Conditions are set to improve as the week progresses in Scotland but there’s a good chance that the players of Europe and the USA will see the ugly side of Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, for at least a day.
Named after golf club innovator Karsten Solheim, the Solheim Cup is a biennial match between professional women golfers of the USA and Europe.
Alternative competitions are held on either side of the Atlantic with the United States having won 10 times to Europe’s five since the event was first staged in 1990.
The Solheim Cup is being staged in Scotland for the third time and Europe will go into the first day in confident mood having won on both previous occasions the event was held in the country, though they are seeking a first victory overall since 2013.
The event itself follows a similar format to the Ryder Cup, with 28 matches taking place across eight fourballs and eight foursomes over the first two days, and 12 singles on the final day.
A total of 28 points are available so 14 1/2 points are required to win the Cup outright – defending champions the USA need only 14 points to retain the trophy therefore.
Europe’s team consists of the top three players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Solheim Cup standings and the top five LET members in the Women’s World Golf Rankings who were not already qualified via the Solheim Cup standings. Team Captain Catriona Matthew has also selected four wildcards.
The USA team features the leading eight players from the LPGA Solheim Cup points standings and the top two players in the Women’s World Golf Rankings that had not already qualified via the points system. Their captain, Juli Inkster, has chosen two wildcards but the champions’ preparations have been interrupted by an injury to the experienced dual Major winner Stacy Lewis. That means a promotion for first reserve Ally McDonald and means that the Americans will now be blooding six rookies and field the most inexperienced Solheim Cup line-up in history.
American squad looks woefully short of matchplay experience
USA captain Juli Inkster has five players 25 or under in her squad. Europe’s captain Catriona Matthew has a similar number but there is bags more experience in her ranks. Charley Hull, for example, may only be 23 but has already played in two Solheim Cups having made he debut as a 17-year-old in 2013.
Europe should also take heart by the presence of Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedblom, who both have excellent Solheim Cup records. There are only three rookies in the home team and history and circumstance suggests that bookmakers may have got it badly wrong in the match betting.
Solheim Cup Match Betting
Europe 9/5, Draw 12/1, USA 17/25 (Odds correct at 12.15pm September 11)
Europe have to be value at 9/5 with Coral to regain the trophy. They were only narrowly beaten in Germany four years ago when the USA had a much stronger and more-experienced squad and four of their five previous victories have come on European soil. Anna Nodqvist looks good value to be Top European pointscorer.
