GB&I turn to Solheim legend in bid to change Curtis Cup fortunes
Two-time Solheim Cup-winning captain Catriona Matthew will turn her hand to the amateur game in 2024 when she leads the GB&I Curtis Cup side at Sunningdale.
Matthew – a three-time Curtis Cup participant herself – has an active role on the amateur scene with Scottish Golf and boasted a glittering amateur career before becoming a professional.
GB&I were humbled by America by 15.5 points to 4.5 at Merion in 2022, but Matthew will hope to bring an abundance of knowledge and experience to the team.
She led Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup success in 2019 and 2021, including their most recent win on US soil in Ohio.
“Playing in the Curtis Cup is the pinnacle for young amateur golfers,” Matthew said, “I was thrilled to make the Great Britain and Ireland team three times as a player and I feel just as privileged to be the captain in 2024.
“As a player, I remember the emotions of competing in the Curtis Cup – the excitement of being on a team rather than competing individually, as well as the desire to perform well for your team and pressure you put on yourself not to let them down.
“As a captain, it is my job to navigate the players through these situations and to help them believe what is possible.
“Through the Solheim Cup, I have gained experience in building a high-performing and successful team, including bringing together individual athletes from different countries and recognising whose strengths will combine well to create successful pairings.
“My goal is to channel all my playing and captaining skills into this Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team to optimise their performance.”
Matthew’s appointment marks an evolution of the GB&I side that has only won the Curtis Cup eight times in 42 renewals, including two of the last 13.
A former women’s amateur champion, Matthew saw her crowning moment come in 2009 when she won the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Not only is the 53-year-old a successful Solheim Cup captain, but she also played for Europe on nine occasions and took home the trophy three times.
The Curtis Cup is being held at Sunningdale for the first time in August next year, with the home GB&I venue for the 2028 matches yet to be confirmed.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
