Matthew blazing a trail after birdie run

A WEEK after escaping from a fire, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew holed-in-one yesterday and gave herself another chance to win her first major title.

The 39-year-old, who gave birth to her second child in May and did not return to action until last week, had two eagles and four birdies in the last eight holes to burst to three under par halfway through the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham.

Joint clubhouse leader with Italian Giulia Sergas, who herself had five birdies in six holes for a matching 67, Matthew recalled the dramatic events she encountered in a French apartment block nine nights ago.