Golf: Matthew hangs in despite appalling French weather

A HOST of thunderous showers caused much frustration and over two hours of delays, but North Berwick's Catriona Matthew managed to hang on to a sub-par total with a 73 in the second round of the Evian Masters in France.

On one under par, the Scot was eight shots behind the leader, Japan's Mika Miyazato.

Janice Moodie, the only other Scot in the field, was last out, dropped a shot at the first and was forced to rush through the final holes to beat darkness. It seemed to do her good as she birdied the 14th, 15th and 17th for a 70 and made it into the weekend just a shot behind Matthew.

Miyazato - no relation to the world No.1 and defending champion, Ai Miyazato - shot a 67, the last of her half-dozen birdies falling from short range at the long 18th. Matthew has never really hit top form at the Evian - which has a 2.1 million purse and a 319,000 prize for the winner - and she is one who questions the aim of the tournament organisers to make it a fifth major on the women's circuit. to set alongside the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the US Women's Open and the LPGA Championship - all based in the US - plus the Ricoh Women's British Open title that the East Lothian 40-year-old will defend at Royal Birkdale next week.

"It's a good, tough course, but just not really a major course," commented Matthew, a view shared by many.

"And I actually don't think we need a fifth major. "If they do want to have another tier in women's golf it would be good to be like the men and introduce world championship events."