It is a strange coincidence that the Scottish golfer Catriona Matthew had a daunting experience with death in a hotel fire just weeks after the birth of her second daughter. On July 24, 2009, Matthew and South Korean golfer Amy Yang were in an apartment block, the day before the 2009 Evian Masters when the building caught fire. The fire was so intense that Matthew’s husband, Graeme, was badly burned and could not caddie for her, the next day. But what happened to Catriona Matthew?

That night, there was confusion and pandemonium. Matthew and Graeme confused the sound of crackling flames with rain at the beginning of the mayhem. They escaped the house, and as they did so, the porch roof fell and burned Graeme’s bare feet. However, Matthew, who was back in competitive golf after the childbirth of her daughter Sophie Lauren on May 16, 2009, was able to play through trauma. She was late for her tee time on the first day and shot two-over-par 74. Unfortunately, the night was the one that she would never forget.

Image Courtesy: 2015 Solheim Cup

A week later after the accident, she became the first Scottish golfer and only the fourth British player to win a major championship in the women’s game when she lifted the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes. She got the title of the ‘Super Mum’ after winning the title eleven weeks after giving birth. Now its been 15 years to the incident, and the golfer and her husband are well.

As she plans to compete at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, Matthew revealed, “This will be my last time. You don’t want to come and keep playing the event and not be competitive.” The decision to retire from the AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews is poetic for Matthew, who will turn 55 during the championship.

The final chapter for Catriona Matthew

Catriona Matthew’s retirement is the end of an era in women’s golf. This year’s AIG Women’s Open will be her last time participating in the event, making it her 30th appearance in this championship. “It just felt that being in St Andrews, in Scotland, the home of golf, what better place to play my last one,” said the golfer about the importance this place holds to her, and why she decided this to be her last event. She understands her physical limitations. “I have no illusions about winning this week,” she said, and then added, “A goal for me this week will be to try to make the cut.”

She has not stopped practicing and playing golf since she became the captain of Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup which is scheduled for next week. “I’m looking forward to that,” she said. She also added, “I’ve been watching a lot of amateur golf: the ANWA, the NCAA, the British Am. They are a great bunch, and we have a great team.” She plans on her team being underdogs against the American squad.

Her story of escaping a fire and making a mark in women’s golf is an inspiring story of determination and passion. So as Matthew says goodbye to her last AIG Women’s Open, what can be said about Catriona Matthew’s impressive career? and her last appearance at St. Andrews?