MASTERFUL MATTHEW LEADS THE WAY FOR GB

GOLF is coming home at Gleneagles after five of Britain’s six European Championship teams — including four Scots — topped their qualifying groups yesterday. All three women’s pairings, and Scots duo Connor Syme and Liam Johnston, are in pole position with 100-per-cent records from two matches ahead of Sunday’s semi-finals. England’s Callum Shinkwin and Lee Slattery are also in the medal hunt after following up their drawn opener against Spain with an emphatic 6&5 drubbing of Sweden. Only the duo of Rhys Enoch and Charlie Ford failed to deliver for the second day running and will play in today’s dead rubber against Ireland. Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew and Holly Clyburn led the way against Norway in the opening match, eventually snatching victory over Ireland on the final green. It required a masterful display from Scots veteran Matthew, 48, who sank three crucial putts in the closing stretch at the PGA Centenary Course. Matthew holed par-saving putts from eight feet at the 16th and 17th before sinking a testing five-footer at the last. ‘It was tricky, as the wind was strong,’ she said. ‘We had some good putts at the end to nick it. But I got lucky. ‘I’d rather have won three holes earlier but that’s the attraction of matchplay. It can be exciting.’ The pair fist-pumped on the 16th after Matthew had rolled the ball in to ensure the match was all-square. But she added: ‘After such an awful first putt, I’d have been slapping myself if I’d three-putted.’ Georgia Hall showed no signs of flagging after her British Open victory at Lytham five days ago when she partnered Laura Davies to a 4&3 win over Germany. Aberdonian Michele Thomson and Wellingborough’s Meghan MacLaren — the daughter of a Scot — easily overcame Austria 5&3.