Matthew shows there is still life in her game yet

SOLHEIM CUP captain Catriona Matthew rolled back the years to tame a windswept Royal Troon and raise hopes of a second win in the AIG Women’s Open.

Eleven years after winning her sole Major title at Royal Lytham, Matthew carded a superb level-par 71 in winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour to lie four shots behind American leader Amy Olson.

The 50-year-old Scot was two over par with four holes remaining before making a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th and completing her round with a bogey on the 18th.

Matthew said: “Coming in here with how I’ve been playing lately, making the cut would be good. “But a day like today, conditions probably helped me that it’s not going to be super low scoring.

“There’s no reason why I can’t go on from here. There’s still a huge way to go.” Matthew’s display was aided by a new putting

BY DALE RANKIN grip and she added: “It’s quite a radical change.

“Over the years I’ve tried various different grips but this ‘saw’ grip is quite a radical one.”

Olson carded five birdies and a solitary bogey in a 67 to lead by three from compatriot Marina Alex and Germany’s Sophia Popov.

The leader said: “The conditions were so tough I’ve said it was the best ball-striking day of my life. I kept the trajectory on every shot what I wanted.”

Olson, who finished second in the Evian Championship in 2018 after a double bogey on the 72nd hole, added: “I seriously love major championship golf.

“I love the difficult conditions. I feel like the cream rises to the top.

“It requires every part of your game to be sharp.”

Former champion Georgia Hall was happy to have finished on two over after a 73.

Hall, who won at Lytham in 2018, said: “Some holes I could barely stand up, it was so windy.

“I’m pretty happy with how I played. I played quite conservative at Lytham and tried to stay out of the bunkers so that was my aim today.”

CATRIONA MATTHEW ON HER TROON PERFORMANCE