Catriona Matthew hoping high cut in AIG Women's Open is good omen

Catriona Matthew, the 2009 winner, is the leading British player along with Becky Morgan from Wales at the halfway stage in the AIG Women's Open at Royal Troon. Picture: R&A via Getty Images

Catriona Matthew is hoping history can repeat itself in the final two rounds of the AIG Women's British Open despite losing ground on the leader after another tough day at Royal Troon.

The 50-year-old, who started the second circuit one off the pace after an opening 70, had moved into a share of the lead on the Ayrshire coast following a birdie-3 at the third in the first women's major of 2020.But, in a troublesome crosswind, she struggled somewhat thereafter and had to settle for a 76 to slip six shots off the lead, held by Swede Dani Holmqvist, in joint-21st."It was really tough out there, a lot tougher today actually," reported Matthew, who is still the leading British player along with Becky Morgan from Wales on five-over. "It was a crosswind all day, so downwind played as tough as going out."I didn't hit it great, to be fair, and made a couple of miraculous up and downs around the turn and they were important in terms of momentum."You knew 10 and 11 were tough drives with the wind coming off the left, which is a horrible wind for me."You just had to hang in on the back nine as well as there were no real birdie chances today."I holed a nice tester for par at the last, which was amazing as I was half plugged in the revetted face of the bunker at the side of the green so it was a nice up and down."It wasn't a million miles away today. I think I just lost a little bit of confidence."I'm happy to be playing at the weekend and I just need to swing it a bit better as I wasn't really committing to shots in that wind."The cut fell at nine-over - the highest total in this event since Matthew's title triumph at Royal Lytham in 2009.

"I better make a surge at the weekend then," she said on hearing that.With conditions set to be a bit easier for the final two rounds, Blomqvist leads on one-under, a shot ahead of American Austin Ernst and Germany's Sophia Popov.Former world No 1 Lydia Ko is lurking ominously on one-over, with 2015 winner Inbee Park also in the mix on four-over."I think it will be a bit of a relief that the conditions are supposed to be better at the weekend as it is pretty brutal out there," said Matthew, one of the most experienced players in the field."The conditions have been really tough and we are playing on a tough but fair golf course. It just shows that a links course in the wind is not easy."Aberdonian Michele Thomson also progressed on her debut, making it on eight-over after a second-round 77."Two more rounds on an amazing golf course on my major debut, I couldn’t ask for much more," said the 33-year-old .

"It was definitely a grind out there, but I'm looking forward to the weekend."

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