2013 Solheim Cup Preview
By: Nick Bonfield | Tue 13 Aug 2013
On Friday, the stars of the women’s game head to Colorado Golf Club to contend the Solheim Cup – the equivalent of the Ryder Cup and the biggest event in the ladies golfing calendar. Two years ago, Europe recorded a memorable victory in Ireland, claiming a 15-13 victory at Kileen Castle after three consecutive defeats to their American counterparts. That said, The USA has won eight of the 12 Solheim Cups and, most significantly, Europe has never tasted success on American Soil.
The Solheim Cup was inaugurated in 1990. Karsten Solheim, the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (which makes PING golf clubs), decided the ladies game deserved a Ryder Cup-esque event. The Solheim family, in conjunction with the Ladies PGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, formulated a concept, became the title sponsor and implemented the most prestigious international women’s professional golf team event.
The first event was staged at Lake Nona Country Club in Orlando, with the American team – captained by Kathy Whitworth – taking the title. Europe bounced back two years later at Dalmahoy Country Club, but the USA has been the dominant force since the Solheim Cup’s inception. This year promises to be an intriguing contest, however. The average age of the American team is 26.3 – the youngest in Solheim Cup history – and the equivalent European figure is only 27.6. The American side features four rookies and the European six, so predicting what will happen this week is a thoroughly unenviable task.
American team
The qualification process for the Solheim Cup is more convoluted and complex than for the Ryder Cup. Eight Americans qualify off a points list, supplemented by two qualifiers off the Rolex World Rankings list and two captain’s picks.
Captain – Meg Mallon
Points List - Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda and Brittany Lang
Rolex World Rankings - Lizette Salas and Morgan Pressel
Captain’s Picks - Michelle Wie and Gerina Piller
European team
In terms of European qualification, four players make the team from a European points list, four players qualify through the Rolex World Rankings list and four players are picked by the captain.
Captain – Liselotte Neumann
European points list – Suzann Pettersen, Carlota Ciganda, Catriona Matthew and Carolina Masson.
Rolex World Rankings – Beatriz Recari, Anna Nordqvist, Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz.
Captain’s picks – Carolina Hedwall, Giulia Sergas, Jodi Eward-Shadoff and Charley Hull.
European team analysis
The first thing to note about the European side is the lack of Laura Davies – a stalwart through the years and the only European to compete in every Solhem Cup since the event’s inception. The decision to exclude the 49-year-old is very much in keeping with the youthful philosophy this year’s Solheim Cup seems to have assumed. Whilst many have questioned that decision, Davies’ form has been poor this season. Experience aside, it would have been hard to select someone whose American stroke average this season is 74.2. Davies herself admitted she hadn’t played well enough to warrant a pick, and with so many youngsters excelling themselves, the paradigm shift is thoroughly justified.
One of those youngsters, and one of six rookies on the European team, is Charley Hull. The 17-year-old will become the youngest ever European player in the Solheim Cup when she tees it up on Friday. Hull has been sensational in her rookie season, notching four top-two finishes and another top-10 in just eight starts. Yes, she is inexperienced, but the way she has conducted herself since turning professional indicates a steely determination and mental toughness beyond her years. She also formed part of the successful GB&I Curtis Cup side in 2012, which defeated the USA despite being huge underdogs.
She is joined on the team by five other rookies, all of whom are thoroughly deserving of their place on the team. Carlotta Ciganda and Caroline Masson both qualified off the European points list in second and fourth place respectively. Ciganda registered two victories in 2012 and Masson demonstrated her extraordinary consistency the same year, notching 17 top-10 finishes en route to second place on the Order of Merit. Beatriz Recari has won twice in America this season, Guilia Sergas has been very consistent and Jodi Eward-Shadoff has posted two top-tens in American majors in 2013.
The other six members of the team have Solheim Cup pedigree. Catriona Matthew and Suzann Pettersen are past major winners and Solheim Cup veterans, Caroline Hedwall excelled on debut in 2011, Anna Nordqvist and Karine Icher are vastly experienced and Azahara Munoz has become one of the best players in the world over the last couple of years. On paper, it looks a solid team, with an exciting mix of youth and experience. It remains to be seen how the youngsters will cope under the most severe pressure, but it’s certainly a side capable of winning.
American team analysis
There are many parallels between the European and American sides, but home advantage and a higher average world ranking has led to bookmakers installing the USA as the 2/5 favourites. Europe hasn’t won back-to-back Solheim Cups and have never triumphed on US soil, so you can understand why America are the overwhelming favourites.
Despite having their youngest-ever average age, the side is full of experience and talent. Paula Creamer has an excellent record – winning points in 71.1% of her career matches – Stacy Lewis is the reigning Women’s Open champion, two-time major champion Christie Kerr has played in six Solheim Cups and Angela Stanford and Brittany Lincicome are also hardened Solheim Cup competitors.
They will be joined by a number of quality youngsters and future major champions in the making. At 18, teenage sensation Lexi Thompson will become the youngest woman to represent America in the Solheim Cup. She has already won twice since turning professional, most notably at the Navistar LPGA Classic – when she entered the history books as the youngest ever winner of an LPGA event. Jessica Korda has also taken the tour by storm, coming through a five-way play-off at the 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open to claim her first title, aged 18, and recording six subsequent top 10s this season.
On paper, the American team looks the rightful favourite. They have a perfect blend of youth and experience and a number of hugely talented players. That said, the European team is packed with some gifted women, a number of whom ply their trade in America, so don’t be surprised to see history made. This is, after all, matchplay golf. As we know, absolutely anything can happen.
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