Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew and former Royal Portrush Golf Club secretary Wilma Erskine were honoured with OBEs in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Matthew received the award after captaining Europe to a thrilling victory in the 2019 Solheim Cup win over the US at Gleneagles.
The 50-year-old Scot, who received the MBE in 2010 after winning the Women’s British Open, will attempt to become Europe’s first multiple title-winning captain in Ohio in 2021.
Matthew said: “It is a great honour, not just for me, but also for the team and for women’s golf as well, as it gives it wider recognition. My mum and my two daughters are also delighted, as they are already planning their trip to the Palace.”
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Erskine, 60, who was awarded the British Empire MedaI in 2015, was also honoured with an OBE after overseeing the Open Championship coming to Royal Portrush in July, and received the honour for services to tourism and to golf in Northern Ireland.
Erksine led the campaign to bring The Open to Royal Portrush in 2019, which generated an estimated £100m for the Northern Ireland economy with future tourism benefits to come.
She retired from her role after 33 years of service immediately after the championship concluded, and is now involved in several golf-related consultancy projects, including with the Galgorm resort and Castle Golf Club in her native County Antrim.