Suzann Pettersen is looking to lead Europe to an unprecedented achievement at this year’s Solheim Cup, with her side looking to win consecutive events on American soil for the first time in September.
Europe have not lost the Solheim Cup since 2017, and produced a remarkable fightback last year to retain the cup in Spain, with Carlota Ciganda proving to be the hero on the penultimate hole in her singles clash with Nelly Korda.
Interestingly, Pettersen is taking the large majority of the same team with her across the Atlantic, with 12 of those involved last time out set to tackle Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
It may also be significant that eight of the team which won the 2021 Solheim Cup in Toledo, Ohio are in the latest side, with Emily Kristine Pedersen, Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist all amongst Pettersen’s captain’s picks this time around.
Suzann Pettersen shares what she’s told Team Europe ahead of Solheim Cup
Europe ended up winning 15-13 on that occasion. But the American crowd will be desperate to see their side end their long wait to get their hands on the trophy again.
Speaking on Golf Channel after announcing her picks, Pettersen explained what she expects from the crowd and what advice she has given her ranks.
“It is different, I always used to get pumped from the crowd going quiet, that was a good thing. The more quiet, the better for us,” she said.
“You have to prepare, hopefully we’re going to have a knowledgeable crowd that appreciates good golf on both sides, but they are going to be louder, they are going to be cheering more for the Americans, fair enough, we’ve all been there. I don’t think the girls care to be honest, they just want to go out there and get their points. We told them, especially from Toledo, if we can get silence on the golf course, I think we’ve done a great job.”
Experience could be crucial
The amount of experience within the European team is only going to help the side in the coming weeks, particularly against a US side which will be led by Korda and Lilia Vu.
Where Pettersen’s job will made a lot easier is from there being a number of obvious pairings emerging within her team. Georgia Hall will surely feature alongside Celine Boutier or Charley Hull throughout the week, while Maja Stark and Linn Grant are extremely close. Remarkably, Emily Pedersen had four different partners in 2023 as she played all five matches, so her versatility is going to be crucial.
That familiarity between the team will surely be beneficial, particularly if the Americans get on top and fire the crowd up. Europe came from 4-0 down in the first session to retain the trophy last year, so they will be well aware that there will be little reason to panic – even in the cauldron that is playing an away Solheim Cup.
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