Catriona Matthew’s British Open win gives a shot in the arm to golfing mothers

Matthew wins one for golfing moms at British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Catriona Matthew won one for golfing mothers with her three-stroke victory Sunday in the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham.

Playing just 10 weeks after giving birth to her second child, Matthew held on to her overnight lead with a 1-over 71 in the final round. She finished with a 3-under total of 285.

The 39-year-old Scot said she was not planning to have any more children.

“Maybe I should have started sooner,” she said.

Matthew was in labor for four hours, much shorter than for her first child, and coming back to the game was easier. She felt her victory was terrific news for women with two children.

“Well 39, it sounds old, but I don’t feel that old. Hopefully I’ve still a few more years in me,” Matthew said. “I feel as if I’m playing as well as I’ve ever played.”

Both children were with her this week and her husband caddied for her.

“I think the difficult time will be when they start school and we’ll reassess what we do then,” she said. “But this has certainly spurred me on to play for at least another few years.”

Matthew said she started nervously on the first nine Sunday and hoped for better than her bogey on the first hole and two pars on the 6th and 7th.

But a bogey at 10 was followed by three successive birdies from the 13th, the first two on putts of 18 and 40 feet.

“When the one at 14 went in, I really thought ‘This is mine for the taking now. I’m never going to have a better chance,’” she said.

Then when she hit a good drive down fairway on the last hole, “I felt that even I should be able to win it now.”

Karrie Webb took second place with 288 after a closing 68 that gave her hope for a while.

The group of four sharing third place on 289 included Paula Creamer (71), Hee-Won Han (70), Ai Miyazato (73) and Christina Kim (74).

Defending champion Jiyai Shin never threatened in the final round and a double bogey at the last hole left her with a 75 and a share of eighth place.

Miyazato actually caught Matthew at the 12th hole, but blew herself out with a bogey and then a double-bogey six at the 17th.

“I am really disappointed about the 17th,” said Miyazato, who won last week’s Evian Masters.

“I hit my tee shot into the bunker on the left. I knew I had to make par but I got too aggressive and made double bogey. I regret that,” she said. “But overall I’m really happy with third place after winning Evian Masters. It means winning a major is even closer.”

Jiyai did not mount the challenge expected after her 68 on Saturday.

“I badly mis-hit a couple of shots and I putted so badly. I never got the speed of the greens,” she said. “But I really enjoyed my defense. I’m really happy to finish eighth.”

Americans Cristie Kerr and Wie both had their best round of the week with a 69. Kerr shared eighth place, while Wie tied for 11th.

Also Sunday, Michelle Wie was selected as a wild card to make her Solheim Cup debut for the United States, and Matthew made Europe’s team.

American captain Beth Daniel also picked Juli Inkster, who will make her eighth Solheim Cup appearance and at 49 will become the oldest player to compete in the matches.

Wie and Inkster did not earn enough points to get a top-10 place for the Aug. 21-23 series at Sugar Grove, Ill.

Wie and Inkster will team with Creamer, Kerr, Kim, Angela Stanford, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel, Kristy McPherson, Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis.

“I’ve been nudging her,” Wie said. “I have been badgering her a bit. It was one of my biggest goals this year.”

Matthew is joined on the Europe team by Gwladys Nocera (France), Tania Elosegui (Spain), Diana Luna (Italy), Laura Davies (England), Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Helen Alfredsson (Sweden), Maria Hjorth (Sweden), Becky Brewerton (Wales, wild card), Janice Moodie (Scotland, wild card) and Anna Nordqvist (Sweden, wild card).