The 2013 Solheim Cup will be contested this weekend at Colorado Golf Club just outside of Denver, Colorado. Team USA Captain, Meg Mallon has a strong team of American born LPGA stars. On paper they should have the edge on the European Team led by Captain Liselotte Neumann.
This will be the 13th Solheim Cup competition. The Europeans won it for the fourth time two years ago at Killeen Castle in Ireland. Here are the keys that will bring the Solheim Cup back to the United States.
1. Home Field Advantage
The 2013 Solheim Cup is being played in Colorado. The American team is a perfect 6-0 when the matches are contested in the United States. Captain Mallon has chosen the site and has the course set to the advantage of the American squad.
2. Experience
Members of Team USA have qualified throughout the two years since the last Solheim Cup was held in 2011 via a points system. The No. 2 ranked player in the world on the Rolex Rankings Stacy Lewis was the top point earner for the U.S.
Of the twelve members on the American team, eight have Solheim Cup experience. Lizette Salas, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda and Gerina Pillars will be the four rookies on the team.
Salas is the only one of these four that does not have an LPGA Tour win, but she has five top-10 finishes this year. She has been one of the most consistent players on the women’s tour all year long.
Cristie Kerr is competing in her seventh Solheim Cup. Angela Stanford and Paula Creamer have both been in four previous Solheim Cups.
This will be the fourth Solheim Cup for match play wizard Morgan Pressel who has a career record of 7-2-2 in the matches and is a perfect 3-0 in singles.
Neumann’s European Team has six rookies on the team and Charley Hull is a 17-year-old Ladies European Tour rookie.
3. Major Wins
Team USA has a total of seven major championship victiories.
Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lincicome and Stacy Lewis have all won majors. Lewis and Kerr have both won two majors each.
European Team members have only three major championships.
4. World Rankings
All of players on Team USA are ranked in the Top-55 on the Rolex Rankings except for Captain’s pick, Michelle Wie.
Stacy Lewis is the highest ranked at No. 2 and Wie is the lowest at No. 82. Wie has been a top performer on the LPGA for several years and has Solheim Cup experience.
Although Wie was ranked No. 13 on the Solheim Cup points list, Mallon jumped over LPGA Tour rookie Jennifer Johnson. Johnson had a win this year on tour, but Mallon felt she needed Wie’s experience on the team.
Even though Wie has not played particularly well over the past two years, she is still an intimidating ball striker and always seems to be able to elevate her game for the Solheim Cup matches.
5. Team Chemistry
The women of the USA Solheim Cup team have developed a bond and the veteran players are actively mentoring the younger players.
Angela Stanford has a mentoring relationship with Gerina Pillars. She even suggested Pillars attend the 2011 Solheim Cup in Ireland to begin to learn the nuances and excitement that surrounds the matches.
Young players like Thompson, Korda, Salas and Pillars have developed relationships over the years through junior golf and college. They understand the dynamics of team competition and welcome advice and coaching from the veterans.
On paper the USA team seems to have the advantage over the Europeans, but pressure can greatly affect each match’s outcome.
With professionals trained to perform in pressure situations the Solheim Cup always produces outstanding golf and timeless memories for golf fans.