PLAYING SAFE
Matthew and a stellar international cast are taking no chances as they gear up for the Ladies Scottish Open
TRAVELLING in their droves from various corners of the globe, the great and the good of women’s golf have descended upon East Lothian this week for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.
Make no mistake, the eyes of the world will be watching them. The players can be sure of that, thanks in no small part to the unrelenting omnishambles of Scottish football.
Where one sport is on a seemingly inexorable journey back into cold storage, the other is determined not to drop the ball.
The players are on point and on message. The contingent who flew over from the LPGA Tour in America, for instance, were all on a chartered flight.
No stragglers were left behind. Nobody fled the country without permission. Nobody nipped away for a bite to eat and a couple of light refreshments.
No, there is simply too much at stake. As one of the game’s veterans whose career on Tour has now spanned a quarter of a century, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew knows how precious it is just to be back out there playing golf.
Given that she lives no more than a stone’s throw along the road from the Renaissance Club, Matthew would typically be having a cosy week at home with the family right now.
There will, however, be no home comforts. No exceptions will be made. Not even for Scotland’s victorious Solheim Cup captain of 2019.
Explaining the lengths she has had to go to in order to turn her own house into a secure eco-bubble for the week, she said: ‘All the players are staying in the Marriott in Edinburgh. Because we live locally, there’s perhaps only myself and one other player who are allowed to isolate in our houses.
‘But apart from that, I think everyone is at the hotel. Even our dog has been thrown out for the week — the kids and the dog are all with my mum.
‘I’m fortunate that my mum lives along the road, so the kids and the dog have gone along there for the week.’
Matthew fully admits that she was nervous when the idea was first floated about returning to play competitive golf. She can also fully understand why the likes of American star Christina Kim has taken such extraordinary measures to ensure her own safety.
Kim has been very vocal on social media about Covid — and has taken it upon herself to now travel to events in a full protective bodysuit and mask.
Asked what she thought of that particular approach, Matthew said: ‘Yeah, I did see her outfit for flying to Toledo. She was certainly going to be secure. I suppose it’s one of these things. You’ve got to respect everyone. Some people don’t want to travel.
‘If she wants to take those precautions, extreme precautions, that’s great.
‘But yeah, it’s an individual thing, and I think you just have to respect everyone’s decision as to what they want to do to keep safe.
‘I must say, I was a little nervous to start with when I heard about it (returning to play), but all the measures that have been put in place kind of put my mind at ease. Like anyone, I was nervous. There are a lot of players coming from other countries where perhaps the virus rates are higher but now you’re here and you can see it all happening.
‘But I think all the hard work that’s been done by varying different bodies is really paying off, and I feel very happy and excited to be starting play.’
Despite the absence of fans, Matthew is excited about the week ahead and a return to competitive action.
She is a two-time winner of the Scottish Open and will be competing this week against a stellar field, which includes fellow Scot and fellow former champion Carly Booth.
Three of the world’s top ten — including World No 2 Danielle Kang — will be teeing it up at the Renaissance in a world-class field which can boast 15 major winners.
‘The tournament is definitely one of the biggest on my schedule,’ said Matthew. ‘It’s special, obviously, as a former winner and being local, living five minutes along the road in North Berwick.
‘I’m just really looking forward to playing in it. Obviously, it’s going to be different for the local community this year, that none of them can physically come and watch it.
‘Playing with no fans is going to be slightly different. I think it will probably perhaps take a couple of days or a couple of rounds just to get used to the fact that there’s no one out there watching.
‘But you know, I think as everybody has been saying, as players we are all just very excited to have the opportunity and chance to get out playing.
‘Hopefully people will be watching on television. I didn’t realise how much live sport I didn’t watch on TV until there wasn’t any. I was struggling to find things to watch. It’s great to be back.’