Europe’s Solheim Cup Team Passes the Baton

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/15/sports/golf/Europes-Solheim-Cup-Team-Passes-the-Baton.html

Version 0 of 1.

There is a changing of the guard for Europe’s 2013 Solheim Cup team. This year marks the end of an era for England’s Laura Davies, with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen expected to play a greater leadership role for Europe.

Davies has been the stalwart of the European team in all 12 previous Solheim Cup events, dating from the inaugural 1990 team match-play clash between Europe and the United States.

But when the Europeans roll into Colorado this weekend for the 13th biennial Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club near Denver, Davies will no longer be firing up her European teammates. For the first time in her career, the big-hitting Briton neither qualified for the European team by points nor was picked by the captain, Liselotte Neumann of Sweden.

“I’m very disappointed, but Lotta had some tough decisions to make and I really didn’t give her a good enough reason to put me on the team, apart from reputation,” said Davies, 49, who holds the event’s all-time records for most Solheim Cup matches played (46) and most points earned (25) and is tied with Annika Sorenstam of Sweden for the most matches won (22).

But Davies, ever the team player, tips her cap to Pettersen. The Norwegian will step to the first tee on Friday for her seventh Solheim Cup bearing a little more responsibility on her shoulders.

During their Solheim Cup careers, Catriona Matthew of Scotland and Pettersen have both played in 25 matches, and Matthew has a slight edge over Pettersen with 15 points earned to Pettersen’s 14.5 points for the Europeans.

Pettersen’s fieriness is what sets her apart from her teammates. Matthew is experienced and leads with quiet resolve, but Pettersen’s stormy style and aggressive play have long been her calling card at the event.

“I think she will be the natural leader now,” said Davies, who will work as a TV commentator for Sky Sports at this week’s Solheim Cup. “Suzann is the most experienced player, and our team is crying out for experience.”

The European squad will feature six Solheim rookies — Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England), Giulia Sergas (Italy), Charley Hull (England) Carlota Ciganda (Spain), Caroline Masson (Germany) and Beatriz Recari (Spain) — and will return five players — Pettersen, Matthew, Caroline Hedwall (Sweden), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) and Azahara Muñoz (Spain) — from the winning 2011 team. Karine Icher of France last played on the 2002 European team.

Europe’s squad is young, but Sorenstam, like Davies, was partnered for many matches with Pettersen over the years and knows the Norwegian will set an example for her teammates.

“She’s already been one of the clutch team members for Europe and the younger players will look to her for leadership,” Sorenstam said of Pettersen.

It was Sorenstam, Davies and Helen Alfredsson of Sweden who showed Pettersen the way in her first Solheim Cup in 2002. Then 21, Pettersen contributed 1.5 points for her team that first year and has posted points in every event since her rookie year.

“She just has it in her blood to get excited and lead others,” Sorenstam added. “You don’t get to where she is without having that.”

Alfredsson agreed, calling Pettersen “one of the most competitive women I know.” “Suzann will get other players fired up in the team room,” Alfredsson said. “She sets a very good example for the younger girls.”

Currently No.3 in the rankings, Pettersen credits her former Solheim Cup teammates with molding her into a leader for the European team. She says they helped her shape her mental approach for the team event.

“I have some fantastic memories with Annika, and her fighting spirit has grown with me,” Pettersen said. “I learned from her that you fight to the very end.”

Pettersen also learned from her former teammates the importance of all 12 players’ contributing points, and she knows the difficulty of trying to win a Solheim Cup on foreign soil. Europe, which is trying to defend the Cup, has never won in the United States.

“It’s a team effort and the team stands bigger than any individuals,” Pettersen said. “The most important thing experienced players can do is to make sure the rookies feel comfortable and included.”

That role will largely be the responsibility of Neumann, but even the captain knows from her own playing experience that players motivate their teammates to earn points. She is confident that Pettersen will be leading the charge.

“She’s No. 3 in the world and others do look up to her,” Neumann said. “Suzann always shows her determination to fight for every shot, every putt and every point, and I think that will rub off on the other players.”

<NYT_CORRECTION_BOTTOM> <p>This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: August 14, 2013

<p>Because of a technical error, an earlier version of this article gave incorrect statistics for Suzann Pettersen in two instances. She has earned 14.5 points for the Europeans in the Solheim Cup in her career, and earned 1.5 points in 2002.