From team-room friction between USA and Europe to the caddie with divided loyalties this week, Sky Sports activities Information’ Jamie Weir brings you up to the mark with a number of the storylines brewing forward of the Solheim Cup…
‘Home-gate?’ Europe play position of noisy neighbours
The Solheim Cup would not be the Solheim Cup and not using a little bit of controversy. It routinely has extra needle and flashpoints than the Ryder Cup – with Suzann Pettersen very often on the centre of it!
This yr’s is “house-gate” and considerations the 2 groups’ on-course bases for the week (they’re staying in resorts off-course). As residence group, the US had first dibs and went for the larger of the 2 homes; a shocking and spacious villa subsequent to the vary.
‘Subsequent to’ being the operative phrases, as a result of whereas the US home is tucked across the nook, the European home – the smaller of the 2 – actually backs onto the vary. Given the dearth of house inside, the European group have elected to open the driving bays on their floor ground and transfer eating tables and chairs exterior, successfully onto the vary!
The US declare this breaches the phrases of the Solheim Cup contract, however Pettersen and her backroom group are nonplussed and have continued to play their music at full blast whereas the American gamers are left to stroll immediately previous their home on their technique to the far finish of the vary. Your traditional case of the noisy neighbours!
The Group Europe buggies sit exterior of their on-site group base forward of the Solheim Cup
Head or coronary heart? Captains provide contrasting types
I keep in mind noticing immediately final yr in Spain that you simply could not have two extra contrasting characters as captains and that view has solely been intensified in Virginia.
Stacy Lewis is calm, reserved and methodical however clearly has the full respect of all her gamers. Her type of management very a lot jogs my memory of Catriona Matthews’ – Europe’s victorious captain in 2019 and 2021. Pettersen against this – while nonetheless having the compete respect and devotion of her group – is a bundle of power. Loud, in-your-face and flamable. A powder keg ready to blow up.
Jamie Weir speaks to Charley Hull forward of the Solheim Cup
Their approaches are poles aside too. Lewis has left no stone unturned and leans closely on the info, with a group of statisticians behind her advising her on the optimum pairings, whereas Suzann appears to very a lot let intestine intuition inform her decision-making.
Pettersen has despatched a mix of gamers out collectively for apply rounds every day, placing way more emphasis on vibes, on making a cohesive group of twelve the place all the ladies are so snug in every others’ firm, versus Lewis who clearly has a plan that – in a super world – she’s intent on sticking to.
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Charley Hull will compete in her seventh Solheim Cup in Virginia. This is a glance again at a few of her earlier greatest moments representing Group Europe
What’s the perfect method? Head or coronary heart? Analytics or pure vibes? Who’s to say. Twelve months in the past each operated the identical approach and it resulted in a 14-14 tie.
Group USA’s “unfinished business”
European chat about ‘4 in a row’ or ‘doing the four-peat’ has clearly rankled the Individuals and so they’re not even attempting to cover that truth.
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Will we see one other dramatic end on the Solheim Cup? Watch the event dwell this week on Sky Sports activities Golf.
They completely don’t contemplate final yr’s Solheim in Spain as a European win. They’re insistent it was a tie, and that Europe solely saved the Solheim Cup on a technicality. It is evidently bought beneath the pores and skin.
They view final yr because the one which bought away; as one which slipped by means of their fingers and the mantra we preserve listening to – from Lewis and the gamers alike – is ‘unfinished enterprise’.
The Sky Sports activities Information group are in Virginia this week for the Solheim Cup (L-R: Chris Johnson, Jamie Weir, Craig Rees)
Thompson taking focus forward of doable farewell
Understandably, there’s been a lot of deal with Lexi Thompson this week. Enjoying in her seventh consecutive Solheim Cup, she stays the taliswoman of the group. She’s a focus who the youthful members of the group – which is hilarious, contemplating Thompson herself is 29 – flip to and really a lot lean on.
Lexi Thompson is making her seventh Solheim Cup look for Group USA
Having introduced she’d be retiring earlier this season, she’s at occasions appeared to row again on that this week, conceding that she nonetheless most likely will play the odd occasion and that this MAY not be her final Solheim Cup.
She was one of many stand-out gamers in Spain final yr and nonetheless brings a lot to the facet, merely together with her aura by no means thoughts the standard of her precise golf.
Reside Solheim Cup Golf
Reside Solheim Cup Golf
Friday thirteenth September 11:30am
She additionally has her pet in tow this week, who’s staying with the group and has clearly grow to be one thing of a US mascot. She is the one participant on this American facet who survives from their final success in 2017, however she’ll be determined to vary that this week.
‘Tremendous rookies’ able to shine for Europe?
Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela are Europe’s two rookies this time round, with america additionally having two in Sarah Schmelzel and Virginia native Lauren Coughlin.
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Talking on the Sky Sports activities Golf Podcast, Sophie Walker offers us the lowdown on the rookies in Europe’s Solheim Cup group – Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela.
Final yr, the infectious enthusiasm of then-rookies Maja Stark and Linn Grant was so very important to Europe’s final success, and it seems Henseleit and Valenzuela have seamlessly taken on that mantle.
They’re loving each second of it this week, smiling from ear to ear, and getting into into the enjoyable environment Pettersen has been so eager to domesticate. They’re protecting everybody else’s power ranges up with their evident pleasure at being concerned in what each of them are overtly calling the most important week of their lives.
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Zhang taking part in third wheel with Olly within the center?
Spare a thought for Leicestershire’s Olly Brett, Rose Zhang’s caddie but additionally Emily Pedersen’s boyfriend – a novel dynamic which has added one other little bit of intrigue to the week.
Rose insists he is absolutely in on being an honorary American for the week and has introduced a lot power to the group room. He and Emily, while clearly not ignoring one another, are staying individually from one another this week.
Stress? Awkwardness? Not a little bit of it. Each gamers would relish the possibility to be drawn in opposition to one another in Sunday singles and discover the prospect of that completely hilarious.
Whether or not poor Olly – caught within the center – feels the identical approach is one other matter!
Who will win the 2024 Solheim Cup? Watch completely dwell this September on Sky Sports activities! Reside protection from the opening ceremony begins at 9.30pm on Thursday, with the opening day’s play dwell on the Friday from 11.30am. Stream the Solheim Cup and extra with NOW.
