Lily Hirst, Catriona Matthew and GB&I Curtis Cup team out to rewrite history

In the affluent suburbs of Los Angeles, at Bel-Air Country Club, Matthew will look to lead her team to a successful defence of the biggest prize in women’s amateur team golf, having masterminded their victory at Sunningdale two years ago.

Were she to do it, the Scotswoman would match her achievements with Europe’s Solheim Cup team, having won as captain on European soil in 2019 before successfully defending the honour in America in 2021.

She would also break 40 years of hurt for the GB&I team, with their last victory Stateside coming in Kansas in 1986.

“I couldn't quite believe it when I had to go all the way back to '86 to find the last team that won over there,” said Matthew. “I was just a teenager in '86. I was just getting right into my golf. So, 40 years on, I think that's a nice round number to try and change that.”

Huddersfield’s Lily Hirst was one of Matthew’s wild card picks and is one of seven Englishwomen in the eight-strong GB&I team.

“The closest thing I’ve played in to it will have been the European Team Championships representing England, but that’s not going to be anywhere close to this level,” said Hirst, 23, who has a win and a host of top-fives at individual tournaments this season.

The format this week is three foursomes and fourballs matches on Friday and Saturday followed by eight singles on Sunday.

“We’re strong in the foursomes so will look to build on that,” said Hirst who has experience of playing the format for England.