Worldwide Golf

CATRIONA Matthew became the first Scottish woman to win a Major after a composed victory at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Matthew held on to a three-shot overnight lead to win by three from 2002 winner, Australian Karrie Webb.

Matthew began the final day with bogeys on holes 1 and 3 but steadied the ship around with three consecutive birdies from the 13^th to give her an almost unassailable lead. The Scot could even afford a bogey on the 17^th as she closed out the three-shot win with a steady par on the final hole. “I can't quite believe it,” said Matthew. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. Coming up the last I had tears in my eyes and I had to hold myself together for those last two putts.”

Matthew, who gave birth to her second child 11 weeks prior, is only the fourth Brit to win a major and the first since England’s Karen Stupples triumphed at the same tournament at Sunningdale in 2004.

Americans Paula Creamer and Christina Kim and Japan's Ai Miyazato and Korean Hee-Won Han finishing joint third, one shot behind Webb. Creamer had been on course for a second place finish but found a horrid lie in a fairway bunker on the final hole which led to a double bogey six.