Matthew taken aback by loss of VisitScotland support

Published on Monday 28 July 2008 23:49

AS EVENTSCOTLAND announced a deal yesterday to bring the British Women's Open to Scotland, it emerged that North Berwick's Catriona Matthew has had her sponsorship contract as a golf ambassador terminated by another government agency, VisitScotland.

Currently 25th in the world – she's the leading Scottish golfer of either gender – Matthew expressed her dismay at being axed. "I was very pleased with the support they gave me over the past six years," she said, "but very disappointed, as a member of the last three Solheim Cup teams, to learn the contract has been terminated."

Matthew's management company, 110sport, were taken aback by the decision to ditch Scotland's leading female player at a time when their support for the professional women's game has been dramatically raised.

Brian Marchbank, 110sport's head of golf, had no complaint when the organisation also decided not to renew their backing for Steven O'Hara, who has struggled to produce his best form in recent seasons. "But I do find it difficult to get my head around why they didn't want to continue working with Catriona," he said. "As well as being Britain's top golfer, she's also a fantastic ambassador for Scotland who is really good at what she does off the course as well. She gave a two-day clinic at Archerfield recently which was a tremendous success."

According to a source, VisitScotland, which has retained Sam Torrance as an ambassador, decided not to offer Matthew a new deal because she is primarily based in America.