Women’s Open: Catriona Matthew defies elements to tame Troon

Solheim Cup captain shrugs off poor form and fierce wind to card opening level-par 71
Catriona Matthew tees off at the third hole during the first round of the AIG Women's Open at a windswept Royal Troon. Picture: R&A via Getty ImagesCatriona Matthew tees off at the third hole during the first round of the AIG Women's Open at a windswept Royal Troon. Picture: R&A via Getty Images
Catriona Matthew tees off at the third hole during the first round of the AIG Women's Open at a windswept Royal Troon. Picture: R&A via Getty Images

If it had been for a bounce game at North Berwick, Catriona Matthew probably wouldn’t even have popped her head out of the door. “I don’t know that I’d actually go out and play on a day like this at home,” she said as a fierce wind whipped across Royal Troon on the opening day of the AIG Women’s Open. Referring to the fact her home overlooks the West Links in the East Lothian town, she added: “I’d probably sit and look at them and think what idiots they are to go out there and play.”

Being one of the “idiots” on this occasion was well worth it. Over a course where she won the Helen Holm Trophy in 1990 as an amateur, Matthew shrugged off her “pathetic” form over the past couple of seasons to make her presence felt on the leaderboard in the event’s historic first staging at the Ayrshire venue. On a day that ended with American Amy Olson three clear of the field on four-under and just three players in red figures, a level-par 71 left the 2009 winner handily-placed.

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“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,” admitted the 50-year-old, who led Europe to a sensational Solheim Cup success at Gleneagles last September, of an effort that was illuminated by a burst of three birdies in a row from the 15th as she rolled in putts from 30 feet, 15 feet and 12 feet.

Matthew has slipped to 407th in the Rolex World Rankings and has lost her long-time mantle of Scottish No 1 to Gemma Dryburgh. Class is permanent, though, and that shone through on one of the toughest days for any major on these shores for a long time.

“I’m delighted,” admitted Matthew, one of the oldest players in the 144-strong field. “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. I also putted well from probably ten feet and I think that and driving are probably the two key things you have to do well on days like this.”

To give players a better chance of combatting a wind that stayed pretty strong throughout the day and gusted up to 30mph at times, the R&A moved the tees forward at the first six holes and also at the ninth, 12th, 16th and 17th. Playing at 6,311 yards instead of 6,649 yards, it was still a meaty test.

“I hit every club in the bag today and that is very unusual. It’s the sign of a good golf course, I’d say,” said Matthew, who recorded her title triumph at Royal Lytham just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, Sophie.

“I hit driver, 4 rescue at the first today whereas in the practice rounds it was a 3-wood to lay up short of the bunkers and then an 8-iron into the green. It was a totally different hole and that was with the tee up.

“I think the R&A deserve credit for the course set-up because they moved a lot of tees up on the front nine and had to really otherwise it would have been too long. The pins on the whole were in the middle of the greens and not in really tough positions.”

Out in the afternoon, when a couple of squally showers added to the testing conditions in the first women’s major of 2020, Olson dropped her only shot of the day at the third before bouncing back to birdie the fourth, sixth, 11th, 14th and 16th. It was a brilliant day’s work by the 28-year-old from North Dakota, leaving her three shots clear of compatriot Marina Alex and Germany’s Sophia Popov.

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“I played so solid today,” said Olson, who tied for second in the 2018 Evian Championship, the other women’s major held on this side of the Atlantic, but is still seeking her maiden win in the pro ranks. “If I wasn’t on top of the leaderboard, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Admitting that she’d benefitted from a top-10 finish in last week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, the leader added: “I enjoy links golf, I love major championship golf and I love the tough conditions. I feel the cream rises to the top.”

Playing alongside Laura Davies, who had to settle for an 80 after being handed the honour of hitting the opening shot in her 40th appearance in the event, Canadian Alena Sharp recovered from sending her drive at the first out of bounds and starting with a double-bogey 6 to match Matthew’s effort.

The 39-year-old from Hamilton in Ontario revealed afterwards that she felt her promising start had been inspired by a Scottish connection. “I have ancestry from here,” she said, smiling. “My grandmother was born in Greenock and my uncle was born in Glasgow. I feel like they were watching over me today and giving me a little help out there.”

Late in the day, Michele Thomson signed for a 73 on her debut in the event, having finally made it to the first tee after being a reserve on three occasions. “I loved every minute of it,” said the 33-year-old Aberdonian with a smile that lit up a gloomy night.

Also making her debut, Dryburgh bounced back from her disappointing sign off in the Ladies Scottish Open to give herself a great chance of making it to the weekend on the back of a 73. “It was a three or four-club wind going out and it wasn’t easy either coming straight downwind coming back,” said the Aberdonian of the tough test. She earned a place in the history books as the first winner of a professional women’s event at Royal St George’s in the Rose Ladies Series after coming out of lockdown and is now enjoying another historic occasion this week. “Playing in my first Women’s Open in Scotland is special,” added Dryburgh. “I just wish my parents could watch, but they are here in spirit.”

Georgia Hall, the 2018 winner, opened with a 73, three better than both compatriot Charley Hull and new Ladies Scottish Open champion Stacy Lewis on a day when neither of them could muster a birdie. Defending champion Hinako Shibuno ran up a triple-bogey 8 at the fourth as she could only manage a 76, leaving her fighting to make the cut along with Kylie Henry (78) and Carly Booth (80).

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