CASARES, Spain — Picture this: a thousand passionate fans are packed into grandstands mere feet from the first tee box as you approach to begin your round. They’re screaming and cheering – or booing if you play for the opposition – and you must somehow tee up your ball and make clean contact despite adrenaline and nerves overtaking your body.
That’s Eminem levels of sweaty palms, weak knees and heavy arms, even for the best players in the world. The first tee at events like the Solheim Cup are some of the most intense moments fans get to see in golf, and this year’s 18th matches between the United States and Europe will be even more pressure packed as players will face a risk-reward tee shot on the 280-yard drivable par-4 1st hole.
“I think it’s so cool,” said U.S. assistant captain Angela Stanford, who thoroughly enjoyed watching Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson bomb drives off the first. “It’s elevated, and you have all the fans behind you — and I know Europe has players that can do it too, and it’s just so cool. I think it will be a fun way to start the day.”
“I think it’s fun. It’s something that we don’t get to do a lot of,” echoed Korda. “Obviously there’s a lot of trouble short. If you land it just short of the green, it’s rolling into the water. I think it’s a fun opening hole. I feel like also you’re already going to be so nervous on the first tee and then that being your opening tee shot too, I think you’re definitely going to be feeling it in your stomach on that first hole.”
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While reachable par 4s on opening holes are rare, this year’s event isn’t unique as the 2017 Solheim Cup in Iowa featured a 306-yard drivable par 4 on No. 1. European captain Suzann Pettersen noted how the 1st hole in 2017 didn’t play out in her side’s favor, so she’s been preaching the power of communication in order to capitalize this time around.
“I just want the players, the team to kind of at least talk through what we’re thinking, at least have some kind of a strategy in mind when they step up on that first tee,” said Pettersen, who also noted the important role that course conditions will play.
.@HullCharley
the par-4 1st hole
Only one winner
#TeamEurope | #SolheimCup pic.twitter.com/T4zRzIWWQU
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 21, 2023
There’s water guarding the front left and bunkers to the back and right of the green, meaning a heavy wind blowing left or into players’ faces could lead to a simple lay-up shot with an easy wedge to the green.
“I mean, it depends on the wind, but if I have a good number and I can get there, I will go for that green,” said Carlota Ciganda. A good number for the Spaniard will be 230-235 meters, which equates to somewhere between 250 and 255 yards.
“I need a downwind for me to go for it,” quipped Megan Khang.
Morgan Pressel, another assistant captain for the Americans, noted how Angel Yin teed off with a little driver and easily reached the front edge with just her third swing of the day without a warm-up. A six-time Solheim Cupper with an 11-8-3 record, Pressel saw the reachable green as an advantage for the U.S.
“I think it’s cool. It’s match play. It’s fun,” said Pressel. “We will have the honor on the first tee all week, so that’s an opportunity for us to put some pressure on Team Europe to start right out of the gate. Players who maybe can’t get there, they have all been like, ‘Oh, I could just get up-and-down and make birdie with a wedge.’ I don’t think it’s a deterrent in that sense.”
“Well, maybe actually we have more pressure because we’re the ones hitting the opening tee shots and they will see how we do,” said Korda, playing devil’s advocate. “I don’t know, it’s going to be a tough one.”
A tough one for sure, but an exciting one as well.