ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Alexa Pano turned 20 earlier this week in St. Andrews. While out shopping in a bookstore on her birthday, she picked up a couple works of fiction while her dad bought her a Bob Rotella book on confidence. Pano thought that was really funny and said she might read it on the flight home, depending on how things go Sunday at the AIG Women’s British Open, where she’s currently in a share of sixth, four strokes back of leader Jiyai Shin.
The young American admits to thinking too much about the Solheim Cup after finishing runner-up in the tour’s season-opening event.
“I maybe tried to push myself really hard for that, and now I’m pushing myself for myself,” said Pano, who would require a pick from captain Stacy Lewis to make her first U.S. Solheim Cup team.
Team USA will be announced on Tuesday of next week at the new FM Championship at TPC Boston. Pano, who wears the Patriots logo, is a lifelong fan of the team. After all, her dad has been a season ticket holder for more than 40 years.
“When I was on Epson Tour, I had a carry bag all year and I got a staff bag when I qualified for the U.S. Open. I don’t have a college team to put on it,” said Pano.
“We put the Patriots logo on it because it was special to my family and whatnot and that was supposed to be a one week ordeal. I did an interview with the Patriots about it that week and didn’t think anything of it, but thought it was amazing.”
The next week, when she was back competing on the Epson Tour, Pano found out that the Patriots wanted to make it more official. Wearing the team logo has been a dream for the former phenom.
While Pano looks to impress Lewis, Albane Valenzuela is doing her best to get the attention of Suzann Pettersen. The Swiss player, who currently sits tied for 10th, needs a pick to make her first European Solheim Cup team. She’s just behind the veteran Anna Nordqvist (66th) at No. 68 in the world. Nordqvist, a vice captain, also needs one of Pettersen’s four picks to make the team.
“Solheim is a big one, but I’m just outside on the bubble,” said Valenzuela. “So I’ll just try to play good golf and I just told myself – good golf will take care of itself. That’s all I can do.”
Team USA takes the top seven players off the points list followed by the next two players in the Rolex Rankings not otherwise qualified. Lewis gets three captain’s picks. Europe takes two players off the LET points list, six players off the Rolex Rankings and four captain’s picks.
Here’s how things stand for those currently on the bubble: