ST ANDREWS, Scotland — Major champion and former European Solheim Cup Captain Catriona Matthew is playing in what’s likely her last-ever LPGA Tour event this week at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
The 54-year-old shared in her pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday morning that this year’s AIG Women’s Open at the Old Course would be her final time teeing it up in the major championship, one that the Scotswoman won in 2009 just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child.
“Not like I have any illusion, I'm not going to be winning the event, but I think a goal for me this week would be to try and make the cut,” Matthew said. “You don't want to come and keep playing in the event when you're not competitive. I felt being in St Andrews, in Scotland, the Home of Golf, what better place to play my last one.”
Matthew began her LPGA Tour career in 1995 and earned four victories in total, capturing titles at the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open in 2001, the Wendy’s Championship for Children in 2004 and the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in 2011, along with her major victory. But her win at the 2009 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club was by far the most notable achievement of Matthew’s career.
And even though she is a past champion, this tournament has meant so much more to her career over the years than just that lone victory, as Matthew still harbors plenty of fond memories from her 29 previous starts in the major championship ahead of this week.
“I think this was the first professional event I played,” said Matthew. “I remember playing at Woburn. My mum came and caddied for me. I think we made the cut, and I remember playing with Trish Johnson. At the time she had been a pro for a while and was one of the top players in Europe. So that was quite a nerve-racking experience for me.
“I won in '09, but my record probably hasn't been as good as I would have liked in this event. I think before that I tried too hard, put too much pressure on myself coming back. Playing in Britain, you're wanting to play well in front of the home fans and family and friends. Delighted that I managed to get the win the one time, but I wish my record had perhaps been a little bit better than it was.”
While the 2024 AIG Women’s Open will mark Matthew’s 30th and final playing of the event, a moment that will be bittersweet for the 54-year-old who has been a staple of European women’s golf throughout her career, Matthew is ready for the change of pace. She has two teenaged daughters now in various stages of school life and is excited to be captaining the Great Britain and Ireland team next week at the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale.
And even though this chapter of her life is quickly closing, Matthew is determined to meet her goal of making the cut at the Old Course. She opened the week with a 5-over 77 in incredibly blustery conditions at St Andrews on Thursday, a respectable effort that, while solid for someone who doesn’t consistently play high-level tournament golf week in and week out, will leave Matthew some work to do if she wants to make the cut.
And Matthew is ready to fight the good fight on Friday in an effort to play the weekend one final time on the LPGA Tour.
“There's always hope until Friday, isn't there?” said Matthew. “Until Friday night when the scores are done, (it’s) wait and see.”
Even if things don’t shake out in her favor, tomorrow’s walk over the Swilcan Bridge will provide a fitting farewell for Matthew, a perfect goodbye for the Scot in her home country at the Home of Golf.
What could be better than that?
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