Catriona Matthew, Scotland’s standard bearer on the women’s stage, has been brought on board by the newly amalgamated Scottish Golf as part of a new-look performance team.
The 46-year-old, who made her eighth Solheim Cup appearance for Europe back in September, will use the knowledge and experience she has gained from two decades as a touring professional to help guide the next generation of talent.
While a nomination process is underway for candidates to join the performance committee, Matthew, the Women’s British Open champion in 2009, has already agreed to offer her support on a team that includes Andrew Coltart, the former Ryder Cup player.
That pool of professionals who are dishing out pearls of wisdom also features former Ladies European Tour players, Clare Queen and Karyn Dallas.
With the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association now merged, the joined up approach is already providing benefits, particularly for the country’s emerging female golfers.
The addition of Matthew to the performance team has enhanced the package for those keen to tap in to her considerable golfing nous.
“Catriona brings valuable knowledge and experience to our programmes,” said Stephen Docherty, the non-executive director who oversees the Scottish Golf Performance Committee. “While our male amateurs have performed consistently well in recent years, the women have gone through a more challenging time and we need to focus on supporting our best female players to compete at the top of the amateur game.”
Steve Paulding, the Scottish Golf performance director, added: “We need the whole of golf to be in a healthy position to give us the best chance of success at the top end of amateur golf, so the strength of our clubs and the number of youngsters coming into the game is important to us. It’s vital that the whole of Scottish Golf works together to succeed and having Catriona to help in that process can only be beneficial to us.”
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