Catriona will ignore the rankings and aim for another home success
The World Rankings would suggest the United States are favourites to retain the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles.
As she prepares to captain a Europe side desperate to deny the Americans their third win on the trot, Catriona Matthew wouldn’t argue with that assessment.
But she has every faith in Europe’s ability to feed off the home crowds and chase a third success on Scottish soil.
Battle lines are drawn in Perthshire from Friday when Matthew’s side go for glory over The PGA Centenary Course in the eagerly-awaited biennial contest.
With the Americans boasting 10 players in the world’s top 50 – compared to Europe’s six – some bookies have the visitors as short as 8/15 for glory, spearheaded by world No. 3 Lexi Thompson.
Matthew, though, expects the anticipated 70,000 spectators to play their part at Gleneagles, and also draws confidence from the last two Solheim Cups held in Scotland.
When the tournament was staged at Dalmahoy in 1992 and Loch Lomond in 2000, both were won by the Europeans.
Matthew, appearing at her 10th Solheim Cup, but the first minus her clubs, said: “I mean world ranking-wise, the Americans will be favourites.
“They probably are, overall, higher ranked than us. But I’m pretty confident in my team’s ability.
“After Dalmahoy and Loch Lomond, let’s hope that is a lucky omen.
“The bigger the crowds at Gleneagles the better, as the crowd is definitely the 13th member of the team.
“It’s amazing how much they can energise you, on the course, if the crowd is getting behind you.
“You can hear them cheering the other matches – and you definitely know whether it’s a European cheer or a USA cheer!”
Juli Inkster’s team are going for a third-straight success in the event, but the USA skipper will be fully aware that it was Europe who won the 2014 Ryder Cup at the venue.
Just like Paul McGinley did then, home captain Matthew can make changes to the course to suit her charges, with British links-style run off areas around the greens one tweak from the Scot.
“The players all love the course,” added Matthew, who played in nine Solheim Cup contests from 1998-2017 and won the winning point at Barseback in 2003.
“It’s in great shape, and it’s been nice to see all the infrastructure going up in the last few weeks.
“You want nice weather, you don’t want it being awful. The players don’t like playing in terrible weather, and neither do spectators.
“A Scottish week, staying dry with a little wind to make it challenging, would be nice.
“My players don’t need motivated. If you are not motivated to come to play in this, then there is nothing that can.
“I just want to be there for them, to try to exude that confidence and make it as relaxed as possible for them.”
Matthew, whose first win on Scottish soil as a professional came at Gleneagles in the McDonald’s WPGA Championship of Europe in 1998, is disappointed not to have a Scottish player in her side after Stephen Gallacher made McGinley’s team in 2014.
Still, with the likes of Suzann Pettersen in her ranks – the experienced Norwegian was handed a surprise pick after almost two years out of action – Matthew is relishing the big tee-off.
The former Women’s British Open champion said: “It’s obviously disappointing not to have a Scot in the team.
“It was good to see Carly Booth come back with her recent win in the Czech Republic and, hopefully, she will keep that form going and have a good run at the team in two years’ time.
“Suzann wasn’t sure whether she would be playing, but she is back and you can see that fire and desire. She will be ready.
“It’s fantastic at Gleneagles, and you couldn’t have a nicer setting here in Scotland. It’s a long, busy week, so to be on site and in such luxury, really, is great. I’m excited for the week ahead.”