Scotland’s first and only major champion Catriona Matthew, used all her experience and guile to guide her way around Royal Troon this morning in a level-par round of 71 at the 2020 AIG Women’s Open. She is currently T2 in the clubhouse behind Germany’s Sophia Popov, who, at present, is the only player to sign for an under-par score.
A champion in 2009 at Royal Lytham, just 11 weeks after she gave birth to her second daughter, you might think that she would know this part of the world like the back of her hand however, Matthew has not played the famed layout since 1994 in the Helen Holm Trophy – an international amateur event.
Heading to the turn in 37 strokes on the tricky front nine, Matthew set alight on the 15th hole to start a run of three consecutive birdies, making a 30ft putt for birdie, followed by a 15-footer for another gain at Nos. 16 before knocking a ‘little 8-iron to 12 feet’ on Nos. 17.
The secret to her success proved to be the putter. Debuting a new grip this week, the 50-year-old Solheim Cup captain need only 24 strokes on the Ayrshire greens and is currently leading the putting stats.
“I drove the ball well and putted well. I don’t think I missed a fairway today, which gives you the opportunity to try and hit the greens. I putted well from 10 feet and in, which I think is probably the two key things you have to do well on days like this.”
Comparing today’s conditions to Hoylake in 2012, when asked about her recent experience in these conditions Matthew replied,
“I don’t know that I’d actually go out and play on a day like this at home. I’d probably sit and look at them and think what idiots they are to go out there and play. But I think perhaps just the experience of having played in this event so often throughout the years we have had some pretty horrific days, and it’s just a case of going out there with the mentality that you just need to hang in.”
At No. 407 in the current Rolex Rankings, Matthew might not be playing the best golf of her career coming in to the championship, but one thing that is for sure, is that the she knows her way around a Scottish links and as long as it proves to be a difficult test, she is force to reckoned with.
Tomorrow’s weather is set to be even worse in the morning, with strong winds set to again blow from the South East.
Matthew tees it up for round two at 2.11pm alongside Angela Stanford and Aussie amateur Gabriela Ruffels.
