She may already be considered the odds-on favourite to captain Europe at the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles but on the evidence of the first two days of the RICOH Women’s British Open it will require a considerable decline in form for Catriona Matthew to be available for the role.

The 46-year-old mother of two is unlikely to be any more grateful for it being pointed out that 20 years or more separate her from all four of the Asian women who remain ahead of or level with her than she was when reminded, post-round, that she is contesting her 83rd ‘major’ on Woburn’s Marquess Course.

However a flawless, best of the day round of 65 demonstrated that there is more than a little golfing life in the old girl yet, while attitudes have changed substantially from 30 years ago when shock waves resounded across the sporting world as Jack Nicklaus won the US Masters at what was then considered the near decrepit age of, em, 46.

Yet another 46-year-old, Phil Mickelson, reckoned he was playing as well as he had a decade earlier when he came within a lipped out putt of setting a new ‘major’ record low score on the opening day at Royal Troon this month, where he was beaten by a 40-year-old first time ‘major’ winner in Henrik Stenson, with 49-year-old Steve Stricker claiming his best ever finish at an Open as he came in fourth.

The way the woman from North Berwick performed in carving her way past 20 of the 24 players who had been ahead of her at the end of the opening round, to claim a share of third place at halfway, just two off the pace, meanwhile strongly suggested that she remains capable of adding another Women’s British Open victory to that achieved at Royal Lytham seven years ago.

It was a highly controlled performance as she made light of the front nine that had proven troublesome on the opening morning, requiring six shots fewer to get to the turn in 32 on the second day.

Three more birdies in the first five holes on the back nine took her into tournament contention but as is so often the case she was particularly pleased with the way she protected her position on the one occasion she found herself off line.

She was lucky on that occasion that her wayward drive, pulled into trees down the left of the 16th hole at this woodland venue, finished in light rough, in a spot where she had a clear swing and a sight of the green between a couple of trees, but her recovery shot was so good it was ultimately disappointing that she did not register another birdie.

“That’s one of my best ever ball striking rounds,” she said.

“I think I hit 18 greens today, gave myself a lot of chances and holed my fair share. Just one awful shot on 16, but then followed it with what was probably my best shot of the day, the four-iron onto the green.”

With husband Graeme back on the bag having been her regular caddie for many years but now able to accompany her relatively rarely as he focuses on raising their daughters, Matthew is four clear of the next best Europeans, her Great Britain Olympic team-mate Charley Hull, who is playing at her home club and Spain’s Azahara Munoz.

Korean 25-year-old Mirim Lee continues to lead the way in spite of taking nine shots more for her second round than during her sizzling 10-under-par 62 in the opener, a not dissimilar situation to the US Women’s Open earlier this month when she followed an opening 64 with a 74 on her way to a tie for 11th spot.

At 11-under for the tournament her closest challengers, a shot behind, are China’s Shanshan Feng, who followed her opening 66 with a 68, while Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn also broke 70 for a second time.

It was a day when some of the best known names in the women’s game including ‘major’ winners Suzann Pettersen, Michelle Wie, Morgan Pressell, Paula Creamer and Laura Davies all failed to make the cut, this year’s ‘major’ winners Lydia Ko, number one in the world rankings, Brooke Henderson and Brittany Lang all remained involved for the weekend, albeit a long way back.

Among them Ko had the hardest task after an opening round of 74 and while she still felt she was a long way from her best the New Zealander demonstrated her fighting spirit in managing to get round in 70, level for the tournament, one behind Henderson and Lang.

“Going into today my goal was to make it and play all four days,” she said.

“I’ve just got to stay positive. There’s still 36 holes to go and you never know at these major championships. Coming down with the pressure when you’re leading you just never know.”