Golf: Cat stays out of the rain and in touch at Evian Masters

NORTH BERWICK'S Catriona Matthew was delighted to dodge the late afternoon torrential downpour at the Evian Masters and opening with a round of two under par 70 on a muggy day in the picturesque French resort overlooking Lake Geneva.

Three birdies and just one bogey - a pulled tee shot at the short 14th - left the 40-year-old Scot just four shots behind the three 22-year-old leaders, American Morgan Pressel, South Korean Sun-Ju Ahn and England's highly promising Melissa Reid.

"I've played here many times but never really had a decent result," said Matthew, whose only top ten finish in 12 attempts came on her debut in 1998, "but today was a good start and I played pretty well. I finished with a birdie, from 15 feet, so that always helps."

While Matthew wants to do well this week - and was in a tie for 26th after her opening salvo - she is already focusing on her defence of the Ricoh Women's British Open, the last of this year's women's majors, starting at Royal Birkdale next Thursday.

As a result, she is travelling with her husband and caddie, Graeme, but without their two daughters, Katie, 3, and 14-month-old Sophie. "We won't see them again until after Birkdale, but we know we're both going to be very busy, especially next week. We'll miss them, but they will have more fun back at home with the grandparents," Catriona explained.