Following this year’s Solheim Cup, Stacy Lewis will certainly be able to reflect on her time as USA captain as a real success – if she is not looking to stay on for two years time in Netherlands.
Stacy Lewis lifted the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club earlier this month after her side managed to stave a European fightback and get across the line for the first time since 2017.
In many ways, it appeared that Lewis’ unfinished business had been addressed after the agonising finish in Spain one year earlier when Europe had fought back from 4-0 down after the opening session to earn a tie. The tie ensured that Suzann Pettersen’s team kept the trophy for another year.
Heading into Sunday at Finca Cortesin, the two teams were tied at 8-8. The top six singles matches saw two wins for Europe, two wins for USA and two ties. Ultimately, the final two matches out on the course involved Carlota Ciganda and Nelly Korda, and Emily Kristine Pedersen and Lexi Thompson. And with Thompson two up with two to play in her match, it was imperative for Europe that Ciganda won her point against Korda.
Stacy Lewis suggests one regret from her time as Solheim Cup captain
Few will forget the stunning shot Ciganda hit to three feet on 17 to wrap up her win against Korda. And with that, Europe had reached the 14 point mark they needed.
Korda was sent out in the penultimate match, with Lewis presumably anticipating the matches going down to the wire. And speaking on the Inside the LPGA Podcast, she suggested that in hindsight, she should not have left the current world number one so low down the order – presumably in the singles.
“Probably from this Solheim experience, the last two years, probably my only regret with pairings was that I wish I would’ve played Nelly earlier in Spain in the lineup, but that’s it. That’s it,” she said.
“Who knows if it changes the outcome or not, but that’s the only thing that I’d go back and do different in the last three years.”
No chance decision would be repeated in 2024
Lewis certainly could not be accused of repeating that mistake twice. Remarkably, Korda went out in the first match in every single session in which she played in Gainesville. And the 26-year-old absolutely relished the responsibility.
Korda embraced the atmosphere from the crowd, and won all three of her matches over the first two days. That was so important in putting the US on pole position to reach the 14.5 points that they needed.
Korda was ruthless with robotic consistency, winning every single par five she played over Friday and Saturday. And fortunately, her defeat to Charley Hull in the Sunday singles did not come back to haunt the home team.
Lewis has suggested that she would struggle turn down the opportunity to captain the side again. But whether she stays on or not, it would be no surprise at all if Korda leads the team out at every opportunity in 2026.
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