Matthew is keen to take the plungeFROM THE HERALD WEBSITE
By Douglas Lowe
Catriona Matthew has carried herself with great dignity and poise since winning the Women’s British Open last year, but she would love nothing better than to let her hair down next week and take a running jump into a lake.
The first major championship of the women’s golf season is looming. It is the Kraft Nabisco Championship over the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills and it is a great tradition there that the winner hurls herself into the water fronting the 18th green. Matthew would love nothing better than to take the plunge.
At world No.16, Scotland’s highest-ranked golfer is on a two-week sojourn starting next week with the Kia Classic at La Costa, Carlsbad, that used to be the regular venue for the men’s WGC matchplay championship. She is looking for a decent week to set herself up for the big one.
An American major is now the burning ambition of Matthew, who last year surprised everyone, including herself, by becoming the first Scot to win a women’s major, at Royal Lytham, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, and she is raring to go.
“I’m playing well and looking forward to it,” she said. “I have had a good break. I usually take four or five weeks off without touching a club and that keeps me refreshed and keen.”
Matthew has had four top-10 finishes at Mission Hills, including runner-up three years ago, and the 40-year-old, whose career is likely to become more restricted when her children reach school age, knows that the clock is ticking and next week is a big opportunity.
“I’ve done well there in the past and I like the course so I am looking forward to it,” she said. “The US Open [at Oakmont] is also a big goal and likewise defending the British Open [at Royal Birkdale], so there are lots of things to aim for.”
Matthew will be back in Europe next month at the La Sella resort in Alicante, Spain, where she and Krystle Caithness will represent Scotland in the European Nations Cup.
By Douglas Lowe
Catriona Matthew has carried herself with great dignity and poise since winning the Women’s British Open last year, but she would love nothing better than to let her hair down next week and take a running jump into a lake.
The first major championship of the women’s golf season is looming. It is the Kraft Nabisco Championship over the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills and it is a great tradition there that the winner hurls herself into the water fronting the 18th green. Matthew would love nothing better than to take the plunge.
At world No.16, Scotland’s highest-ranked golfer is on a two-week sojourn starting next week with the Kia Classic at La Costa, Carlsbad, that used to be the regular venue for the men’s WGC matchplay championship. She is looking for a decent week to set herself up for the big one.
An American major is now the burning ambition of Matthew, who last year surprised everyone, including herself, by becoming the first Scot to win a women’s major, at Royal Lytham, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, and she is raring to go.
“I’m playing well and looking forward to it,” she said. “I have had a good break. I usually take four or five weeks off without touching a club and that keeps me refreshed and keen.”
Matthew has had four top-10 finishes at Mission Hills, including runner-up three years ago, and the 40-year-old, whose career is likely to become more restricted when her children reach school age, knows that the clock is ticking and next week is a big opportunity.
“I’ve done well there in the past and I like the course so I am looking forward to it,” she said. “The US Open [at Oakmont] is also a big goal and likewise defending the British Open [at Royal Birkdale], so there are lots of things to aim for.”
Matthew will be back in Europe next month at the La Sella resort in Alicante, Spain, where she and Krystle Caithness will represent Scotland in the European Nations Cup.
Labels: Pro Ladies
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