Catriona Matthew relishing tough Oakmont test

CATRIONA Matthew, the Ricoh Women's British Open champion, is hoping Oakmont will provide the sternest possible test when she bids to add another major title in this week's US Women's Open.

The North Berwick player, one of four Scots in the field for the third major of the women's season, fancies her chances if the Pittsburgh course is more about making pars than birdies.

"I usually play better on the more difficult courses," said Matthew, whose British title triumph at Royal Lytham last summer saw her become the first Scot to win a women's major. "When par is a good score I am usually better. I'm not someone who usually shoots 20-under."

Matthew, who defends her Ricoh crown at Royal Birkdale in three weeks' time, added: "I'd love to win another British Open but the US Open is the other one I have always wanted to win. I've been really looking forward to Oakmont, especially after watching the 2007 US Open (won by Angel Cabrera) on television. It looked really good."

Japan's Ai Miyazato goes into the event as the new women's world No 1, a position that was opened up by the shock retirement of Lorena Ochoa earlier this year. "I was very surprised by that," admitted Matthew. "I knew she wasn't going to be out here for 20 years but certainly thought she'd play her ten years to get in the Hall of Fame. It is a blow for the ladies' game to have the last two No 1s (Annika Sorenstam held the position before Ochoa] retire at the top."

The Scot, who has Janice Moodie, Mhairi McKay and amateur Sally Watson for company this week, has no plans for retiring herself just yet, though her schedule may be trimmed back once her two young daughters start school.

"I've not thought about when I'll call it a day," said Matthew. "Once (oldest daughter] Katie starts school we'll re-asses things as I don't want to be away a lot then."