It may not have been the weekend the two Scots who made the cut at the Women’s British Open would have wanted but Michele Thomson and Catriona Matthew can take plenty of positivity from their Royal Troon experience.
Aberdonian Thomson was teeing up in a major for the first time in her career and the howling wind and driving rain around the illustrious Ayrshire links would have made those opening two days even more daunting.
The 33-year-old admitted she felt “in a little panic” after a poor session on the driving range prior to her opening round but a superb two-over-par 73 meant she finished the day tied 23rd and only six shots adrift of pacesetter Amy Olson.
Thomson took four shots more on the second day but it was enough to survive the cut and earn “two more amazing rounds on an amazing golf course on my major debut”.
She felt “she couldn’t have asked for more” on her maiden major appearance and even though weekend rounds of 80 and 76 meant she dropped down the leaderboard to finish in 74th spot, it is still a week Thomson will be able to reflect upon with pride, especially having only qualified for the event the week before.
Matthew also made an impressive start at Troon, rolling back the years with an opening round of 71 to propel her into contention.
Could the 2009 Open champion become the oldest winner of the trophy, just two days before her 51st birthday?
Sadly the answer was no. She was still in the mix after a second round of 76 but Matthew also faded down the leaderboard over the weekend with rounds of 74 and another 76.
Matthew admitted her form coming into the major had been “pathetic” after missing nine cuts in her previous 11 events.
But she did not miss a fairway in her opening round and proved, in the toughest of conditions, she still has the ability to mix it with the best.
