TOLEDO, Ohio – Mel Reid has declared this the strongest European Solheim Cup team to date.
Can they win on American soil for only the second time in Solheim history?
In a year in which Americans have won seven titles on the LPGA, compared to Europe’s two, and carry the biggest home-field advantage in Cup history due to pandemic travel restrictions, picking Europe to win the contest at the Inverness Club might seem risky.
After all, the Americans boast an average world ranking of 26 compared to Europe’s 44 and are led by World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who has a built-in partner in big sister Jessica.
But Reid makes a strong case, and when it comes to this team’s overall performance in the Solheim Cup, on paper, Europe is better.
Europe’s team of 12 has an overall record of 42-32-11, compared to Team USA’s 27-24-13. In fact, only four Americans have ever been on a winning team: Austin Ernst (2017), Danielle Kang (2017), Lizette Salas (2015, 2017) and Lexi Thompson (2015, 2017).
Team Europe is more experienced too, having competed in a combined 22 Solheim Cups compared to USA’s 17. It’s the four rookies, however, that Reid considers to be Europe’s biggest asset.
“All these girls, they’re not scared of the American team,” said Reid. “I think before we’ve had a few players who have never played against a Jess Korda, never played against a Danielle Kang, whereas these girls all have.”
Golf Channel analyst Karen Stupples, a major winner who competed in two Solheim Cups, is working as a helper this week for captain Catriona Matthew, and she agrees with Reid’s assessment.
“I honestly can’t think of a team that I would’ve classed as being stronger than this one on the European side,” she said. “I really can’t.”
With all four European rookies competing full-time on the LPGA, there’s a built-in familiarity with players on both sides, as well as the familiarity of playing on American soil on LPGA-type setups.
The only full-time LET player on the roster, Emily Pedersen, has competed on the LPGA in the past and is making her second Solheim Cup appearance in the U.S. as a much more mature and seasoned player.
Even rookie Leona Maguire, the first Irish player to compete in a Solheim Cup, can already tell that ego won’t be an issue in the European team locker room.
“We’re going to have to be each other’s No. 1 fans this week,” said Maguire, “especially with not as many crowds in our favor, and just embracing that and I think the girls, with it.”
England’s Charley Hull calls it one of the most enjoyable teams she’s played on. Hull is one of three players who was on the 2013 team that pummeled the U.S. by eight points in Colorado. It marked the only time Europe has won on U.S. soil.
Hull won her first Solheim Cup point that year on her dad’s birthday. European players will compete this week without many of their loved ones, including parents, in Toledo due to pandemic travel restrictions. There will be a few significant others and friends on hand, but for the most part, they’ll rely on the Junior Solheim Cup team to bring the noise for Team Europe. The youngsters have already set the tone, giving Europe its first Junior Solheim victory on foreign soil.
“The only way we are going to win this thing,” said Reid, “especially with the amount of fans that are going to be cheering USA, is if we become a unit. I think that’s very important from the setoff.”
Looking back on 2013, Hull said she might have found it easier as a rookie because she didn’t quite know what she was getting into. But she knows what it’s like to pull off the upset on American soil, and she’s keen on the idea of being the underdog with few supporters.
“I enjoy that,” said Hull. “I kind of bounce off that more.”
That’s precisely the attitude Stupples believes it will take to win this week. She can’t think of a group of players that’s better suited for it.
“You’re going to have to play in your bubble and really knuckle down and really enjoy the fight,” she said. “Enjoy what’s ahead of you.”