European captain Catriona Matthew visits Inverness, and she likes what she sees

Jun. 22—Inverness Club had an important visitor over the weekend.

European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew was on-site for the first time, devouring the details of Toledo's linksland that will play host to the Solheim Cup on Labor Day weekend.

"It's been great to finally get here," she said. "I played in the Jamie Farr for a number of years, but never made it out to Inverness. I remember last year watching the Drive On from my home in Scotland.

"But there's nothing like being out here in person. It was great to see the golf course, get a feel for how it plays, and see what kind of player you might like."

Matthew and vice captain Laura Davies played the course on Sunday, an up-close introduction to the host of six major championships. A few inevitable members of Team Europe saw Inverness last year during the Drive On Championship, an event that foreshadowed what's to come in September, as American Danielle Kang battled France's Celine Boutier and England's Jodi Ewart-Shadoff.

Brawny Inverness won't have as much teeth for the match play event, where birdies will be welcomed. But it doesn't mean superintendent John Zimmers is setting up the course as a pitch and putt. Rough will still be plentiful and green speeds will approach those of a U.S. Open. There will just be a friendlier vibe from the greenkeeping staff.

"I really enjoyed the look of the golf course. It's in fantastic shape," Matthew said. "The greens are going to be challenging. They're quite small and undulating in some places, with subtle breaks.

"We feel that accuracy off the tee is going to be quite crucial. The rough is Kentucky bluegrass, and it's pretty tough to play out of. It's a premium to play out of the fairway."

Several potential European players fared well in the LPGA Tour's match play event a few weeks ago, including Germany's Sophia Popov, who advanced to the championship match before losing to American Ally Ewing. Popov, the reigning Open champion and 22nd-ranked player in the world, has emerged as a future force for the Euros.

As she was cruising toward a runner-up finish in Las Vegas, Popov waxed poetic about the joys of match play.

"I love it," she said. "It excites me. I think I have a feel for the putts that have to be made and the shots you have to hit in certain situations."

The Women's British Open, Aug. 19-22, is the final points event, with Matthew and United States counterpart Pat Hurst making their captain's picks the following week. Both teams are taking form as the season enters the meat of the schedule.

The scouting process hasn't been easy for Matthew, who was holed up in Scotland for most of 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Television extends across the Atlantic, but nothing supplements being at a tournament and watching a player in person.

In 2021, Matthew has attended the ANA Inspiration and the U.S. Women's Open. She'll fly to Atlanta this week for the LPGA's third major of the year, the Women's PGA Championship.

Another wrinkle in this year's edition of the Solheim Cup is the presumed lack of European fans at Inverness. It's always difficult away from home, but a more partisan gallery could make the three-day emotional rollercoaster all the more challenging.

"This year, we'll have fewer [fans] than ever," Matthew said. "As a European, you basically can't get into the U.S. Hopefully, that eases up before Solheim gets here."

Of course, the U.S. was heavily favored in 2019 and had the stronger team. After 28 matches and three days, it came down to a single putt. Match play is a great equalizer. So, too, is pressure, of which there is an overdose at the Solheim Cup.

Even in a career that featured a major championship, Matthew puts the 2019 Solheim Cup triumph atop the pedestal. On Sunday afternoon as she inspected the ninth green, which will play as No. 18 for the Solheim Cup, she could have been walking on the surface that decides this year's competition, creating yet another indelible moment.

"Every time I watch Suzann [Pettersen] stand over that putt, I still wonder, God, is she going to make it?" Matthew said. "It's one of those where if someone had written it as a script, you'd think, 'Oh, this is rubbish. It's fairytale stuff. It's make-believe.'"