The Scot that fame forgot, Catriona

Matthew looks back on career

in interview with John Huggan

FROM TODAY'S SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY
By JOHN HUGGAN
Given the level of inattention women's golf typically receives from an apparently uninterested public and media, it is worth pointing out that Catriona Matthew has had a more than impressive career.
Indeed, had she been born a man, the soon-to-be 40-year-old from North Berwick would today surely be lauded, Monty-style, as one of our nation's most recognisable sporting figures.
She isn't, though, despite numbers that put our generally and perennially under-achieving European Tour players to shame. In 14 years as a professional, Matthew has won tournaments on four continents (including South America earlier this year), totting up approximately $6.5m in prize money in the process.
She has won at the very highest level, on America's LPGA Tour. She has played for Europe in four Solheim Cups (it would have been five but for an inexplicably bone-headed decision by a captain who should remain nameless – ach, let's call her Dale Reid – to leave her out in 2000). And she belatedly proved what everyone not named Dale Reid knew was her irrefutable point by recording the winning Solheim point against the Americans at Barsebäck in 2003.
Now, almost seven months pregnant with what will soon be her second daughter (Katie is two), Scotland's highest-ranked golfer, male or female, is taking a wee break. Not long back from Singapore, where she finished tied for 45th in the HSBC Women's Champions event, Matthew won't be hitting another shot in anger until the Evian Masters and the Women's British Open come along in late July.
It's a competitive lull that affords the University of Stirling graduate a rare opportunity to take a deep and relaxing breath while her tummy continues its inexorable expansion."I'm happy with my career," she says in her characteristically understated way.
"In some ways I've done better than I thought; in others, I haven't done as well as I was hoping for. When I first turned professional I was quite naive and didn't know what to expect. All in all, I'm happy, though. I've won a few events, which always makes you think you should win more of course. But it is a legitimate criticism that I could and should have won more often.
"I've had a lot of good finishes, but not many wins, so that is a regret. If I have a weakness it is that I haven't holed as many putts as you need to hole if you are to win. I'm a decent putter, but I've never holed a lot in the 15-20 foot range. And that's what you need to do over the closing holes in most events."
Still, now isn't the worst time to be indulging in a few months away from an LPGA circuit that is currently, like the rest of the world, suffering its share of economic knocks.
"The tour has already lost a few events," acknowledges Matthew. "It's a tough situation for everyone these days. Companies are cutting back and sport sponsorship is always going to be vulnerable when that happens. It's a shame at a time when the ladies game has so many good young players coming through.
"That's especially important this year after the retirement of Annika Sorenstam. Like every other sport, we need an instantly recognisable star name, ideally one that transcends the sport and is known to even non-golfers.
"Lorena Ochoa is the No.1 player at the moment and Paula Creamer is good for the tour, being young, good-looking and American."
Matthew is right, of course, and the re-emergence of an in-form Michelle Wie is something she hopes will see a rise in profile for the women's game in general.
"Michelle has the potential to be very important for our sport," she says. "She is such a good player and her name is known outside the game. She crosses the divide, if you like. She has had her problems over the past couple of years, but I can definitely see her winning at least once this season. And if she did, it would do nothing but good for the profile of the tour as a whole.
"I've always been very impressed with her game. I played a fair bit with her a couple of years ago when she was still an amateur. She hit shots that most women simply can't hit. She had great control in the wind. And she was very long, although I suspect not quite as long as she was hyped up to be."
As for her own on-course ambitions, Matthew suffered a set-back recently when the apparently myopic United States Golf Association turned down her request to extend by 12 months her exemption into this year's US Women's Open. Coming as it does only five weeks after she is due to give birth, Matthew won't be able to play.
"They turned me down, saying it would set a precedent they don't want to set," she shrugs. "Their thinking was that, if they gave it to me, they would have to give the same thing to men whose wives were having babies. I tried to explain that my situation was a little different, but the USGA was having none of it."
Still, despite America's oh-so stuffy (and male-dominated) ruling body being unable to tell the difference between men and women, Matthew is still hopeful of making a fifth Solheim Cup side come September. It's unlikely she will qualify as of right, but European skipper Alison Nicholas will surely recognise her need for Matthew's undoubted experience.
Not that even the Scot's presence is likely to make much difference; the American side will start the biennial contest as the overwhelming favourites to retain the trophy.
"I don't fear for the future of the Solheim Cup, but this year is going to be tough," concedes Matthew. "The Americans will have a very strong team and Europe is in a bit of a transition period. We have some good players coming up, but it isn't clear if they are ready for a Solheim yet. We'll certainly be the underdogs, but underdogs win sometimes."