Catriona Matthew named European team captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup - © Getty Images

Matthew made her ninth appearance as a European team player at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa last month, after serving as vice-captain at Annika Sörenstam.

Selected as a travel alternate by the captain, she participated as a player after Suzann Pettersen was injured and the Scottish turned out to be one of the stars of the squad, earning three points for Europe out of her four matches.

With a total of 22 points in the Solheim Cup, Matthew moved up to third on the all-time best scoring list, behind Laura Davies (25) and Sörenstam (24). She also ended up tied for third with Cristie Kerr on the all-time game-winning list, with 18 game wins of her career, behind Davies and Sörenstam with 22 each.

Catriona Matthew named European team captain for the 2019 Solheim Cup - © Getty Images

Now Matthew looks forward to his next challenge: leading Europe to its sixth victory over the United States. She said: “It is a great honor and a dream come true to be the captain of my home in Scotland. Since my first appearance in 1998, I have always enjoyed participating in the Solheim Cup. It's always an amazing atmosphere and over the years the more I have played the more and more I have enjoyed it. From the extremely high level of play, to huge crowds, huge infrastructure and fantastic media coverage, the event is getting bigger and bigger. Scotland will provide the perfect stage for the Solheim Cup 2019 and Gleneagles will be a great venue. I was lucky enough to win there in 1998 and there is nothing better than winning in your home country. "

Outgoing captain Annika Sörenstam, who was also Matthew's first partner at the Solheim Cup at Muirfield Village in 1998, said: “I am very happy that Catriona has been chosen as the next European team captain for the Solheim. Cup 2019. She had a superb career in the Solheim Cup and she deserves the opportunity to take on this prestigious role. With the next Solheim Cup taking place in Scotland, her home country, this is the perfect scenario for her to lead the European team. She helped a lot over the last year as a vice-captain, she even stepped in and won us three points as a player. Catriona is highly respected by the players, so it's a natural fit. "

From left to right: Mark Lichtenhein, President of the Ladies European Tour, Catriona Matthew and Paul Bush, Director of Events for VisitScotland - © Getty Images

Ladies European Tour President Mark Lichtenhein said: “Everyone at the Ladies European Tour is absolutely delighted that Catriona has accepted the role of captain. Her experience, combined with her track record and passion for the Solheim Cup, makes her the perfect choice to lead the European team and not just because, as a Scotswoman, she will lead on home soil. His contribution to the European team over nine editions has been immense and his performance at Des Moines was just brilliant. As captain, she will continue to inspire not only her own team, but millions of fans around the world ”.

Regarding the appointment, the Right Honorable Nicola Sturgeon, Premier of Scotland MSP, said: “I am delighted to congratulate you on choosing Catriona Matthew as the captain of the European team for the edition. 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Catriona is without doubt one of Scotland's most accomplished sports icons and I am delighted that she has had the honor of leading the European team in her home country. I have no doubt that Catriona will prove to be an inspiration as a captain as she has done throughout her playing career and serves as a role model for thousands of junior golfers, not just in Scotland but across the country. world. I am convinced that the Scots will be completely behind Catriona and will be on the fairways of Gleneagles in support of the European team in September 2019. "

“We are delighted with the selection of Catriona Matthew as the captain of the European team for the 2019 Solheim Cup,” said John A. Solheim, President and CEO of PING. “It's an excellent and deserving choice for several reasons. As a nine-time Solheim Cup participant with an incredible 18-11-8 record, Catriona brings a tremendous experience to a team that is determined to claim the event on their soil. Of course, leading the team in his home country will undoubtedly inspire him and add even more enthusiasm and passion to the Gleneagles audience, which we know will be important and supportive. I have long admired Catriona's calm, calm and thoughtful approach which will serve her very well as she prepares and motivates her team to reach their goal of winning the Solheim Cup. "

Matthew played in nine editions of the Solheim Cup from 1998 to 2017 (1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017) and was a member of three winning teams in 2003, 2011 and 2013.

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

Her first home match was at Barsebäck, Sweden in 2003, when, as captain, she won 3 points and put the winning putt in her singles match against Rosie Jones, ahead of one of the wider audiences never seen on the competition.

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

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

The 48-year-old player from North Berwick, who counts the Ricoh Women's British Open 2009 among her 10 international titles, becomes the 10th European captain, after Mickey Walker, Pia Nilsson, Dale Reid, Catrin Nilsmark, Helen Alfredsson, Alison Nicholas, Liselotte Neumann, Carin Koch and Annika Sörenstam.