Team Europe Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew has become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Here’s some more super news to start your week with; team Europe Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew has become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Further adding to the great strides that are being made in the women's game, it was announced on Friday (September 25) that the Women’s British Open champion had accepted the invitation.

Catriona, who has played for Team Europe in the Solheim Cup nine times, said that she was “absolutely thrilled” with her new position.

The 11-time LPGA and LET winner said:

“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.”

The R&A also announced that Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Nick Price will become Honary Members along with her.

With all the recent exciting developments in women’s golf, it’s perhaps easy to forget that the R&A didn’t welcome its first female member until five years ago, ending a 260-year male only policy.

In 2015 seven women became the first Honorary Members, including 10-time major champ Annika Sorenstam and our own homegrown legend Laura Davies.

Speaking about this week’s appointments, Clive Edginton, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, said:

“I would like to congratulate Catriona, Ernie, Padraig and Nick on becoming Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. They have each distinguished themselves with their long and hugely successful careers in golf. As well as being great champions, they are superb role models for any young golfers to follow and embody so many of the qualities which make golf such a special sport. They have done a great deal to help promote golf around the world and this recognition is extremely well deserved.”

Congratulations Catriona on your great news.