Golf: Cat delighted to defend her title at 'favourite' Birkdale

"There is a lot more to do when you are defending champion," said Matthew, who has won another six titles in her successful 15-year professional career. "There is all the media stuff in the build-up so it will be quite nice to get out on the course.

"I'm pleased the Open is at Birkdale. I've played here many times and it is one of my favourite courses. I just hope the weather isn't too bad."

Matthew has enjoyed many memorable moments during her year's reign. She had a star role at last December's BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards and was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

But there have been some strange outcomes as well. Despite being acknowledged as one of Scotland's best, brightest and most articulate Scottish sports stars, she has not been besieged by sponsors keen to secure her services.

In fact, the best she has done - this week and last week - is a fortnight deal with Aberdeen Asset Management. Their logo will be on show at Birkdale and she also wore one of their hats at the Evian Masters in France last week.

But, while the marketing men haven't come running, Catriona, typically, has gone out of her way to give something back to the game she loves. She accepted a post as a Vice-President of the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association and is now actively working for the governing body. As Curtis Cup player, Pamela Pretswell, rightly remarked: "Catriona is the ultimate role model."

What made Matthew's victory at Lytham - she won by three shots from three-time former winner Karrie Webb - all the more astonishing was that it came just 11 weeks after the birth of her second daughter, Sophie.

At a time when most mums would only be concerned with feeds, nappies and sleepless nights, the 39-year-old managed to fit in four rounds in three under par over one of the toughest courses on the planet. No wonder she was dubbed "Super Mum".

While Sophie and older daughter, Katie, now three, were at Lytham, this year the two girls will be at home in North Berwick with their grandparents.

Catriona, now 40, and her husband, Graeme - who is her caddie - decided that it would be easier for everyone.

They will be guaranteed uninterrupted sleep, while the girls will have all their toys on hand. Of course, they will be able to watch Mum and Dad on the BBC.

"It is going to be a special week," acknowledged Catriona, who admits the year as gone in a whirl. "Whatever happens, it's one I will always remember. But I'm feeling confident. I played well at Evian last week, and it will all be about getting the putts to fall."

Since the victory, she has started working with a new coach, Kevin Craggs, who is also the SLGA's National coach. He has not radically changed her swing, but will be on hand to offer support this week.

Matthew is one of five Scots in the field. The others are Glasgow's Janice Moodie, Musselburgh's Vikki Laing, Fifer Krystle Caithness and Archerfield's Lynn Kenny, who sneaked in through a play-off for one of the final spots at Hillside on Monday evening.

Laing made the cut last year and is currently in the top ten on the Ladies' European Tour money list. As with Catriona, she is a player who puts Birkdale among her list of favourite courses.

But it is the international status of the field which makes it such a special championship. Jiyai Shin, the South Korean who won at Sunningdale two years ago, showed she is in top form by winning the Evian Masters on Sunday - a victory that lifted her back to world No.?1

The Americans will also be out in force. The popular Paula Creamer won the US Women's Open three weeks ago and Crisitie Kerr won another of the majors, the LPGA Championship, by a dozen shots in June.

The other major winner this year was the hugely-talented Yani Tseng. The Taiwanese youngster's victory in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March was her second major title.