IT wasn’t quite an earth-shattering revelation. There were probably remote tribes in Sarawak who could have told you that Catriona Matthew was a shoo-in for the captaincy of the European team for the 2019 Solheim Cup.

Ever since Gleneagles was named as the host venue for the biennial encounter with the US in two years’ time, Matthew was the name on everybody’s lips. Scotland’s greatest female golfer leading Europe into battle on home soil? Nobody else had a chance.

“I had said I was keen to do it and perhaps I would put my name forward but to find out so early on and so quickly after the last one just a few weeks ago was fantastic, a dream come true,” said the 48-year-old who is a veteran of nine cup campaigns.

“It’s the pinnacle of my Solheim Cup career. In fact, to be captain ranks right up there with winning the Women’s British Open.”

There was no point plootering about with regards to an appointment. Matthew’s swansong in an event that she has served with distinction may have ended in overall defeat for Europe in Des Moines last month but her own haul of three points out of four, having been drafted in to the team at the last minute, spoke volumes for her competitive longevity and unquenchable thirst for golfing combat.

Now, she can get cracking with the business of being a skipper. There will be a few challenges, of course.

“You need to be super organised, which is maybe not my strongest point so I’ll have to work on that,” she said. “My husband (and caddie) Graeme keeps me on the straight and narrow. All I have to do is hop from one flight to the next and play golf - it’s an easy life really. I don’t think he will be a vice captain, though.”

And what about those pesky speeches that captains have to perform? “I can’t wait for those,” said the quiet, unassuming Matthew with a wry chuckle.

While she maintained that 2017 would be her final Solheim Cup appearance as a player, Matthew is certainly not going to be slowing down and she is eager to stay involved in the cut-and-thrust of tournament play to keep an eye on potential team members.

“Obviously I’m still playing full time so I know most of them,” said Matthew, who was originally a vice-captain at Des Moines before the last minute re-shuffle.

“I see myself playing pretty much the same schedule that I have for the last few years. I still have goals as a player. I might try to put in a few more European events to get to know those who play here more. It keeps me young hanging around all the younger ones.”

Europe have won both Solheim Cups played in Scotland, at Dalmahoy in 1992 and Loch Lomond in 2000. “That puts pressure on me,” she added.

Whether she’ll have any Scots for company in her team remains to be seen.

Currently, Pamela Pretswell Asher is the next best Scot on the world rankings at No 326.

“It will be a tough ask for them, but if Pamela and Kylie (Henry) can step up their games over the next couple of years you just never know,” she said.