Solheim Cup Showdown

For a grueling three days in September twelve European golfers will doggedly defend their right to retain the venerable Solheim Cup for another two year stretch. Twelve equally determined LPGA golfers will attempt to unseat the Europeans as guardians of the Waterford Crystal trophy.

At the 2003 event held at Barseback Golf & Country Club in Sweden 100,000 cheering fans witnessed the European team (17.5 points) make mincemeat out of the Americans (10.5).

With an all-star American team led by Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam playing on the side of the LET, all I can say is … “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

The Solheim Cup was originated by Ping Golf founder Karsten Solheim and is the women’s version of the Ryder Cup. This will be the ninth event ever played between dueling factions of the LPGA and LET. Team U.S.A. leads 5-3 overall and has not lost on home soil. The Europeans have claimed victory at three of the four events held overseas.

This year’s tournament will be held at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana so hopefully the Americans will do what’s necessary to insure their psychological advantage. Crooked Stick is also the golf course that John Daly won the PGA Championship starting out as the final alternate after Nick Price had to bow out. Price’s caddy stumped for Daly that week.

The events this week are all in matchplay format. The competition includes eight foursome matches, eight four-ball matches and twelve singles matches played on the final day for a total of 28 points up for grabs.

The American Team is looking strong this year. Pat Hurst won the State Farm Classic last week followed closely by Cristie Kerr in second place. Kerr won her second tournament of 2005 the week prior at the Wendy’s Championship for Children. The momentum gained from these two players’ recent surges will certainly give the American team some much needed steam.

Rookie Triple Threat
Although most of the U.S. team will remain intact from their large margin of defeat two years ago, they’re looking to the rookie generation for attitude and excitement.

The Pink Panther, Paula Creamer, is ready for the challenge. She’s had a terrific rookie season and is the youngest golfer in Solheim history. With outspoken enthusiasm and exuding confidence Creamer gave her teammates a “pat-on-the-back” when asked about playing golf against the Europeans. “I’m so excited,” she said. “We have a great team. Everybody gets along so well and we all want to win. I know I do.”

“I thrive off of pressure. It makes me practice harder. It makes me try to represent my country more.” Her red, white and blue-painted fingernails also help to cheer on her team!

Another young gun is Natalie Gulbis. Unlike Creamer who’s rookie season included two wins Natalie has yet to break through. But the 22-year-old has kept herself at the top of the leaderboard with seven top-ten’s garnering a third place finish at last week’s State Farm tournament. She’s very competitive and will be an asset to Lopez’ team.

Rounding out the triple-threat is the colorful Christina Kim. Although Kim is riding on a single win from last year, she has added another three top-tens in 2005. Her terrific and comedic attitude will certainly lighten the mood at Crooked Stick when the air grows thick in the heat of the battle.

Let us not forget that the European team also has some heavy hitters. Annika Sorenstam is still the number-one female golfer in the world, European or American. That used to work to her advantage alot more in past years more than during this season. The younger players really have no fear of her. For example Natalie Gulbis recently played even up against Sorenstam on her home turf in Sweden right up until the 18th hole of Annika’s own hosted tournament. Although a long birdie putt for Annika dropped in the hole at 18 giving Annika the victory, she struggled, rather than coasted, to a win.

Laura Davies has played in every Solheim Cup since 1990. and has set several records including most matches won and most points earned. Suzann Pettersen is back as on of Captain Nilstrom’s picks. Although not well known in the LPGA, in the 2003 Cup she won four matches. Iben Tinning of Denmark has won twice on the LET and even dunked a hole-in-one this season at an LPGA event! You never know what can happen!

There are some heated battles at the Solheim Cup. In 2000 Pat Hurst and Kelly Robbins insisted that Annika Sorenstam replay her chip shot because she played out of turn. Annika missed that replay …and then cried. Tensions flare because there is so much at stake for both teams.

I think the Americans have more at stake than the Europeans. Did you ever notice how it’s always the U.S.A. versus ROW in both the LPGA and PGA Tour? While the Europeans are noted individually by their countries they still play as a single entity. Does it have to take the entire rest of the world to defeat the Americans?

Three-thousand additional tickets are being sold for Sunday’s twelve singles matches even though the event is already sold-out to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Solheim Cup will air on the Golf Channel from September 9-11 from 9-5pm (ET) with replays from 7:30-11:30pm nightly.