Catriona Matthew, who guided Europe to consecutive victories in the Solheim Cup in 2019 and 2021, will lead Great Britain and Ireland against the United States in the 2024 Curtis Cup in Sunningdale.
The 53-year-old Scot, who has been part of three Curtis Cup teams in 1990, 1992, and 1994, will take the place of Elaine Ratcliffe.
She was on the losing side in 1990 but triumphed on the two following occasions before turning professional.
Her professional career saw her achieve 11 wins including six on the LPGA Tour. Matthew captained Europe in the Solheim Cup win in Gleneagles in 2019 and in Ohio in 2021.
“Playing in the Curtis Cup is the pinnacle for young amateur golfers,” Matthew said. I was thrilled to make the Great Britain and Ireland team three times as a player and I feel just as privileged to be the captain in 2024.
“As a player I remember the emotions of competing in the Curtis Cup – the excitement of being on a team rather than competing individually, as well as the desire to perform well for your team and the pressure you put on yourself not to let them down.
“As a captain it is my job to navigate the players through these situations and to help them believe what is possible.
“Through the Solheim Cup I have gained experience in building a high performing and successful team, including bringing together individual athletes from different countries and recognising whose strengths will combine well to create successful pairings.
“My goal is to channel all my playing and captaining skills into this Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team to optimise their performance.”
CEO of The R&A, Martin Slumbers, said: “We are delighted that Catriona has accepted the captain’s role for the 2024 Curtis Cup. Her reputation for strong leadership and past experience as a player with winning pedigree make Catriona the perfect captain for the Great Britain and Ireland team.
“The Curtis Cup has long been a prominent event for women’s elite amateur golf and Great Britain and Ireland has enjoyed some fantastic wins. We are now seeing the amateur level of the sport evolve into a more competitive era and believe that Catriona is the best placed captain to guide the team in this period.”
Great Britain and Ireland last won the Curtis Cup in 2016 at Dun Laoghaire in Ireland.
The next Curtis Cup tournament with take place at Sunningdale’s Old Course from August 30 to September 1, 2024.