Catriona Matthew appointed as 2019 Soheim Cup Captain

Catriona Matthew has been appointed as European captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles from 13-15 September 2019.

Catriona Matthew, who has a record of 18-11-8 in Solheim Cup history, has today been named as the European Solheim Cup Captain when the event comes to the Scotland in two years time.  

It’s both a fitting and predictable appointment, as the much experienced Solheim player is heading back to her home country of Scotland – a place where Europe triumphed over the United States in 2000 at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

Matthew called time on her playing career following her final singles match victory over Stacy Lewis during the European defeat in Des Moines, and for most was the obvious and natural choice for the role of Captain. 

She had said “You know, I was 3-down through 11 and I kind of said to myself, ‘this is going to be my last match. So I gave it my all and managed to squeak a win. I enjoyed the moment today, but I think it’s time for some younger players to take over.”

And now the Scot, who will lead the European side for the first time on home soil, said she is already looking forward to participating in her 10th Solheim Cup – this time as a captain.

She said: “It’s a great honour and a dream come true to be the captain at home in Scotland.”

“Since my first appearance in 1998, I have always loved playing in The Solheim Cup. It’s always such an incredible atmosphere and over the years that I’ve played, I’ve enjoyed it more and more.”

“From the extremely high standard of play, to the enormous crowds, huge infrastructure and fantastic media coverage, the event just keeps getting bigger and better.”

“Scotland will provide the perfect stage for The 2019 Solheim Cup and Gleneagles will be a terrific venue. I was lucky enough to win there in 1998 and there is nothing better than winning in your home country.”

Matthew made her ninth appearance as a Solheim Cup player for the European team at Des Moines last month, having been required to step-in last minute for Suzann Pettersen. The Vice-Captain had been selected as the travelling alternate by Annika Sorenstam, but after Pettersen withdrew with an injury, Matthew stepped in to the player role and won three points for her team.

As a player who is third on both the all-time points list (with 22) and all-time match victory points list (18), she comes in to the skipper role with a vast amount of experience, and the outgoing captain was thrilled at the appointment.

“I am very happy that Catriona was chosen as the next Solheim Cup captain for Team Europe,” said Sorenstam, who was partnered with Matthew six times – including as her first ever Solheim Cup partner at Muirfield Village in 1998.

“She has had a wonderful Solheim Cup career and she deserves the opportunity to take on this prestigious role. With the next Solheim Cup taking place in Scotland, her home country, it’s the perfect scenario for her to lead the European Team.”

“She helped us a lot over the past year as a vice-captain, but then stepped in and won us three points as a player. Catriona is very well respected by the players, so she is a natural choice.”

The 2019 edition of the Solheim Cup will take place on the world-famous PGA Centenary Course at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire – the same venue that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup.

The Ladies European Tour’s Chairman, Mark Lichtenhein, said: “Everyone at the Ladies European Tour is absolutely delighted that Catriona has accepted the captaincy. Her experience, combined with her outstanding record and passion for The Solheim Cup, make her the perfect choice to lead Team Europe and not just because, as a Scot, she will be leading on home soil.”

“Catriona’s contribution to the European Team over nine editions has been immense and her performance in Des Moines was simply brilliant. As the captain, she will continue to inspire not just her own team, but millions of fans around the world.”

Catriona Matthew’s Solheim Cup History

Matthew has played in nine Solheim Cups from 1998-2017 (1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017) and was a member of three victorious teams, in 2003, 2011 and 2013.

She joined the Ladies European Tour in 1995 and won her maiden LET title at the 1998 McDonald’s WPGA Championship on the King’s Course at Gleneagles in the same year that she made her Solheim Cup debut at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Her first home match was at Barsebäck in Sweden in 2003, when, as a captain’s pick, she earned 3 ½ points and holed the winning putt in her singles match against Rosie Jones, in front of some of the largest galleries ever witnessed in the competition.

On her second winning side at Killeen Castle in Ireland, she earned 3 points for the European team, including an an emphatic 6 and 5 victory over Paula Creamer in the opening singles match.

In 2013, Matthew was a member of the first European team to win in the United States and secured the half point to win the Cup outright at Colorado Golf Club.

She is third in the all-time Solheim Cup points list with 22, behind Laura Davies (25), and Annika Sorenstam (24).

She also moved into joint third with Cristie Kerr on the all-time match victories list, with 18 career match wins, behind only Davies and Sörenstam with 22 apiece.