R&A chief hails 'truly special' Curtis Cup - and the key decision behind Sunningdale success

GB & Ireland secure first victory since 2016

Martin Slumbers may be too modest to admit it, but the outgoing CEO of The R&A played a key part in Great Britain & Ireland becoming Curtis Cup winners again – and not because he was on starting duties at Sunningdale last week for the 43rd edition.

Though it was a nice touch for Slumbers to be carrying out the announcing of players at the Berkshire venue in what was the last event of his nine-year tenure before handing over the reins to Mark Darbon, his hand in the outcome on this occasion had come in the build up to the biennial bout.

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After three successive heavy defeats to the United States, a decision was taken by The R&A to do away with the tradition of GB&I captains being amateurs and appoint a professional, with the nod, of course, being given to Catriona Matthew on the back of the Scot leading Europe to back-to-back victories in the Solheim Cup.

Captain Catriona Matthew celebrates with her players after Great Britain & Ireland's win in the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club on Sunday. Picture: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.Captain Catriona Matthew celebrates with her players after Great Britain & Ireland's win in the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club on Sunday. Picture: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.
Captain Catriona Matthew celebrates with her players after Great Britain & Ireland's win in the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club on Sunday. Picture: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

“Her reputation for strong leadership and past experience as a player with winning pedigree make Catriona the perfect captain for the Great Britain & Ireland team,” said Slumbers when Matthew, a three-time Curtis Cup player, was appointed in March 2023

There was no guarantee, of course, that the North Berwick woman could work her magic in an event that has historically been dominated by the Americans, but, providing the home players with belief and confidence, it was mission accomplished once more wearing a captain’s hat as GB&I won 10-5.9.5 after a nail-biting final day on Sunday.

“Catriona and her support team brought a wealth of experience and learnings from their Solheim Cup success and it was fantastic to see the team respond so positively,” said Slumbers of GB&I’s first victory since 2016.

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Referring to Matthew having enlisted both Karen Stupples, a Women’s Open winner at Sunningdale, and Kathryn Imrie to assist her, he added: “I know that the players have truly valued their professionalism, guidance and support in the months leading up to and during the match.”

Outgoing CEO of The R&A Martin Slumbers was the official starter for the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. Picture: National WorldOutgoing CEO of The R&A Martin Slumbers was the official starter for the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. Picture: National World
Outgoing CEO of The R&A Martin Slumbers was the official starter for the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale. Picture: National World

A crowd of 16,680 - a record on either side of the Atlantic - took in the event over three days, with the welcome win for GB&I coming hot on the heels of Lydia Ko handing the game a huge boost in terms of its profile after the popular Kiwi became both an Olympic gold medallist and AIG Women’s Open winner in the space of a fortnight.

“Winning the Curtis Cup is a fantastic achievement and the players will remember this as a stand-out highlight of their golfing career when they look back on it in the years to come,” added Slumbers, a huge golf fan himself and the driving force behind initiatives like The R&A Women in Golf Charter.

“Their skill and competitive zeal were a joy to watch. The match embodied what is truly special about elite amateur golf and I would like to thank everyone involved for making it such a wonderful occasion.”

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The next home match will be at Royal Dornoch in 2028, with Neil Hampton, the Sutherland club’s general manager, having had his appetite whetted by a visit to Sunningdale to see what it was all about.

“Obviously we are very excited anyway and hope that we can mirror the experience of last weekend,” he said. “We remember how it was for Nairn in 2012 and what the win meant there, but also how the Highlands responded to it being in our area.

“Royal Dornoch wants to give our team the best opportunity to add to the ‘W’ column and will do its best to provide a setting and atmosphere to match that we have just witnessed.”

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