Matthew’s wildcards can produce a winning hand
WHo on earth pictured the prim and proper Catriona Matthew as a high-stakes roller? You could be forgiven for that impression following the rather startling announcement of her four solheim Cup wild cards at Gleneagles yesterday.
Bronte Law and Celine Boutier from France were obvious. But suzann pettersen is currently ranked 620th in the world having played precisely two events in 20 months, following the birth of her son, Herman — missing the halfway cut both times.
It gets better. The fourth pick is england’s Jodi ewart shadoff, the only player not at the announcement because she’s recovering from a minor back operation, having spent the summer in almost constant discomfort.
Lest we forget, the eagerlyanticipated 16th edition of the best event in women’s golf tees off at the 2014 ryder Cup venue in a shade over a month’s time.
What was Matthew thinking? The scot smiles broadly. ‘I don’t see either pick as a gamble,’ she said. ‘I am 100-per-cent confident in both picks.’
If truth be told, looking down the list of alternatives, it really does appear a gamble worth taking in both instances. Mel reid would probably have got the nod if she’d played well in the last two events in Britain, but she missed both cuts.
she has now replaced pettersen as a vice-captain, and will step in to the team if ewart shadoff doesn’t prove her fitness. No one else put forward a persuasive case for selection.
This european side, therefore, looks a lot like some of the early ryder Cup teams. There’s a lot of talent and personality at the top of the order and you can’t imagine they’ll be too far behind — if at all — going into sunday’s singles. But what about those 12 matches — are there heroes waiting to emerge in the manner of eamonn Darcy, philip Walton, and phillip price, to make all the difference?
as for the pick who will be under the most scrutiny, Matthew knows pettersen as well as anyone. They were team-mates in seven solheim Cup teams. she knows the feisty Norwegian brings a lot of Ian poulter’s attitude to the home dressing room.
Like poults, you’ve got to love pettersen’s honesty. ‘obviously life has changed for the better with the birth of my son but the fact is I miss golf,’ she said. ‘I think I was born for the solheim Cup.’
Her record suggests as much. only three players have contributed more than her 19 points. ‘My best moments in golf have come in the solheim Cup,’ said the double major champion.
What would she say to the doubters? ‘Bring it on,’ replied the 38-year old, without hesitation. ‘I can cope with the pressure of being a pick. I would have told Beany (Matthew’s nickname) if I thought I wouldn’t be ready. I’ll be ready.’