughest for me, where if I hit a great shot and I end up in a place that I don’t want to be, I just have to let it go and work it out from the shot that has been given, and that is something that’s going to be a challenge, definitely, that I’m going to face.”
After leading the Europeans to a thrilling victory at Gleneagles, Catriona Matthew was reappointed as captain, and to no one’s surprise.
Catriona Matthew will attempt to pull off something two years from now that no European Solheim Cup captain has ever done: She’ll try to become the first captain to successfully defend the cup on U.S. soil.
Indeed, the 50-year-old Scot will try to become Europe’s first multiple Solheim Cup-winning captain.
Matthew will once again lead the European team when she takes the trophy to Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio in 2021. She led Europe to a dramatic 14 ½ – 13 ½ victory at Gleneagles this year.
Matthew, who counts three victories in her nine appearances as a player, was on the only Solheim Cup team to win the match in the United States. That was in 2013 when Liselotte Neumann captained the European team. The 2009 Women’s British Open winner fully understands the enormity of the task at hand.
“Winning the Solheim Cup in Scotland was a dream come true but backing that up with a win in America would be even better,” Matthew said.
“It’s always harder to win on U.S. soil, but I’m honored to be tasked with the mission. I was lucky enough to be part of the first European team to win on U.S. soil at Colorado Golf Club in 2013 and so know what’s possible.”
Suzann Pettersen holed Europe’s winning putt at Gleneagles and then announced her retirement from competitive golf. She would have been in the frame to lead Europe in Toledo, but will probably have to wait until the 2023 match.
The Norwegian was originally meant to take the role of vice-captain at Gleneagles along with Laura Davies and Kathryn Imrie, but swapped places with an out-of-form Mel Reid. Matthew announced that Pettersen, Davies and Imrie will return as vice captains.
“I’m thrilled that Catriona is returning as captain,” Pettersen said. “She’s a class act and obviously inspires all the players and team members around her. She’s not only a Solheim Cup legend, but she’s also a great leader, friend and mother. She had the faith in me to choose me as a wildcard pick, for which I will forever be grateful and she deserves all the credit.”
Said Davis, “Catriona was such a great captain that she deserves the chance to go and get the trophy back again.”
