The Solheim Cup
Venue: Sugar Grove Golf Club, Illinois Date: 21-23 August
Coverage: Reports on the BBC Sport website  Davies has played in all 10 previous Solheim Cup matches for Europe |
Laura Davies says a European Solheim Cup win in the United States would cap everything she has done in her career. The 45-year-old, who has won 20 LPGA titles including four majors, has played in all 10 Solheim Cups but has yet to win away from home. The biennial event between Europe and the US begins in Illinois on Friday. "To overcome the crowds and the American team...the satisfaction on Sunday night would be beyond anything I've achieved," said Davies. "We're 7-3 down and I'd love to play in at least four more and try and make it seven-all.  | If we don't do it (win on US soil) in my time playing in the Solheim, then it would be a huge hole in my career |
"That would be my dream and obviously that would constitute a couple of wins in America, which is the ultimate as far as I'm concerned. "If we don't do it (win on US soil) in my time playing in the Solheim, then it would be a huge hole in my career." Davies has a career tally of 23 points in the Solheim Cup, trailing Sweden's former world number one Annika Sorenstam by just a single point, with a win-loss-half record of 21-16-4. Europe are without 10-time major winner Sorenstam, who retired at the end of last year but Davies says the 2009 team is still formidable as they chase a first victory since 2003. "I think it's a very strong team," she added. "It's as strong as it could be at the moment. "Whether it stacks up against some of the teams in the '90s when Annika was involved, it's hard to see a stronger team than when Annika is in there. But this is absolutely the best of European golf, and luckily we're playing well." Europe's captain Alison Nicholas named Scot Janice Moodie, Wales' Becky Brewerton and Swede Anna Nordqvist as wildcards to make up her 12-strong tream. The nine automatic qualifiers were Gwladys Nocera (France), Tania Elosegui (Spain), Diana Luna (Italy), Davies (England), Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Helen Alfredsson (Sweden), Catriona Matthew (Scotland) and Maria Hjorth (Sweden). Nicholas arranged for seven-time Ryder Cup veteran Jose Maria Olazabal to record a video message which she showed to her team on Tuesday. "It was just lovely to see it from a Ryder Cupper, and probably a future Ryder Cup captain," said Davies. "It was just Ollie being Ollie, and it was just absolutely fantastic. I think everybody was pretty shocked. I was shocked that he would take the time out to make us that video." | By far [Michelle Wie] was playing the best of any of them, so it was a bit of a no-brainer |
Michelle Wie, 19, will make her debut for the US after she was handed one of captain Beth Daniel's wildcards. Wie has come under intense media scrutiny since she first qualified for an LPGA event aged 12. She signed contracts worth millions of dollars on turning professional at 16, but a wrist injury led to struggles to match her younger form. She also sparked criticism for her sporadic attempts to make the cut on the men's PGA Tour. But she earned her LPGA Tour card last year at qualifying school and was selected for the team after posting five top-10s in 13 starts this season. "I've said from day one that my picks were going to be the people who were playing the best coming into the event," said Daniel. "By far she was playing the best of any of them, so it was a bit of a no-brainer. "Only time will tell how she reacts but she's been playing very well in the practice rounds. She seems to be loose and ready to go. Daniel added: "She's very different from her media perception. "We always read that the players didn't like Michelle. They thought she was given everything and that when she plays golf, she's very controlled. "But she is one of the funniest individuals I've ever been around. She's got a very quick wit and she's really a sweet person. She's so appreciative of this opportunity." | 606: DEBATE |
Daniel also picked 49-year-old Juli Inkster, an eight-time Cup veteran, to make up her team alongside Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Christina Kim, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis. Both teams have three rookies, with Wie, Lang and McPherson on the US side matched by Nordqvist, Elosegui and Luna on the European squad. The three-day matchplay event at Rich Harvest Farms near Chicago will begin with four fourball matches followed by four foursomes matches on Friday, with the same pattern on Saturday and 12 singles matches to conclude on Sunday.
Europe: Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Diana Luna (Ita), Laura Davies (Eng), Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Helen Alfredsson (Swe), Catriona Matthew (Sco), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Becky Brewerton (Wal), Janice Moodie (Sco), Anna Nordqvist (Swe). Non-playing captain: Alison Nicholas United States: Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Christina Kim, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis, Juli Inkster, Michelle Wie. Non-playing captain: Beth Daniel.
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