Former champion Catriona Matthew in the mix after fine start at AIG Women’s Open

Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew rolled back the years to tame a windswept Royal Troon and raise hopes of a second victory in the AIG Women’s Open.
Eleven years after winning her sole major title at Royal Lytham, Matthew carded a superb level-par 71 in winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour to lie a shot off the clubhouse lead held by Germany’s Sophia Popov.
The 50-year-old Scot was two over par with four holes remaining before making a hat-trick of birdies from the 15th and completing her round with a bogey on the 18th.
A great round from the Scottish legend @Beany25! 💪
Matthew finished with three birdies in her last four holes to finish one stroke off the current lead in Scotland! ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/QVsVCdMt36
— LPGA (@LPGA) August 20, 2020
“I think coming in here with how I’ve been playing lately, probably making the cut would be good,” Matthew said. “But obviously a day like today, the conditions probably helped me that it’s not going to be super low (scoring).
“No reason why I can’t go on from here. Obviously there’s still a huge way to go, but just need to keep plugging away.”
Matthew’s performance was aided by a new putting grip and she added: “It’s quite a radical change. Over the years I’ve tried various different grips but this ‘saw’ grip is quite a radical one.
“I’ve obviously fiddled about with it in practice and never taken it to a tournament, but I thought there was nothing to lose this week.”
.@SophiaCPopov navigated the high winds at @RoyalTroonGC to take the clubhouse lead with a 1-under 70 🔥#NECLPGAStats | #AIGWO pic.twitter.com/rfLHkIHaPL
— LPGA (@LPGA) August 20, 2020
By late afternoon Popov was the only player to have posted a sub-par score and former champion Georgia Hall was happy to have finished on two over after a hard-fought 73.
“Some holes I could barely stand up, it was so windy all the way round but especially at the start,” Hall, who won at Lytham in 2018, told Sky Sports. “I’m pretty happy with how I played today.
“I was hitting a lot of three irons off the tee, I think I hit driver twice the whole round. I want to stay out of all the fairway bunkers and feel that my irons into the greens are fairly strong so want to rely on that a bit more.
Georgia Hall with a bonus putt from the side of 10. The 2018 Champion is back to 1 under par #AIGWO #WorldClass pic.twitter.com/00qJmL1xWd
— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 20, 2020
“I played quite conservative at Lytham and tried to stay out of the bunkers and that was my aim for today. When you go in a pot bunker you are literally chipping out and then it puts pressure on your third shot. I’d much rather have a greenside bunker shot to try and save par.”
Canada’s Alena Sharp was in the first group out at 6.30am and hit her opening tee shot out of bounds on her way to a dispiriting double bogey, but played the remaining 17 holes in two under to finish level par.
And the Phoenix-based 39-year-old revealed she had extra reason to enjoy her efforts thanks to her Scottish roots.
Dame Laura’s opening tee shot… what an exciting week ahead at @RoyalTroonGC!#AIGWO #WorldClass pic.twitter.com/zvNZRSfiCS
— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 20, 2020
“I was so ecstatic to see that we were going to get to play Royal Troon and it wasn’t going to get cancelled,” Sharp said. “My grandmother was born in Greenock and my uncle was born in Glasgow. I feel like they were watching over me today and giving me a little help out there.”
Dame Laura Davies, who hit the opening tee shot to mark her 40th appearance in the event, birdied three of the last six holes but the 56-year-old could still only return a nine-over-par 80.
Latest
-
PGA Tour
It’s been a battle – Rory McIlroy delighted to pip rival Patrick Reed in Dubai
The Northern Irishman birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish a shot ahead of Reed on 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy holds off rival Patrick Reed with birdie on 18 to seal Dubai win
McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy leads by three in bid to win his third Dubai Desert Classic title
England’s Callum Shinkwin and Dan Bradbury are McIlroy’s closest challengers heading into the final round.
-
LPGA Tour
Golf bid to increase diversity in sport improving but still has ‘long way to go’
Nicola Bennett is an ambassador for the Golf Foundation, helping to drive grassroots campaigns.
-
PGA Tour
Richard Bland boasts share of lead at halfway stage in Dubai Desert Classic
The 49-year-old returned to complete his second round on Saturday morning, carding three more birdies and a solitary bogey in his remaining 14 holes.
-
News
On this day in 2009 – Colin Montgomerie appointed Europe’s Ryder Cup captain
The Scot made eight playing appearances in the competition.
-
News
Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed set up potential showdown in Dubai
McIlroy and Reed found themselves a shot behind world number one amateur Ludvig Aberg and Ian Poulter.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy finishes superbly to take share of lead with rival Patrick Reed
The pre-tournament build-up had been dominated by the war of words between Reed and McIlroy.
-
PGA Tour
Patrick Reed makes impressive start after floods cause delay in Dubai
Reed was able to complete 16 holes on a truncated day at Emirates Golf Club.
-
PGA Tour
England’s Aaron Rai shares lead after first round of Farmers Insurance Open
The 27-year-old started on the more forgiving North Course of Torrey Pines.