Catriona Matthew will redouble her efforts to secure her second major championship when she competes at the Ricoh Women’s British Open on the Old Course at St Andrews in August.
The Scot, winner of the title in 2009 at Royal Lytham just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child, came within a whisker of her second major title at the weekend in the Wegmans LPGA Championship in Rochester, New York.
The 43-year-old was beaten in a play-off by South Korea’s Inbee Park, the world No 1, who will head to St Andrews seeking a career Grand Slam of major titles having won the Kraft Nabisco Championship this year and the US Open in 2008.
However Matthew has booked her place at her seventh successive Solheim Cup for Europe by moving to world No 12 as a result of her performance and nothing would crown her great career better than a British Open win on home soil.
She said: “Having come so close last weekend, I am now looking forward to St Andrews more than ever as I know my game is in such good shape.
“As a proud Scot there is no place I would rather win than at the Old Course playing in front of my home fans and I will be doing everything I can to ensure I am ready for the week.”
Matthew, who is still based in her home town of North Berwick, was still seven shots behind Park at the start of the final round on Sunday, which became a 36-hole marathon caused by weather delays.
However she rattled off a superlative 68 in testing conditions to reel in her rival, only to have to give best as the Korean rallied in the play-off.
“Inbee had such a solid lead, so I was quite surprised when suddenly I saw on 18 that I needed two putts for a par to get me into a play-off,” said Matthew.
“When I started the final round I probably didn’t think I could win, so to play well and get into the play-offs was obviously pretty good. But when you get into extra time it’s also pretty disappointing not to win.”
Park, meanwhile, is halfway to an unprecedented Grand Slam with the US Women’s Open at Sebonack, again in New York State, coming up fast next week and the British to follow at St Andrews.
She is the first player since Annika Sorenstam in 2005 to win the first two Majors of the year and could arrive at St Andrews with a chance to make history.
“I have had the best possible start to my year and all I can do from here is try my best and see what happens,” said the 24-year-old.
“I loved playing in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews in 2007.
“It was amazing to play the most famous course in the world in such an important tournament and I finished just outside the top 10 so I can’t wait to return.”
The 2007 championship made history as the first ladies professional tournament to be played on the Old Course and was won by the then world No 1, Lorena Ochoa.
LGU chief executive Shona Malcolm said: “It was fantastic to see Catriona’s performance in America at the weekend and Scottish fans will be willing her on to go one better at St Andrews.”