The United States and European teams are set for the Solheim Cup and play will begin next weekend (Sept. 4-6) at the famed Inverness Club in Toledo. The big question — can the U.S. avoid a repeat of the 2018 matches?
Good news for captain Pat Hurst and the U.S. team is that Suzann Petterson has retired from competitive golf and won’t be there to drive a stake through the collective U.S. team heart the way she did on the final hole of the last meeting between the two continents.
Both teams were finalized following the Women’s Open Championship last Sunday in Scotland.
United States Team:
Nelly Korda; Danielle Kang; Lexi Thompson; Jessica Korda; Ally Ewing; Austin Ernst; Lizette Salas; Jennifer Kupcho, Megan Kang; Captain’s Picks: Yealimi Noh; Mina Harigae, Brittany Altomare.
European Team:
Anna Nordqvist; Georgia Hall; Charley Hall; Sophia Popov; Carlota Ciganda; Emily Kristine Pedersen; Captain’s picks: Leona Macguire; Madalene Sagstrom; Matilda Castren; Nanna Koerstz Madsen; Mel Reid; Celine Boutier.
Based on form during the competition at Carnoustie last week, the European players took center stage. Bad news for captain Hurst is that the core of the U.S. team did not perform well at Carnoustie when the chips were down.
On paper, with five players inside the top 20 in the Rolex World Rankings, the U.S. has a much stronger team — but that was the case in 2018.
World’s No. 1 Nelly Korda is the U.S. shining star followed by Kang (7th), Thompson (12th), Salas (14th) and Jessica Korda (17th).
Anna Nordqvist, winner of last week’s Women’s Open, is the highest-ranked European player at No. 16.
But the matches will be decided on the grass and greens at Inverness, not on paper.
Bryson DeChambeau Can’t Resist — Will Compete In National Long Drive Championship:
Distance-obsessed, wild-driving, Kyle Berkshire-admiring, Brooks Koepka-feuding Bryson DeChambeau has accepted an invitation to go against the longest drivers in the world.
DeChambeau announced Sunday on social media that he was invited and will compete in the Professional Long Drivers Association World Championships. The competition will be held after the Ryder Cup, Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Mesquite Sports Complex in Mesquite, Nevada.
“This is an amazing opportunity to grow the game and the sport in general,” DeChambeau wrote on his Instagram account. “I want to show the world how incredibly talented and hard-working these athletes are. I’ve been working hard to get my game up to their speeds, so I have a chance, but will still continue to play my best golf with my regular day job.”
5 Comments
baxter cepeda
The solheim Cup and Ryder cup have become like classic rivalries in football and other sports where a competitive match can almost always be expected regardless of ranks and records.
Last time DK and Lexi both narrowly lost their singles Matches; that was the difference.
If The top US players —as Dottie might say: choke like dogs- things quickly become a dog fight. ..Not only because they lose points from their best players but because it dejects the rest of the US team and emboldens the Euros.
Tom Edrington
Still wondering if you’d give Lexi a two-footer? I sure as hell wouldn’t!
baxter cepeda
I thought it was a rhetorical question.
I wouldn’t want to give Queen Bee Or my own fleshing blood a 2 footer if it meant enough. So I certainly wouldn’t give one to Lexi…or bubba, Sergio, and anyone else who babies 2 footers.
You know how players say you don’t want to win that way…I’m ok w it. Lol.
Tom Edrington
For most, 2-footers are in the circle of friendship, I’m not making Rahm or DJ putt one of those, Rory? Maybe, Lexi? Definitely!
baxter cepeda
We usually gotta make everything.
But We’re mostly playing on an old wind swept links style course made by plantation workers back in the day. So nothing is guaranteed.
I personally don’t like being given short putts. I like to hear that sound.