Catriona Matthew shrugs off 'pathetic' form to shine in AIG Women's Open

Catriona Matthew, the 2009 winner, opened with a level-par in tough conditions at Troon for the first round of the AIG Women's Open. Picture: R&A via Getty Images

Catriona Matthew, the 2009 winner, shook off a "pathetic" run of form to be among a handful of players to tame Royal Troon on a tough opening day in the AIG Women's Open.

The 50-year-old, who won the Helen Holm Trophy in 1990 at the Ayrshire venue as an amateur, carded a level-par 71 in winds gusting up to 30mph to sit one shot off the clubhouse lead, held by Germany's Sophia Popov.

Matthew, who claimed her title triumph in the major at Royal Lytham just 11 weeks after giving birth to her youngest daughter, Sophie, lit up her round with a burst of three birdies in a row from the 15th.

"I'm delighted," she admitted afterwards. "I played well. I drove the ball well. I don't think I missed a fairway today, which gives you the opportunity to try and hit the greens.

"Going out into the wind was obviously super long and then coming back downwind sometimes isn't that easy, either, as it was such a strong wind.

"I also putted well from probably 10 feet and I think that and driving are probably the two key things you have to do well on days like this."

Matthew, who led Europe to a sensational Solheim Cup success at Gleneagles last September, has slipped to 407th in world after seeing her game go off the boil over the past couple of seasons.

As had been forecast, the wind was howling from the moment Laura Davies, in her 40th appearance in the event, hit the opening shot in the event's first staging at Royal Troon at 6.30am.

Even though Matthew is more used to such conditions than most of the others in this week's field, she admitted it had been one of the toughest tests she'd ever faced.

"I don't know that I'd actually go out and play on a day like this at home," she said, smiling. "I'd probably sit and look at them and think what idiots they are to go out there and play.

"But I think perhaps just the experience of having played in this event so often helps. Throughout the years we have had some pretty horrific days, and you just go out therewith the mentality that you just need to hang in.

"You might get the odd bad break, you might get a few good ones. But you just try and hang in and try and give yourself putts for par."

The long-time Scottish No 1, though Gemma Dryburgh now holds that mantle, missed the cut in last week's Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open in her native East Lothian, but a decision to try out a new putting grip here paid dividends straight away.

"It's quite a radical change," she revealed. "The grip I'm using now is the saw grip. Over the years I've tried various different grips, left-hand low, just changing how I hold it generally.

"I've fiddled about with it in practice and never taken it to a tournament, but I thought there was nothing to lose this week. I missed so many last week I had to try something different."

Reflecting on an effort that included a 30-footer being converted at the 15th for a birdie, she said: "I don't know when the last time was that I came off the course feeling as happy as I do today about my round. My form has not been great, pretty pathetic, in fact."

Popov birdied two of the last three holes to edge ahead of both Matthew and Alena Sharp, a Canadian with Scottish ancestors, as well as Dane Emily Pedersen and American Lindsay Weaver.

Dryburgh, meanwhile, opened with a 74, but Kylie Henry and Carly Booth were both left with a battle to make the cut after they had to settle for 78 and 80 respectively.

Michele Thomson, the fifth Scot in the 144-player field, was among the later starters.

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