Matthew to join US trip to help GB&I in bid to win Curtis Cup
Catriona Matthew is hoping to sprinkle some of her Solheim Cup captain’s magic on the Great Britain & Ireland players bidding to claim a rare Curtis Cup win on US soil this summer.
Hot on the heels of the eightstrong team being announced on Monday, a number of the GB&I players are meeting at Merion, venue of the 42nd edition in June, in Philadelphia over the weekend, when they are being joined by Matthew.
The double Solheim Cupwinning skipper has accepted an invitation from Elaine Ratcliffe, the GB&I captain for the second match running against the Americans, to be part of the get-together and is aiming to share lots of useful advice.
After playing in nine Solheim Cups, the North Berwick womanledeuropetoadramaticvictoryatgleneaglesin2019before creating history by making it back-to-back wins in Toledo, Ohio, last year.
“It’sveryexciting,especiallyto deal with girls at that age,” said Matthewofateamthatincludes Broomieknowe 18-year-old Hannah Darling and 22-yearold Louise Duncan from West Kilbride after they were among six players to retain spots from last year’s defeat at Conwy. “It’s a bit like the Solheim in many ways, but they obviously don’t havetheexperience.hopefullyi cangivethemsomeknowledge. As I said to Elaine, the captain, even if they take just one thing from me then it will be worthwhile.”
Matthew played three times inthecurtiscup,includingtwo matches in the US. The first one in 1990 ended in a heavy defeat at Somerset Hills in New Jersey, but she then helped the visitors secure a 9-9 draw on the Honors Course in Chattanooga four years later.
GB&I’S only win in the event on US soil came in 1986 at Prairie Dunes in Kansas while the last six away matches have ended in defeat, including a 17-3 thumping at Quaker Ridge in New York four years ago,
“I’llhelpthemprepareinvarious ways,” added Matthew. “A Curtiscupinamericanistough. But most of the GB&I players areus-collegebased.there’sno excuses, really, as they all play out there. When you know the players you’re up against, too, that helps. I remember my first one in 1990, you’re nearly overwhelmed by it all. I played two away and one at home. The first one was quite daunting. I was completelyunderpreparedand taken aback by it all. I did learn, though.”
Matthew, who was speaking in her new role as tournament
ambassador for the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open, is trying to get her own game to “peak” this year for the US Senior Women’s Open in Ohio in late August.
In the meantime, she is enjoying watching the likes of Darling, Duncan and also Grace Crawford, winner of both the
Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open and the R&A Girls Under-16 Amateur within the past fortnight, all making real headway.
“It’s nice to see a few coming through and all at the same time. That helps, too, as they push each other on,” said the 2009 Women’s Open champion,
who is also excited to see one of her Solheim Cup vicecaptains and also a long-time friend, Kathryn Imrie, taking upapostasperformancecoach with Scottish Golf in June.
“She’s the ideal candidate for this type of role,” said Matthew. “She has all the experience of playing, plus coaching.”