Matthew fears golf chiefs will have to axe blue riband events
BY CRAIG SWAN
CATRIONA MATTHEW reckons golf will struggle to get all of the Majors staged in 2020 given the logistics of a late-season log jam.
The R&A yesterday declared they are still fighting to play The Open at Royal St George’s in July.
But the Masters and US PGA have been postponed already with no new dates announced while June’s US Open looks set to follow.
Europe’s Solheim Cup skipper believes the Majors may take precedence when golf restarts.
But Matthew said: “It’s a tricky one. Probably, yes, you’d want the Majors played. But then do you want them played four weeks in a row?
“Obviously it depends where they’re being played as well, when it comes to if you can even play them later in the year.
“Again, if you just get one or two Majors in, maybe that’s enough. I don’t know.
“A lot can depend on where they are in the country they’re being played in and obviously just getting all the players in.
“The Majors have huge fields – players from all over the world – so that’s another issue.”
With September’s Ryder Cup also in jeopardy, Matthew admits she would have no problem with next year’s Solheim Cup being bumped back to 2022.
The Scot skippered a glorious win at Gleneagles last September and will retain the role for Ohio.
Not since 2002 have the two events being played in the same year after 9/11 saw the Ryder Cup at The Belfry postponed. The Solheim was played again in 2003 to return to alternate years.
Matthew said: “In 2002 they were played in the same year then switched to alternate years. But the Solheim is now a bigger event.
“I don’t make the decisions but it would not surprise me that, if the Ryder Cup moved, they would look at moving the Solheim to the next year.
“It is certainly something I think would be spoken about rather than have them both in the same year. I don’t think I would have a problem.
“The qualification process would be easier for the players again as they’d have this year as void and start again from next year.
“This is certainly a tricky year and the main focus is just trying to get things back to normal for the whole world.”
Matthew was speaking as an Aberdeen Standard Investments ambassador.