Matthew has hunger for more honours

SHE’S won a major, eight other titles around the world and done both herself and Scotland proud in six Solheim Cup appearances, but Catriona Matthew still has goals to cross off her list before settling down at home in North Berwick and watching her two young daughters grow up.

For starters, there’s one Continent that remains unconquered for the globe-trotting 42-year-old and, though her impressive Solheim Cup CV includes two victories, the icing on that particular cake would be helping Europe taste success on US soil in two years’ time.

“It would be nice to win in Asia – that would be a goal before I stop,” said Matthew when asked what was left for her to achieve, having recently added Mexico to a list of individual professional wins that already included America, Australia, Brazil, England, Scotland and Sweden. “I’ve had my chances out there before, but just never managed to win.”

To win anywhere at the top level in the women’s game has been a tall order throughout Matthew’s 16-year career in the paid ranks. First it was dominated by Annika Sorenstam then Lorena Ochoa. Now, Yani Tseng is the undisputed world No 1, the Taiwanese player already having five majors under her belt and she’s still only 22.

Tseng was an emerging talent when Matthew became the first Scot to claim a women’s major as she won the 2009 Ricoh British Open at Royal Birkdale. Having since watched the classy Asian player record back-to-back wins in that event over the past two years, the Scot admitted her own latest success, by four shots in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara last month, had proved particularly sweet.

“To win any event is great, but to win one where she [Tseng] is playing, particularly given the form she has been in this year, makes it even more special as she is getting as dominant as Annika and Lorena used to be,” reflected Matthew. “I think she can beat Annika’s record [of ten majors] as she’s still so young. I’ve played with her a few times this season and she doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses.”

Neither does Matthew. In the last 14 years, she has finished outside the top 50 on the LPGA Tour just once. She’s twice finished tenth and, this season, ended up in a respectable 16th position with earnings of close to $700,000. Coincidentally, she is 16th on the career money-list as well with a haul of just under $7million.

Her 2010 campaign also included a second professional win on Scottish soil – an impressive one at that, as she stormed to a ten-stroke victory in the Aberdeen Ladies Scottish Open at Archerfield Links, close to home and where she is also an honorary member.

“I think I’m now playing the best golf I’ve ever played and swinging the club probably the best I ever have as well,” admitted Matthew, acknowledging her decision to start working with Kevin Craggs, the SLGA’s national coach, a couple of years ago had been a contributing factor.

“He’s made a huge difference,” she added. “He explains things well and gets me to do little drills just to get me to where I’m going. He’s so enthusiastic and is really keen for me to do well.

“To me it feels like big things we are changing but it tends to be little things. I changed my backswing a little to get a better tempo. I used to be too quick and I couldn’t set my wrists, so I’m just trying to slow it down.”

Matthew hasn’t unpacked her clubs since returning from the season-ending finale in Florida three weeks ago and is no rush to. “That’s why I like coming back here at this time – the weather usually means I don’t feel bad about not practising,” she joked.

Instead, early preparations for next season, when the Women’s British Open is being moved back in the schedule – “September at Hoylake could be interesting,” noted Matthew – due to the Olympics, are taking place in the gym at the Macdonald Marine Hotel in her home town.

“It’s at this time of year I get a new programme from my fitness trainer, Steve Paulding. I’m just trying to get fitter and stronger to keep up with everyone. Over the last two years, since I had [younger daughter] Sophie, I’ve stepped that up.”

Matthew, who was speaking as she joined Stephen Gallacher as an ambassador for the Lomond Audi Group – “it’s nice to get local support as it feels as though you’re appreciated at home” – admitted her win in Mexico had been a “bonus” after her season already seemed destined to end on a high on the back of her helping Europe record a dramatic 15-13 win in the Solheim Cup in Ireland.

“Winning the British Open was great personally, but I’ve always loved the Solheim Cup and it would be tough to top Kileen Castle,” she admitted. “That last hour was amazing. They thought they’d won and we looked like we’d lost it. Then, suddenly, we snatched it.”

The stunning victory has put the European side in contention for the Team of the Year prize in the forthcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year bash. So will there be one more title to come for the Scot in 2011?

“I didn’t think so initially – and I still think the England cricket team will probably win – but maybe we have a slight chance because of the flap about no ladies being nominated [for the main award]. Obviously you don’t put someone in for the sake of it, but that was a bit silly.”

Matthew is keen to end her Solheim Cup career by holding the European captaincy, saying it would be useful to serve as a vice-captain first. “But I would like to play in another one,” she added. “It would be nice to win one in the States. We have a really good core of young players coming up, so if I can hang on and play in another I think we’d have a really good chance in 2013.”

Don’t dare discount her chances of achieving those remaining goals.