Matthew enjoys triumphant Killeen return

Former Women’s Open champion takes Irish crown with wire-to-wire victory

Magic Matthew: Scotland’s Catriona Matthew saw off Suzann Pettersen by a shot to win the Ladies’ Irish Open

Scotland’s last major winner, Catriona Matthew, led from the off to secure a tenth career victory on a return to Killeen Castle, near Dublin, in the Ladies’ Irish Open.

The 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open champion played a key role in Europe’s Solheim Cup victory at the same venue last September and continued her love affair with the course by opening with a 67 to lead by one. She followed that up with a 71 on day to increase her lead by a shot.

A third round of 71, which included five birdies, saw her clinch the title by a shot from world No.6 Suzann Pettersen on a total of seven-under-par.

Scottish rising star Carly Booth, who still leads the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit after two victories earlier in the year, had been joint second going into the final day but could only muster a 76 to drop into a tie for seventh.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Matthew, claiming her fifth victory on the Ladies European Tour to add to four LPGA titles and the 1996 Australian Open.

“It’s always difficult going out in the lead. I was just kind of trotting along there at seven under and saw Suzann making some birdies. I think she thought she was in The Solheim Cup again.

“I made a good birdie on 15 and then the one on 17 just gave a little bit of a cushion coming up the last, which was nice. I knew I had a two shot lead and I had seen what Suzann had done on 17 and 18 so I knew she was two behind so I reckoned I could make five from there.”

Pettersen, who took the Irish crown in 2008 and 2011, pushed Matthew all the way to the closing stretch, recording three birdies in-a-row from the seventh and adding three more at 13, 15 and 16.

However, the Norwegian carded bogey at the penultimate hole to close out a final-round 69, allowing the North Berwick 42-year-old the luxury of dropping a shot at the last and still retaining a one-shot advantage.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered