UPS AND DOWNS
Catriona Matthew has reiterated her desire to be Europe’s Solheim Cup captain at Gleneagles in 2019 after calling time on one of the best playing records in the event’s history at the end of a remarkable week for the North Berwick woman here in Iowa.
After coming into Annika Sorenstam’s side as a late replacement for the injured Suzann Pettersen at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, the 47-year-old ended up as the second most successful player for the visitors behind Anna Nordqvist with three points out of four.
The haul, which included a last-day singles success over Stacy Lewis after being three down early on, took Matthew’s tally in the matches to 22 points, just three behind all-time leading scorer Laura Davies and two adrift of Sorenstam, the trio all having been more successful than Cristie Kerr, who jumped above Juli Inkster at the top of the US list after the home side’s deserved 16½-11½ victory on Sunday.
However, even though a tenth playing appearance would certainly not be fanciful based on this performance and also the fact that she shows no signs whatsoever of being at a stage where the light on her career is starting to flicker, Matthew is not going to be tempted by having a chance to become a record-breaker.
“I think I should go out on a high,” she said. “I know that I am now just three points
“Initially, I was disappointed not to be playing, then excited about being vicecaptain, then I did get in. I’m just pleased that I played so well”
CATRIONA MATTHEW well on the back nine against Stacy under real pressure and hopefully I can take that into the end of the season.”
The 2009 Women’s British Open winner was quick to throw her hat into the ring after Scotland won the bidding battle for the event in two years’ time and was immediately identified by Judy Rankin, a two-time winning US captain, as the perfect candidate to lead the Europeans at Gleneagles in her commentary role here for the Golf Channel.
It certainly seemed that Matthew was being groomed for that role when she was