Our girls ain't half bad says Scot Carly

May 25 2008 By Euan Mclean

THE biggest event in ladies amateur golf gets under way at St Andrews on Friday with this year's Curtis Cup featuring the strongest Scottish contingent since 1994.

Teenagers Carly Booth, Sally Watson, Krystle Caithness and 20-year-old Michele Thomson all tee up for Great Britain and Ireland as the biennial clash with the USA comes to the home of golf for the first time.

With Scots filling half of the eight places in captain Mary McKenna's side the future of our ladies' game hasn't looked so bright since the 1990s when the first golden generation burst on to the scene.

Back then it was Catriona Matthew, Janice Moodie, Mhairi McKay and Myra McKinlay flying the flag as GB&I drew 9-9 in Tennessee.

Debutant Moodie slotted the putt on the last green to deny America victory.

Matthew, Moodie and McKay went on to enjoy great success on the LPGA Tour and represented Europe in the Solheim Cup.

Now hopes are high this latest crop of youngsters can emulate them on the big stage.

This week, handling the pressure of performing in front of 8000 fans will be another huge test on their journey towards the pro ranks.

But if Booth is anything to go by these unflappable kids will brush aside the pressure.

At just 15 Carly is the youngest player ever to compete for GB&I but the Comrie girl is confident she will take everything that's coming her way in her stride.

Booth said: "I'll be nervous playing at St Andrews but I know I'm going to like it.

"I'm inspired by playing in front of crowds and that can only be good for me in the long term.

"One day I want to be a successful professional and eventually the best in the world. I don't know how long that will take but it's a realistic aim.

"I hate losing and all I'll think about at St Andrews is winning, winning my individual matches and winning as a team."

This type of youthful fearlessness abounds in the British side and could hold the key to loosening the USA's stranglehold on the trophy over the last 10 years.

Some will cringe at the lack of experience with all but one of the team making their debut but their unfamiliarity with defeat in the last five Curtis Cups could prove their greatest strength.