Catriona Matthew named an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

Scots golfer recognised along with three other major champions

Catriona Matthew captained Europe to Solheim Cup victory last year. Picture: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew has accepted an invitation to become an Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

The Scot is one of four new honorary members, joining Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Nick Price.

The quartet has won 11 major championship and the four are described by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club as “among the most successful and influential professional golfers of the modern era and... outstanding ambassadors for the sport”.

Matthew has achieved 11 professional victories in her career, with the pinnacle being her triumph at the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2009 when she was also named Ladies European Tour player of the year.

The North Berwick golfer has represented the European Solheim Cup team on nine occasions and was part of three winning teams.

In 2019, she captained the European team to a memorable 14½-13½ victory at Gleneagles and will skipper the side again next year when they take on the United States in Toledo, Ohuio.

Matthew also enjoyed a hugely successful amateur career, representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup on three occasions and winning the Women’s Amateur championship.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be made an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and I feel very privileged to be joining such an illustrious group of Honorary Members who are such renowned figures in the game of golf.

“I was fortunate enough to be one of the first recipients of an R&A Scholarship at the University of Stirling and it gave me some fantastic opportunities to develop my career as a young golfer.

"The Club and the R&A do so much to grow the game and I’m hugely supportive of the work they are doing to support women’s golf and particularly the AIG Women’s Open.”

Els is a four-time major champion, winning The Open at Muirfield in 2002 and Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2012 and claiming two US Open titles in 1994 and 1997.

The popular South African has racked up 73 professional wins around the world and is former world number one.

He established the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation in 1999 to support children from families of limited resources to progress in golf and has helped the careers of numerous young players.

Harrington is one of Europe’s most successful golfers, winning The Open on two occasions, at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale in 2008, and claiming the PGA Championship that same year.

The Irishman has notched up 31 wins as a professional and was the number one-ranked player on the European Tour in 2006. He has represented Europe in six Ryder Cup matches, has been the vice-captain in three matches and is now captain of the European team for the 2021 match.

One of golf’s most popular figures, Price is a three-time major champion and former world number one. The Zimbabwean won The Open at Turnberry in 1994 before going on to claim his second PGA Championship that year following his victory two years earlier.

He achieved 48 professional wins around the world and spent more than 40 weeks as world number one.

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