Why Catriona Matthew's Lytham love affair is part of AIG Women's Open folklore
Scot says walk up 18th hole at Lancashire venue and seeing historic clubhouse ‘still never gets old’
Whether it was out on the course doing a series of interviews, taking part in an official press conference or just chatting to people in the wonderful old clubhouse at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s, Catriona Matthew looked very much at home during a media day for this year’s AIG Women’s Open.
She’s most comfortable, of course, in her native North Berwick and the surrounding area in East Lothian, but it’s no surprise that you feel she walks into the Lancashire venue with a spring in her step. It was there, after all, where Matthew was crowned as a major champion in 2009.
Just 11 weeks after she gave birth to her second daughter, Sophie, the Scot became just the second British player to win the Women’s Open after it earned major status in 2001 and is currently among only three players to have achieved that feat.
“Yeah, it did bring some memories back,” admitted the 56-year-old, smiling, of having just played the final three holes on the Fylde links with Mimi Rhodes, one of the brightest British stars in the game, before the pair conducted a press conference together.
“I'd only been back maybe a couple of times since I won in 2009, and definitely coming up 18, you remember that walk up 18. I had a three-shot lead, so it was great. Walking up 18 still never gets old, seeing the clubhouse in the background.”
Matthew’s breakthrough win was emulated by Georgia Hall when the English player followed in her footsteps at the same venue in 2018. Does that mean hopes should be high for a third consecutive British champion at Royal Lytham on 29 July-2 August?
Scot reveals strategy to unlocking Lytham
“Good question,” declared Matthew. “I don't know whether it was just luck that myself and Georgia both happened to win here, I'm not sure. Maybe there's a little bit more strategy. I think they've taken some bunkers out since 2009, but it's probably one of the best bunkered links courses that they play in the rota.
“I think it's just keeping it out of the bunkers. I know everyone says that about links golf, but definitely here. It's very well bunkered off the tees especially. I remember laying up, especially on those first probably five or six holes, giving myself longer shots into the greens just to avoid the fairway bunkers.
“You basically lose stroke and distance in them, so you've got to lay up to them. I think we're going to have a few good players vying for it. Obviously you'll have Mimi, Charley [Hull], Lottie Woad, so, hopefully, we'll see some British players up there.”
Nelly Korda, who finished joint-second behind Lydia Ko at St Andrews in 2024, is likely to be the bookmakers’ favourite on this occasion after the American won the season’s opening major in impressive style with a five-shot success in The Chevron Championship in Houston last weekend.
Will that herald the start of another spell of domination by Korda in the women’s game? “Two years ago she had that really dominant year where she won seven times,” recalled Matthew, who will once again be part of the Sky Sports commentary team at this year’s tournament. “Last year she played well but never quite got the victory, and it looks like she's coming out this year and could well be pretty dominant.
“I think the putting is probably the weakest part of her game, but, if she can roll in the putts like she did at Chevron, she is very tough to beat. For the women's game, if they can get that rivalry between Nelly, Jeeno Thitikul and Charley and they’re all vying for titles, that would be great. But Nelly certainly has the game, and she has everything to be dominant.”
After creating history by becoming the first captain to lead Europe to back-to-back wins in the Solheim Cup, Matthew is now bidding to emulate the feat in the Curtis Cup, which is between Great Britain & Ireland and the United States in the amateur game.
With Rhodes in her side as well as Scottish duo Hannah Darling and Lorna McClymont, Matthew completed the first leg with a stunning Sunningdale success in 2025 and is currently weighing up her options for a trophy defence at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles in mid-June.
“It’s lovely being able to do something like that,” she said of her latest captaincy stint. “You know, give back a little bit to the game and I have really enjoyed it. I’ve got Kathryn Imrie and Karen Stupples helping me after they were also at Sunningdale as well. It’s great fun to see the next generation come up and you get to know them, which makes it more enjoyable when you are watching them and you are pulling for them and trying to help them.”
Why underdogs can sometimes win in team golf
GB&I’s sole success in the biennial event was back in 1986, with heavy defeats having been inflicted on the visitors in the last two matches on US soil at Quaker Ridge in 2018 then Merion four years ago.
“If you look at the World Amateur Golf Rankings, we will definitely be the underdogs, but we were at Sunningdale,” declared Matthew. “In match-play over one round, anyone can beat anyone and it’s just trying to instill that belief in them that they are good enough and capable of going out and beating the Americans. But don’t get me wrong as it is going to be very difficult at BelAir and the Americans hate getting beaten and they’ll be trying their hardest to win it back.”
As for her own playing schedule this year, Matthew is currently mulling over whether or not to play in the US Senior Women’s Open, having finished third in the USGA event in one of her first cracks at it in 2022. “I now realise that practice does make you better,” she admitted with a hearty laugh of why that would probably be her sole competitive outing and, in truth, she didn't seem too enthused about the prospect.
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