Melissa Reid hails role model Catriona Matthew

CATRIONA Matthew has earned praise from one of the players aiming to follow in her spikemarks for being able to live the “American Dream” while still residing in North Berwick.

England’s Melissa Reid reckons Matthew is a perfect role model for the next generation of European professionals, having been able to make her mark on the LPGA Tour without moving her family to the United States.

“I’m a big fan of ‘Beany’, she’s a great girl,” said Reid, who was one of Matthew’s team-mates when the Scot, on her sixth appearance in the biennial bout, helped Europe win the Solheim Cup in Ireland in 2011.

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“I love the fact she still lives in Scotland and plays the LPGA. She’s doing great things for Scottish and British golf. She goes about her business very quietly, which is why she doesn’t get as much recognition as she should. But her [2008] Women’s Open win at Lytham was something very special and her Solheim record is pretty staggering. She’s definitely someone I look up to.”

Both Matthew and Reid, a 25-year-old who has four wins on the Ladies European Tour, will be at St Andrews in August when the Old Course hosts the Ricoh Women’s British Open.

“Challenging for majors is the next step for me,” added Reid who, as an amateur, tied for 16th behind Lorena Ochoa at the home of golf in 2007.

“I was young, cocky and full of confidence when I was 18 and thought I was going to win. I’m very fond of the Old Course. It’s going to be a great event and hopefully I can play well.

“I did a little bit of spring-cleaning at the end of last year, getting myself pretty much a new team and now I want to show dedication and put in some hard work.

“I need to be in America, basically, and so to play well in the majors I can achieve that target that way or, alternatively, go to Q-School.”