Team Europe hope to capitalise on ‘energy’ of 2023’s Solheim Cup

GAINESVILLE – Less than 12 months ago, Europe hoisted the Solheim Cup after holding the United States to a 14-14 tie. The Europeans retained their title after winning it narrowly in 2019 and 2021.

Now the Solheim Cup is returning to even-numbered years, and both teams are running it back, the host venue changing from Malaga, Spain, to Gainesville, Virginia.

Europe captain Suzann Pettersen was asked on Sept 10 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club if either team could glean an advantage from the back-to-back Solheim Cup set-up – suggesting that momentum could play a part.

“I don’t really think it matters, to be honest,” she said.

“But I think the nice thing, it literally feels like the 2023 Solheim was just yesterday. It’s so fresh in mind, it literally feels like it. So it’s kind of nice to kind of get that feel and kind of energy going again.”

The Solheim Cup was established in 1990 as an even-numbered year event and pivoted to odd-numbered years in 2003 to avoid overlapping with the Ryder Cup, which had been postponed a year due to the Sept 11 attacks.

Then the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the 2020 Ryder Cup back a year, so the Solheim Cup is now returning to the evens again. The Americans lead the rivalry 10-7 with one drawn.

Pettersen is captaining her team for the second year running, with Stacy Lewis doing the same for the Americans.

“I think it was only the right thing to do for both Stacy and myself to kind of do this because I think it would have been an awful hard job for someone new to come in and do everything in 11 months’ time,” Pettersen added.

The Norwegian will benefit from the existing infrastructure of the most recent victorious team. Ten of her 12 players from 2023 are back, with Germany’s Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland the only newcomers.

“I wouldn’t say a lot of challenges. It’s just a lot of work,” Pettersen said of her team’s preparations.

“Even before we hit a tee shot last year, we had already kind of done the outfits for this year. So really just kind of a lot of criss-cross stuff and admin stuff, logistics.

“From the players’ perspective, I think it’s going to be nice once we kind of get this one out of the way and then we’re back on the regular every other year. I think that’s good for the game.”

Pettersen also said she is glad to leave the pressure of trying to win at home to the Americans, who will rely on Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang, Lexi Thompson and a host of other accomplished players to end their drought.

The European captain would not buy much into the idea that her team have built-in advantages, but the positive vibes from their win last September at Finca Cortesin are undeniable, even though she insists her team are “underdogs”.

“It’s been a quick year since Spain. Obviously it was a quick turnaround, fast celebration. I think it’s a great challenge to try and go out there again and get the job done. The players are all up for it,” she said.

“But playing away, you’re always an underdog. That’s how we’ve always looked at it... being away, I’m very happy to kind of leave the pressure to the Americans to say they are the home favourites.”

The three-day competition kicks off on Sept 13 with a morning session of four foursomes matches followed by an afternoon session of four four-ball matches, a format that repeats the next day.

Sept 15 will feature 12 singles matches, with Europe looking to extend their winning streak while the US will try to end a drought at the event that stretches back to 2017. REUTERS