Former champion Catriona Matthew has announced that she will be playing in her final Women’s Open on the Old Course at St Andrews this week. Matthew, who won the championship in 2009, will be making her 31st appearance in the major event. She will be accompanied by her husband, Graeme, who will serve as her caddie for the tournament. Her goal for the week is to make the cut, so that her teenage daughters can watch her play over the weekend before they return to school on Thursday.
At 54 years old, Matthew is eligible to continue playing in the Women’s Open until she turns 59. However, she has decided that she does not want to compete if she is not able to be competitive. Celebrating her 55th birthday on Sunday, Matthew expressed her desire to make the cut at the event. She emphasized the significance of playing her final Women’s Open at St Andrews, considering it the perfect location to bid farewell to the championship.
While Matthew acknowledges that she is not likely to contend for the title, she remains focused on achieving her goal of making the cut. She anticipates a range of emotions as she plays her final Women’s Open, including a mixture of relief and sadness. Despite her competitive nature, Matthew recognizes the importance of retiring from the event at this stage in her career.
Catriona Matthew’s crowning achievement as a player came in 2009 when she secured victory at the Women’s British Open at Lytham St Annes. Her debut in the championship came in 1994 at Woburn when she played as an amateur. Throughout her career, Matthew has achieved eight top-10 finishes in the Women’s Open, with her most notable moment being her triumph in 2009, just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter.
As a double-winning European Solheim Cup captain, Matthew holds a prominent leadership role in women’s golf. She led Europe to victory in 2019 and 2021, in addition to making nine appearances as a player in the Solheim Cup. For the upcoming Women’s Open, Matthew will be grouped with Stacy Lewis and Karrie Webb for the first two rounds. She is scheduled to tee off at 7.33am from the 10th hole on Thursday.
Following her final Women’s Open appearance, Catriona Matthew will continue her leadership legacy by captaining the GB&I Curtis Cup Team against the United States side at Sunningdale in England. Recently, she played a practice round with GB&I team member Lottie Woad in preparation for the upcoming event. Matthew’s dedication to the sport and her achievements as a player and captain demonstrate her enduring impact on women’s golf.
