Tag: Solheim Cup 2023

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Solheim Cup 2023: Team Europe catches up in the Fourballs

Team Europe playing catch up in the fourballs at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Team Europe playing catch up in the fourballs at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

All four fourball matches on Friday afternoon at the Solheim Cup 2023 were hard contested. While Team Europe secured itself 3 of the 4 possible points, Team USA will still take the lead with a total of 5 points into Saturday.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

Solheim Cup 2023: Fourball Matches

Match 5 – Rose Zhang/Megan Khang (USA) tied Gemma Dryburgh/Madelene Sagstrom (EUR)

The United States held the lead from the jump, going 1-up after the first hole. It stayed a 1-up USA advantage through three before Madelene Sagstrom birdied No. 4, deadlocking the match for another hole. Then, Rose Zhang birdied No. 4 just to find the match tied once again after another European birdie on 6. Megan Khang put the Americans back in the lead, where it stayed until being knotted up after 12. The Europeans took their first lead of the match thanks to another Sagstrom birdie but quickly found themselves tied again after 15. Gemma Dryburgh looked to give Europe the edge again after holing out from the fiarway on 16, but Zhang sunk a clutch birdie putt to keep the match dormy. A round of pars on 18 kept the score that way, securing a half point for each squad.

“Halves are huge. I think from past Solheims, you forget how important halves are,” said Khang when asked about how important the half-point was for the team. “But, you know, obviously we’d love to get a full point, but Madelene and Gemma played really well and it was a fun match, honestly. Shots were exchanged, a couple tap-ins here and there from both teams, and again, both clutch putts from both, like, Gemma, Madelene, and everyone in the group.”

Match 6 – Georgia Hall/Leona Maguire (EUR) def. Lexi Thompson/Lilia Vu (USA) – 1 up

After losing each of their foursomes matches this morning, Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire took the Solheim Cup stage again, this time paired together for fourball. The duo stayed even with Americans Lexi Thompson and Solheim Cup rookie Lilia Vu through the first three holes. Hall birdied hole No. 4, giving Europe the 1-up lead for the next nine holes. On 14, Thompson drove the green on the short par 4 and sunk an eagle putt to knot the match. Not for long, though, as the Europeans once again reclaimed the lead and held it for Nos. 15 and 16 before Vu birdied hole 17, tying it up just before the final hole. Coming down to the wire, Maguire chipped in for an impressive birdie and the Americans could not match it, giving Europe their first full point of the event.

“I think our games complement each other really well,” Hall said about why her and Maguire make good partners. “Leona’s short game, as you saw, is phenomenal. I think having a short iron into some holes that gives us maybe a bit more of an aggressive play. But we get on really well, and I think we know each other’s games pretty good. Yeah, it’s nice to be undefeated.”

Match 7 – Jennifer Kupcho/Allisen Corpuz (USA) tied Maja Stark/Emily Kristine Pedersen (EUR)

The U.S. Team took the early 1-up lead thanks to a birdie from Jennifer Kupcho. Her and partner Allisen Corpuz stayed comfortably in the lead through five of the first six holes until Maja Stark tied the match with a birdie on No. 7. America reclaimed the lead on 8 and held it for the next three holes until Emily Kristine Pedersen aced hole No. 12, using her 7-iron to earn just the second hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history and first since Vice Captain Anna Nordqvist made one in 2013. The celebration did not last long with Kupcho adding another birdie on No. 13, giving the U.S. the lead through 15 where Europe tied it up once again. After an even 17, the teams took to No. 18 with the match on the line. Corpuz applied the pressure, sinking a birdie putt to give America the chance before Stark stared down a birdie putt of her own, sinking it and halving the match. 

“Yeah, I mean, I made a lot of birdies. She made a lot of birdies. They made a couple of really good shots holing out. So it was a good match. We played really well,” said Kupcho of the match. 

Match 8 – Carlota Ciganda/Linn Grant (EUR)def. Angel Yin/Ally Ewing (USA) – 4 and 2

In front of her home crowd, Spaniard Carlota Ciganda and her frouball partner Linn Grant earned a decisive win over Angel Yin and Ally Ewing. Ciganda birdied hole one, giving the Europeans their first lead of the day. That lead gradually grew as the matches went on, thanks to low scores by Ciganda and Grant on No. 4, which pushed the lead to two. Yin birdied No. 6, bringing the lead within one. It would stay that way for the next four holes until a Grant birdie on 11 and another Ciganda birdie on 14 put the Europeans 3-up. They finished 4&2 thanks to a pair of birdies on 16, giving Europe their second full point of the day. 

“I was just embracing it and having fun. I think the atmosphere on the first hole, it’s amazing. I’m so happy that we get to play here in Spain. It’s very special for me. I think, yeah, we played great. I feel very comfortable with Linn. She’s an amazing player. I really like how she is on the course and I think that we played a really good four-ball and we were in control all the time. Hopefully, we can keep it the same tomorrow,” said Ciganda. 

(Text: LPGA Communications)

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Suzann Pettersen: “These players are hungry”

Suzann Pettersen at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Suzann Pettersen at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Eight matches lie behind the two Solheim Cup teams. In the morning, the Americans clearly had the edge and took four out of four points. Captain Suzann Pettersen seems to have given her players just the right amount of support, as they fought valiantly against the favorites in the afternoon and secured three out of four points. In the interview, Suzann Pettersen is confident about the weekend.

Suzann Pettersen in the interview after day 1 of the Solheim Cup

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Solheim Cup 2023: Team USA dominates Friday Foursomes

Team US dominates Friday Foursomes at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Team US dominates Friday Foursomes at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Team USA made a clean sweep in the foursomes on Friday morning at the 2023 Solheim Cup. They lead in Spain with 4:0. This is the first time the United States Team has swept a foursomes round in the history of the Solheim Cup.

Livescoring for the 2023 Solheim Cup

Match 1 – Lexi Thompson/Megan Khang (USA) def. Linn Grant/Maja Stark (EUR), 2 and 1

Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang got off to a hot start in the opening match of the 2023 Solheim Cup, winning the first three holes to immediately set the pace for the American side. The Europeans started chipping back on the sixth hole, where Stark’s birdie cut the deficit to two holes. Stark again cut into the lead with a winning par at No. 11, punctuating the moment with a massive fist pump. Grant poured in a birdie of her own at No. 13 to tie up the match, but Thompson’s birdie putt on No. 15 put the Red, White and Blue back on top for good. They ultimately won the match with a par on the 17th hole.

“I think, honestly, we both just played really solid golf on both sides. She had so many amazing iron shots and gave me looks for birdies, and I just tried to get her down there as far as I could,” said Thompson, who is now 4-2-1 in foursomes at the Solheim Cup.

“She smacked the ball so far down. I had some numbers that I didn’t even have in the book. I was like, wow, this is different,” added Khang while celebrating her first foursomes victory. She is now 1-1-0. 

Match 2 – Danielle Kang/Andrea Lee (USA) def. Celine Boutier/Georgia Hall (EUR), 1-up

The U.S. Team held a 1-up lead from the jump with an opening hole birdie and would keep it until Celine Boutier dropped in a birdie putt to take the lead on No. 6. Back and forth for the next few holes, the United States would not go away quietly tying the match on No. 7 with Europe taking the lead once again on No. 8 and the U.S. Team squaring it up heading into the back. The matched stayed tied thanks to some clutch putts on both sides before Andrea Lee sunk a birdie putt on No. 17 to give the United States the 1-up lead, securing the win for the United States Team. 

“Honestly, I’m just so proud of [Andrea],” said Kang. “It’s been her first showing, first Solheim Cup match, and she held it together. I know she was saying that she was nervous, but she was hitting shots, she was stiffing it all day giving me birdie chances, and when I put her in a tough spot, she still left me alive. So I told her, I got it, I’ll clean it up, and it’s been really, really fun and enjoyable.”

Match 3 – Nelly Korda/Allisen Corpuz (USA) def. Leona Maguire/Anna Nordqvist (EUR), 1-up

After an errant tee shot into the water on hole 1, the United States found themselves trailing 1-down the first two holes before tying it up on No. 3. The U.S. would go on to take a 2-up lead for three holes before the European Team would once again, tie up the match thanks to a long birdie putt from the vice-captain and player, Anna Nordqvist. The United States took a 2-up lead on the back nine and kept the Europeans at bay the rest of the way, winning 1-up after 18 holes.

“For [Allisen] to come out and make some really clutch putts for us it was great to see,” said Korda of her partner. She may be a rookie, but I think she came in really clutch today and she doesn’t show that at all.”

Match 4 – Ally Ewing/Cheyenne Knight (USA) def. Charley Hull/Emily K. Pedersen (EUR), 5 and 4

Match four started their day tied after the first hole but the U.S. Team took command and held control for the rest of the match after winning with par on the second. A birdie on hole 4 kept things rolling for the Team United States. More pars on 5, 6 and 7 gave the duo of Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight a 5-up advantage before the turn. A birdie on No. 9 for the United States all but sealed the victory to earn them their first point of the 2023 Solheim Cup. After the turn, the European Team won their first hole on No. 10 before Knight sank an 8-footer to give the U.S. Team a 5-and-4 victory.

“We know we’re going to be in for a dog fight. Team Europe’s really stacked. Honestly, I think it kind of set the tone, kind of Lexi going out first. A lot of people have doubted her, and I hope that she pulls out the point today, and I saw they got off to a really great start. But I think we are the underdogs and we’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose and we are here to kind of shock some people,” said Knight of the U.S. Teams foursomes sweep. 

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Stacy Lewis on the missed Opportunity of Ryder Cup/Solheim Cup 2023 Double Feature

Stacy Lewis as Captain of Team USA at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)
Stacy Lewis as Captain of Team USA at the Solheim Cup 2023. (Photo: Getty)

As the anticipation builds ahead of the Solheim Cup 2023 in Spain, Team USA, led by Captain Stacy Lewis, emanates a sense of excitement, unity, and confidence. The press conferences provided a platform for the players to express their feelings, expectations, and preparations for the high-stake tournament, revealing insights into their mentality, camaraderie, and strategic approaches.

Team USA Captain Stacy Lewis: “We’re moving in the right direction”

Captain Stacy Lewis and her squad have hit the ground running, focusing on unity and trust within the team to navigate the challenges presented by the course layout. Lewis expressed her excitement, saying, “We’ve had good practice rounds, and we’re moving in the right direction.” Her sentiments were echoed by Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis, with the latter describing the Solheim Cup as her “absolute favorite work week.”

Analyzing the event’s location and logistics, Lewis highlighted how analytics played a pivotal role in their preparations, “It’s been my start point for everything… analytics are a huge part of what we’re doing.” The strategic significance of the drivable par-4 on the first hole was also discussed, seen as an opportunity to put some pressure on Team Europe right from the start.

Despite some setbacks and disappointments over missed opportunities for joint promotions with the Ryder Cup Lewis remains hopeful about future collaborations for the betterment of women’s sport, “I thought this could have been marketed together as two weeks in Europe, two Cups for play… Let’s further the game of golf in general,” she stated.

The camaraderie, mutual support, and the shared excitement are forming the essence of Team USA’s experience ahead of the Solheim Cup 2023. The amalgamation of experienced guidance from the veterans, the youthful energy from the rookies, and the strategic insights under Captain Lewis’s leadership have made the team optimistic about facing the challenges and putting up a spirited fight in the tournament.

Solheim Cup 2023 Rookies are excited

The rookies of Team USA, Andrea Lee, Rose Zhang, Cheyenne Knight, Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vu, expressed their surreal experiences and excitement at being part of such a prestigious event. Lee described being in Spain and witnessing everything coming together as “super exciting,” while Zhang emphasized her commitment to the team’s success, “Regardless of how much I’m playing, I’m going to be fighting out there every single event or every single match that I participate in.”

Vu likened the team environment to her experiences with college golf, emphasizing the enjoyment she’s found in practice rounds and team bonding activities. The comparison between their shared history and experiences at the Solheim Cup 2023 was marked as special, especially by Stanford Cardinals, Andrea Lee, and Rose Zhang, who valued their shared experiences in Spain.

Veterans offer Insights and Guidance

The veterans, Angel Yin and Angela Stanford, offered valuable guidance and support to the newcomers, helping them navigate their nerves and adrenaline. Yin expressed confidence in the rookies, citing them as well-experienced and praising the leadership of Stacy, “she really keeps the team together, and she’s very transparent, very good at communicating…”

Stanford shared advice to rookies on enjoying the unique experience and being honest. She along with Morgan Pressel emphasized the team’s competitive nature and considered it a real asset for the upcoming matches.

The players engaged in special bonding activities like trivia games and dinner outings, cherishing the moments and gifts received, especially their USA golf bags. The players, including Cheyenne Knight and Allisen Corpuz, highlighted the cohesive dynamics, supportive atmosphere, and the beautiful landscape of the golf course.

Ally Ewing, Lexi Thompson, and Danielle Kang emphasized the honor of representing their country and showed enthusiasm about the team’s strength and leadership. They discussed the course’s condition, the strategy involved, and the importance of statistics in preparing partnerships, providing better insights for teaming up.

With the new approach fostering unity, challenging terrains sparking strategic discussions, and the unequivocal commitment from every member, Team USA seems ready to represent their country with their best efforts and is looking forward to the competition with zeal and anticipation. The Solheim Cup is thus setting the stage for a spirited clash, blending experience with fresh talent and strategic gameplay, promising an enthralling experience for the spectators.

(This article was created using AI.)

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2023 Solheim Cup: Team USA ready for revenge

This is the trophy Team USA wants to hold in its hands at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
This is the trophy Team USA wants to hold in its hands at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

In just a few days, the 2023 Solheim Cup kicks off in Spain. After two losses in a row, Team USA will try to reclaim the coveted trophy at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Andalusia. Captain Stacy Lewis is relying on detailed data analysis to assemble the team for victory.

Team USA at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain

When taking a look at Team USA for the Solheim Cup 2023, one thing stands out immediately: Compared to Team Europe, the U.S. team is significantly younger and less experienced. An average age of 29 years and a total of 31 participations in the Solheim Cup by the Europeans contrasts with an average age of 25 years and a total of only 17 participations by Team USA. In addition, Stacy Lewis (38) is the youngest US captain ever. This makes the participation of an experienced player like Lexi Thompson, who plays a leadership role in the inexperienced team, all the more important.

There are five rookies competing for Team USA in this year’s Solheim Cup, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang, Allisen Corpuz, Andrea Lee and Cheyenne Knight. But Vu and Zhang in particular have their work cut out for them: while Lilia Vu is ranked second in the Rolex Rankings after winning two majors, Rose Zhang qualified for the Solheim Cup just a few months after starting her professional career at the age of 20.

2023 Solheim Cup: Revenge thanks to statistical data?

The young rookies are joined by Team USA’s three most experienced golfers in Lexi Thompson (28), Danielle Kang (30) and Ally Ewing (30). Jennifer Kupcho, Megan Khang, Angel Yin and Nelly Korda – number three in the Rolex Rankings – complete the team. The deciding factor for potential success will certainly be which players captain Stacy Lewis pairs for the tournament. “As we get closer to the event, we’re starting to look into pairings, ’cause the data can, based on the course, simulate who’ll play well together,” Lewis said in an interview with Golf.com.

Statistical data in general plays a big role in the captain’s tournament preparation for the 2023 Solheim Cup, as she revealed in the interview, “When I was announced as captain, I started doing research and reading, including [Shane Ryan’s] book about the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. It talked a lot about analytics – what the guys do, the two different [analytics firms] the teams used.”

“Quirkly” golf course in beautiful Spain

The captain has an unusual opinion about the venue, the Finca Cortesin golf course in Andalusia: “Finca is beautiful. The resort is awesome. Five stars. So it’s gonna be great for players to stay on-site. The golf course itself is a little quirky. It’s got some funny holes, and you’re on the side of a mountain, so it’s hilly. It’s gonna be a tough walk for the players.” The question is whether the young star power around Lexi Thompson will be enough for Team USA to win the Solheim Cup on this course, or will the lack of experience prove to be a stumbling block?

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2023 Solheim Cup: Team Europe is ready for the title defense

Team Europe is ready for the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Team Europe is ready for the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

The countdown to the 2023 Solheim Cup at the Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Andalusia, Spain, is on and preparations are in full swing. As far as Team Europe around captain Suzann Pettersen is concerned, there is at least already planning certainty. The mission to defend the title after the victories in 2019 and 2021 is apparently no longer in the way. A positive side note: Five of the seven European victories were celebrated on home soil.

Team Europe at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain

Team Europe has a versatile lineup for its third consecutive Solheim Cup victory. For eight of the twelve golfers, the 2023 Solheim Cup will be at least their third participation in the prestigious tournament. In addition to the experienced Anna Nordqvist, who has won the tournament four times in seven appearances, Charley Hull and Carlota Ciganda will be competing for Team Europe for the sixth time. Ciganda is the only Spaniard taking part in the tournament in Andalusia and thus has a special home match ahead of her.

The fact that the Solheim Cup is getting closer can also be felt by captain Suzann Pettersen: “I can definitely feel it’s getting closer because I’m having nightmares about it,” she jokes. “My head’s spinning at night. It’s been at a bit of an arm’s length distance until now but, yeah, with the clock ticking and the team starting to shape up, there are obviously a lot of challenges I have to rise to and questions I have to answer. They’re good problems to have but I’m starting to feel it, which is nice.”

Three debutants and a Swedish block at the 2023 Solheim Cup

As many as five players of the European team for the Solheim Cup 2023 come from Sweden, including the two debutants Maja Stark and Linn Grant. The experienced Anna Nordqvist and the two captain’s picks Madelene Sagström and Caroline Hedwall make up the rest of the Swedish block. Nordqvist, as the playing vice-captain, is also the oldest and most experienced player for Team Europe and certainly takes a leadership role for the young debutants.

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh completes the trio of debutants as a Captain’s Pick. Also joining Team Europe as a fourth Captain’s Pick is Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen, whose performance will again play a major role for the European team after her decisive putt at the 2021 Solheim Cup.

Team Europe: Versatile to success?

For captain Suzann Pettersen, the goal with her captain picks was to create as versatile a Team Europe as possible around the eight qualified golfers. In addition to the vast experience of Nordqvist, Ciganda and Hull and rookies Grant and Stark, the addition of Céline Boutier, Georgia Hall and rookie record holder Leona Maguire already resulted in a balanced team. Maintaining the balance was accordingly the focus.

Pettersen on her captain picks: “I’m very pleased with my team! Madelene [Sagström] was an obvious choice; she was right there in the pack with the rest of the eight qualifiers, has experience and is a great team player. It’s been great following Gemma [Dryburgh] and her performances over the past year, she has a very consistent game, is a great putter and has a great personality. Emily [Kristine Pedersen] is a fierce competitor especially in match play, she has the experience and I know what I’m going to get from her. I can’t think of a more competitive player than Caroline [Hedwall]. I’m very happy to have her on our team. She compliments the team perfectly with her game and records in the Solheim Cup.”

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A Solheim Cup venue unlike any other

The course of Finca Cortesin in spain. (Photo: Solheim Cup)
The course of Finca Cortesin in spain. (Photo: Solheim Cup)

The 24 European and American players have been selected for the upcoming Solheim Cup, the biennial competition between the best women golfers of Europe and the United States. With the opening ceremony just a few weeks away, it is time for the final touches at Finca Cortesin, “one of the best venues ever”, according to Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist, who will be teeing it up in her eighth Solheim Cup.

Solheim Cup 2023: “Breathtaking surroundings, world-class amenities, and unwavering dedication to championship golf”

The week of celebrations in Finca Cortesin, nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Spain with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea, will start on Monday, September 18th, with a combination of team practices, flamenco exhibitions, gastronomic evenings, and candlelight concerts.

Finca Cortesin (Photo: Solheim Cup)

“It is the perfect destination and setting to host the Solheim Cup. With breathtaking surroundings, world-class amenities, and unwavering dedication to championship golf, we hope to create an unparalleled experience for players and spectators during the event,” said Rocio Sanchez, Assistant Golf Manager at Finca Cortesin.

The golf course, designed by Cabell Robinson, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard residing in Spain, has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments including the Volvo World Match Play Championship (2009, 2011, 2012). It is one of the longest layouts in Europe with around 7,500 yards, large undulating greens and more than 100 strategically placed bunkers.

The matches will start on Friday, September 22nd, with a risk-reward tee shot over a large lake that guards the front of the green of the short par-4 first hole. The excitement will continue with the third, a magnificent par-5 that features an approach over the water; the tenth, a downhill par-3 with incredible views of the nearby mountains, and the eleventh, a long par-5 that provides a great test for all players.

“Finca Cortesin is definitively the best venue of the Solheim Cup. It has so many fantastic facilities with an incredible hotel and one of Europe’s best golf courses,” said Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, Captain of the European squad, which boasts players from six different countries.

“It is a great golf course for match play,” said Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, who will be playing in her sixth Solheim Cup and the first one on home soil. “I love that it is in Spain, with the food, the ‘jamon’, the hospitality, and the great weather,” added Ciganda, member of the winning squad at the last edition in Toledo, Ohio (2021).

(Photo: Solheim Cup)

“Since day one, the resort has been committed not only to showcasing the finest golfing conditions, but also fostering opportunities for women to excel in the sport, both through playing and in business. The Solheim Cup will not only celebrate competition, but the legacy of women in golf and their vital role in shaping the sport’s future,” said Sanchez.

It has been 24 years since Southern Spain displayed its attractions for golfers at the male equivalent of this transatlantic tournament, the 1999 Ryder Cup. The competition and the experiences during this first Solheim Cup will showcase what Finca Cortesin and the region have to offer to women professional and amateur golfers from around the world.

Beyond golf, the property contains a classic Andalusian hotel with 67 spacious high-ceiling suites and three restaurants featuring Asian-Mediterranean fusion, authentic Spanish cuisine, and award-winning Italian dishes. The resort’s Beach Club is less than a mile away at Bahia Casares, with Balinese beds and sun loungers dotted around an infinity pool.

Finca Cortesin sits in the middle of an area that covers the mountains and the wineries led by women oenologists in Ronda, the museums and art scenes of Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, and two of the most important and luxurious marinas in the Mediterranean coast, Puerto Banus and Sotogrande.

It does not take long from Finca Cortesin to explore other local attractions, like the recently renovated La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, the Andalusian horse show and sherry wineries in Jerez, the Alhambra in Granada, the Guadalquivir River in Sevilla, or the Arab baths by the Mosque in Cordoba.

And for recovery, detox, and refreshment, there’s the Spa at Finca Cortesin, home to thermal baths, a fitness center, tennis and yoga instruction, a heated indoor saltwater pool, three thermal areas—each with their own sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation area—and a Snow Cave.

In the words of US Team Captain, Stacy Lewis: “The resort at Finca is amazing. It is first class. We are going to be so spoiled and then the golf course itself is in unbelievable condition. It is going to be a treat for all of us.”

(Text: Solheim Cup)