Solheim Cup Begins This Week

The LPGA's answer to the Ryder Cup begins this week. The Solheim Cup is played every two years and is a contest between the U.S. and Europe. It is named for Norwegian-American Karsten Solheim founder and manufacturer of Ping golf clubs. He was instrumental in creating the Solheim Cup first held in 1990.

U.S. team members are chosen by a points system. American LPGA players receive points for each time they place in the top twenty in a tournament. The ten highest make the team. European team members are chosen differently. The top five players for the Ladies European Tour qualify. The other four members are chosen based on Women's World Golf Ranking. Each team's captain has a number of picks, the American captain has two picks and the European captain has three.

Play takes place over three days with a format similar to the Ryder Cup. There are twenty-eight matches that consist of eight foursomes, eight four balls and twelve singles matches on the final day. In four ball play two players compete as partners each playing her own ball. The lower of the two scores is the one that counts for the hole.

Beth Daniel is captain for the U.S. team this year. The top ten players, in order, are: Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson, Nicole Castrale, Christina Kim, Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis. Juli Inkster and Michelle Wie are the captain's picks.

Leading as captain for the European team is Alison Nicholas. Team members include Gwladys Nocera, Tania Elosequi, Diana Luna, Laura Davies, Sophie Gustafson, Suzann Pettersen, Helen Alfredsson, Catroina Matthews and Maria Hjorth. Ms. Nicholas chose Becky Brewerton, Janice Moodie and Ann Nordqvist as her picks.

The captains find it very difficult to choose their picks. It is even more difficult for them to tell players they won't be on the team. Beth Daniel has two assistants, Kelly Robbins and Meg Mallon. Being captain requires wearing many hats. Besides picking the team, Daniel had to oversee and add input to the team uniform designs. She also had to help finalize the food menu for tournament week. Much team bonding occurs during this week, giving it a different atmosphere from normal tournament weeks.

Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois is hosting this year's Solheim Cup taking place Aug. 17-23, 2009. It is the premier competition in women's golf. The players are very aware of the standings many weeks prior to the selection of the team. Many, when interviewed after a match and asked what's on their mind, will answer, "The Solheim Cup." They all are proud to represent the United States in golf.

References:
1. http://golf.about.com/od/teamcompetitions/a/solheim_cup.htm
2. http://www.lpga.com/solheimcup.aspx
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solheim_Cup