Men & # 039; s & women & # 039; s majors & # 039; must be the same & # 039; payment – Solheim Cup captain Matthew

Catriona Matthew, 49, will be Europe's leader in the Solheim Cup in 2019

The men's and women's Open Championship and US Open tournaments pay the same for men and women, could promote equality in golf, says Catriona Matthew.

The sport has been criticized in recent years for paying male main winners more than their female counterparts.

Francesco Molinari, the 2018 men's Open winner, was paid more than £ 1 million more than the female winner Georgia Hall.

But the 2009 British Open winner, Matthew, says "it's coming slowly".

"You see much more [women’s] golf on television but there is still a huge gap between the top men and women," Europe & # 39; s 2019 Solheim Cup captain Matthew, told BBC Sport.

"It is the chicken and the egg and it is as if you need the money that comes into play for the TV coverage, or vice versa," the Scottish golfer added.

"If they make the US Open and the British Open equal to money for men and women, it would probably make other tournaments look at it."

2018 Major & Winner (win ) Winner (income) British OpenFrancesco Molinari (£ 1.49 million) Georgia Hall (£ 386,561) US OpenBrooks Koepka (£ 1.7 million) Ariya Jutanugarn (£ 710,000)

However, there have been some events in recent months, such as the Aon Risk Reward Challenge that is run throughout the year by both the LPGA and the LPGA. PGA Tours in the US, which offer equal prize money for men and women.

It sees a designated & risk and reward & # 39; hole at certain events throughout the year, and the best two scores of each player at that hole in each hole event count towards the running total. The lowest total score on each individual tour wins $ 1 million (£ 750,000) in prize money.

"Golf can sometimes be a bit dull with the regular 72-hole event week in, week out, but I think mixed events are slightly different and it's a nice size," Matthew said.

An area where women's wave leads the way

Feeding her 11-week-old daughter at 3 o'clock in the morning and drinking tea with her mother – Matthew celebrated her virgin British Open victory in 2009.

After he was the first Scot to win a major, Matthew acknowledges that she "could not have done it" without taking care of the LPGA. tour and her supporting husband and parents.

"My husband carried a lot for me during my career, so he was always traveling," she said.

"My oldest daughter was only two at the time, so it was busy but my parents helped and I remember my mother who did the night food.

" I played in the LPGA tour that did have a maternity policy, and although it has improved, it was not too bad.

"They had a daycare with two ladies who traveled every week and stayed in a hotel room, so while you were playing, they would line up, be cared for and that was a nice continuity for the children.

"It was pretty progressive for 10 years ago.

"I am surprised that I was able to do it 11 weeks after my second child.

" I was so calm and did not put any expectations on myself because it was my second week after the birth. I thought that the top 20 would have been good and I think that has relaxed me a bit more. "

& # 39; It would probably be a bit more of a struggle now & # 39;

Ten years ahead and Matthew has decided to end her 25-year stay on the LPGA Tour , but she will still be in line with the best in the world during the 2019 edition of the British Open.

However, the 49-year-old is more reserved about her chances at Woburn Golf Club.

"It would probably be a bit more of a fight now," she said. "You always hope you play well, and you never know, could have a hot week with the putter.

"The top Koreans are up there and the clearly defending champion Georgia Hall is playing, so it will be a difficult field."

After the British Open, Matthew will conquer Europe for the first time in the Solheim Cup in September – just three weeks after turning 50 – and the Scotch says she is "honored" to join the Gleneagles team in her country of birth.

"It will be a great way to celebrate my birthday with victory in the Solheim," Matthew said.

"It's an event I've always loved and I've played nine times in it, so being a captain in Scotland is a dream come true, and it's a great honor."