Here are seven U.S. players primed to be future Solheim Cup captains

When it comes to future U.S. Solheim Cup captains, Team USA has a deep pool of candidates.

When it comes to future U.S. Solheim Cup captains, Team USA has a deep pool of candidates. So deep, in fact, that it might be some time before we see some big names take the helm.

Stacy Lewis recently named a record four assistant captains for the 2024 Solheim Cup, adding Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome into the fold. Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford return as assistants after working with Lewis last year in Spain.

What does the Solheim Cup committee look for in choosing a captain? Past Solheim Cup experience is a must. While winning a major isn’t a requirement (i.e. Rosie Jones), it’s definitely preferred.

And given how much the Solheim Cup has grown over the years, experience as an assistant captain will surely be seen as a vital component.

The list of players who should be given the honor is so long, in fact, that it’s hard to see how someone like Dottie Pepper gets back into the fold, though it’s certainly possible.

Here’s a list of decorated players who are likely to get the nod in the coming years:

Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome added as assistant captains for 2024 Solheim Cup

This year’s Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 13-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

Paula Creamer returns to the Solheim Cup for the first time in seven years in a new role as assistant captain. She’ll be joined by Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford. It’s up to the host captain to determine the number of assistant captains, and for the first time in Solheim history, Stacy Lewis has appointed four women to the job.

This year’s Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 13-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

“I’m so excited to have Morgan and Angela back for this year at RTJ,” said Lewis. “Then thinking about what I learned last year in Spain and from previous captains, I asked Paula and Brittany to join the team as well. These four have so much experience and love for the Solheim Cup, plus they’re my friends and all major champions too. I’m excited to see them in this role and to help prepare them to be future captains as well.”

Juli Inkster celebrates with Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome of Team USA after the final day singles matches of The Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club on August 20, 2017 in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Last year in Spain, Lewis was assisted by Natalie Gulbis, Pressel and Stanford.

Creamer, a 10-time winner on the LPGA, became the youngest Solheim Cup player in U.S. history when she made the team as a rookie in 2005 at age 19. Creamer’s 7-and-5 singles victory over Laura Davies in 2005 is the third-largest margin of victory in Solheim singles history. She also holds the record for most foursomes victories with seven.

“When Stacy asked me to be on her team for the Solheim Cup, I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” said Creamer. “My seven Solheim Cups are some of the best memories of my career, and I can’t wait to make more memories working with Stacy.”

Lincicome, a two-time major winner, has played on six U.S. Solheim Cup teams. She went 4-0 with partner Brittany Lang in four-ball appearances, a record for any U.S. duo.

“Serving as an assistant captain to the U.S. Solheim Cup Team will be one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Lincicome. “My years competing for the U.S. team hold some of the highlights of my career and my entire life.”

This marks Stanford’s third time as an assistant captain and Pressel’s second.

How the song ‘Staying Alive’ helped Europe battle back from a 4-0 deficit at the 2023 Solheim Cup

All it took was a few songs.

The European Solheim Cup team can relate to the plight of Zach Johnson’s Ryder Cup team.

After the Americans swept the Friday morning foursomes session in Spain at the Solheim Cup, the situation was reversed one week later in Rome.

Now it’s Team Europe that owns a commanding 4-0 lead after the opening session.

So how did the Euros manage to turn things around last week after such a demoralizing start?

Dame Laura Davies, one of Suzann Pettersen’s assistant captains, said on Golf Channel earlier this week that she gives massive credit to Charley Hull’s caddie Adam Woodward.

Charley Hull of The European Team plays her third shot on the second hole in her match against Danielle Kang during the final day singles matches on Day Three of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

After the morning shellacking, Woodward played two songs back-to-back in the European team room: “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees and “Things Can Only Get Better” by Howard Jones.

“As players trickled in … the mood was very quiet,” said Davies, “so Adam did a very clever thing by putting those two songs on, and everyone was chuckling going out into the afternoon knowing we had a job ahead of us, but that team spirit from the European team room sent everybody out in a slightly better mood than when they walked in, and that’s very important.”

Should the Solheim Cup have a playoff? U.S. captain Stacy Lewis, Golf Twitter weigh in

For the first time in Solheim Cup history, the 2023 matches ended in a 14-14 tie.

Stacy Lewis sat next to LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan during the Solheim Cup’s closing ceremony in Spain and the topic of a playoff came up.

For the first time in Solheim Cup history, the matches ended in a 14-14 tie. Because Europe won in 2021, they retained the cup. While members of Team Europe carried Spanish hero Carlota Ciganda around Finca Cortesin on their shoulders, Lewis’ squad had a good cry.

Captain and commish got to talking: Should the Solheim Cup institute a playoff?

“I don’t know, I mean, it obviously would be better TV,” Lewis told the media when it was over. “It would be a better experience for the fans if there was a – whether it was a team playoff or something like that, I think that would be pretty cool.

“But if you want to stick with the history of the event and history of what the men do as well, you probably stick with retaining the Cup.

“I don’t know how I feel about that either way, to be honest.”

2023 Solheim Cup
Team Europe captain Suzann Pettersen celebrates with the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Casares, Spain. (Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

While this was a first for the Solheim, on two different occasions the Ryder Cup has ended in a tie. In 1969, the United States retained against Great Britain, and in 1989, Europe retained at The Belfry.

After the 2003 Presidents Cup ended in a 17-17 tie in South Africa, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els went into a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner. After three holes, it was decided between captains Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player that the two teams would share the Cup.

Woods called the playoff one of his most nerve-wracking experiences in golf.

“To have two guys decide the fate of the whole team in extra holes like that, I don’t think any of the sides felt comfortable with that to begin with,” said Woods 20 years ago. “It’s just part of the captains’ agreement and part of the rules of the competition.

“But we didn’t like it. It’s a team event, not an individual event. We’re here as a team together and we’d like to decide as a team together and not on an individual basis.”

Nowadays, if the Presidents Cup ends in a 15-15 tie, the two teams will share the trophy.

In the aftermath of the Solheim, players and fans weighed in on social media. Juli Inkster, a three-time captain for Team USA, said the captains should have to play for it.

In a Golfweek Twitter poll that saw 2,513 votes cast, opinions were split on the implementation of a playoff, with 51 percent voting yes, including former Solheim Cupper Brittany Lincicome.

Here’s what other folks had to say about the event’s first tie:

Nichols: No need to panic about Team USA’s three straight Solheim Cup losses

This was a changing-of-the-guard year for Team USA.

On paper, the outlook might seem bleak. For the first time in history, the Americans have lost three Solheim Cups in a row. Scroll back a bit more, and it’s a whopping five of the last seven.

Stacy Lewis told her team they didn’t lose – it was a tie. And while the scoreboard indicated such with the first 14-14 finish in Solheim Cup history, one team celebrated on the 17th green and one team cried. The U.S. failed to accomplish what it set out to do, as Europe retained the Cup in dramatic fashion.

And yet, there’s no need to panic.

When the U.S. lost by eight points on home soil in 2013 in Colorado, it certainly felt like there needed to be a cultural shift. Enter Juli Inkster with her hard hats and lunch pails. She got rid of the hair ribbons and face paint and told her team to get to work.

Two years later in Germany, the U.S. pulled off the greatest comeback in history, and the Inkster era was born.

Stacy Lewis came to southern Spain with a fresh-faced, hard-working team that’s naturally more reserved. They didn’t need rah-rah. They needed guidance and experience. The overprepared Lewis, stats book in hand, provided that in spades, leaving no detail to chance.

Lewis also worked hard to make sure this next generation understood what they’d become part of in Spain. From the stars and stripes on their bags to the “88” on their hats, each U.S. Solheim Cup player was a walking display of history.

Captain Lewis truly cared about more than results this week. She wanted her team to leave Spain with a deep passion for the Solheim Cup. The week represented a building block for the future.

“I mean, for me, the whole week in general feels like a win,” said Lewis. “Just where we were coming from out of Toledo to where this team is at now, it was a win, and that’s all that matters.

“I think it’s more about these girls, where they are mentally, how they felt about this. They were crying because it meant something to them, and that’s all I was trying to achieve this week.”

In less than one year, Team USA will get another chance to stop Europe’s streak at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Lewis said she won’t change much about her process going forward because it worked, and she likes the direction they’re headed.

Next time around, Lewis can build from first-time partnerships that found success in Spain, such as Nelly Korda/Allisen Corpuz (2-0 foursomes) and Lexi Thompson/Megan Khang (2-0 foursomes).

2023 Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup team U.S. golfers Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee react during the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Casares on September 22, 2023. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)

Danielle Kang played her best golf all year in Spain and had nothing but praise for what Lewis put together.

“I know people like to decide on the process on whether we win or lose, but without Stacy’s process,” said Kang, “I think we could have gotten crushed.

“Because she gave us the best opportunity and best chance of percentages to go up against what they brought, and if we have to shoot 10 under to go up against Carlota Ciganda, we did. If we lost, that’s OK. Same thing with Linn Grant, same thing with Maja Stark. She put us up together with the probabilities and gave us the best chance to go up against them.”

Which brings up perhaps the most important point of all: These teams have never been more evenly matched. The quality of golf on display in Spain was exceptional. Birdies or bust.

Team USA has only lost on home soil twice since the Cup began in 1990: 2013 and 2021.

Many, if not all, of the rookies on the 2023 roster will be back next year and they’ll have a number of aspects in their favor: They won’t be rookies anymore; they’ll have the support of a home crowd; and they’ll have history with their partners.

In other words, they’ll be much tougher to beat.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxm4Sbxto-y/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Angela Stanford, an assistant captain who has been part of Team USA since her Solheim debut in 2003, wrote on Instagram in the aftermath that learning how to win in Europe is one of the most difficult things she’s ever done. There’s a reason, she noted, that the U.S. has only won three times on foreign soil in the Solheim Cup, and it’s been 30 years since a U.S. Ryder Cup team accomplished the feat.

This was a changing-of-the-guard year for Team USA. There’s been another shift.

“I watched something special happen this week,” wrote Stanford. “Looking forward to next year and years to come for this team.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=451196864]

Danielle Kang’s thoughtful reason for the names she wrote on her shoes at the 2023 Solheim Cup

“I wanted to represent them the best that I can, and I was playing for something bigger than I,” said Kang.

CASARES, Spain — Danielle Kang ended the 2023 Solheim Cup with a 2-2-0 record that featured a dominant 4-and-2 Sunday singles win over Europe’s Charley Hull.

The 30-year-old has become a key factor for the U.S. side over the last four events. She begs for noise on the first tee from the crowd and drips personality and swag all over the golf course. You can tell her confidence wears off on her teammates.

“I think on first tee, I was definitely pretty nervous.  The crowds are the biggest I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Kang’s foursomes partner Andrea Lee on Friday. “But I think I settled in pretty quickly and having Danielle there is — she’s really reliable, so I just had tons of fun out there, stayed really patient.”

One of the older, more experienced players on a young, five-rookie U.S. side, this week meant a little more to Kang. She embraced her role as a leader and wanted to stand and fight for everyone who donned the red, white and blue at Finca Cortesin. One way of doing so was to write the names of everyone involved with Team USA on her golf shoes.

2023 Solheim Cup
A detailed view of the shoes worn by Danielle Kang of Team USA on the 11th green during Day Two of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 23, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“I was so honored to be on this team, to experience what I experienced this week,” said Kang after Sunday’s final session. “People kept asking me about my shoes and why I wrote everyone’s name on there, and no, it didn’t come like that. But there was not a single person, caddies, players, staff, captain, assistant captains that I didn’t want to represent.  I wanted to represent them the best that I can, and I was playing something bigger than I.  I played the best I have all year, so I’m very proud.”

“Listen, when I’m old and gray one day and look back, I’m going to remember our team rooms where (Megan Khang) and (Angel Yin) and all these girls were hyping us up, and I wish you guys had a camera. I wish people could experience what I experienced last night and this week because it was unbelievable,” she continued. “Looking back, (European captain Suzann Pettersen) telling me, ‘If it was any other match, it would have already been done, but we are 10-under, 13-under going in.’ Those are the moments we live for and we built. That’s something that I want to remember. When I retire, when I’m all done with things, it’s not about who won the Cup, it’s about the moment, and we built it.”

Across four caps for the Americans Kang holds a 7-9-0 record and is now 2-2-0 in singles but the Americans fell short of claiming the Cup on Sunday in Spain.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=451202858]

How each American, European player fared at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain

Three players went unbeaten over the three days but only one earned 4 points over the five sessions.

CASARES, Spain — The 2023 Solheim Cup couldn’t have been closer.

The 18th edition of the biennial bash between the United States and Europe was all square at 8-8 entering Sunday singles, and after the final 12 matches – five won by the both teams and two ties – the competition ended in a 14-14 tie, and the Europeans retained the Cup.

In the event’s 23-year history, the Americans have taken home the trophy on 10 occasions, with the Europeans earning the other eight. Team Europe hasn’t lost since 2017 in Iowa.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was the only player to score four points this week (4-0-0) and was one of four players who went unbeaten, joining Gemma Dryburgh (0-0-2), Megan Khang (3-0-1) and Cheyenne Knight (2-0-1). Two players went winless for each team, but only one failed to earn a point.

Here’s a breakdown of how each player fared this week by event at the 2023 Solheim Cup.

MORE: Sunday singles results | Best shots | Crazy fans

European records

Player Overall (W-L-T) Singles (W-L-T) Foursomes (W-L-T) Fourball (W-L-T)
Celine Boutier 0-3-0 0-1-0 0-2-0 0-0-0
Charley Hull 1-2-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 1-0-0
Linn Grant 3-2-0 0-1-0 1-1-0 2-0-0
Georgia Hall 1-2-1 0-0-1 0-2-0 1-0-0
Leona Maguire 3-2-0 1-0-0 0-2-0 2-0-0
Carlota Ciganda 4-0-0 1-0-0 1-0-0 2-0-0
Anna Nordqvist 1-3-0 1-0-0 0-2-0 0-1-0
Maja Stark 2-1-1 1-0-0 1-1-0 0-0-1
Madelene Sagstrom 1-1-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 1-0-1
Gemma Dryburgh 0-0-2 0-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-1
Emily Pedersen 2-2-1 0-1-0 1-1-0 1-0-1
Caroline Hedwall 1-1-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 0-1-0

American records

Player Overall (W-L-T) Singles (W-L-T) Foursomes (W-L-T) Fourball (W-L-T)
Lilia Vu 1-3-0 1-0-0 0-1-0 0-2-0
Nelly Korda 2-2-0 0-1-0 2-0-0 0-1-0
Allisen Corpuz 2-1-1 0-1-0 2-0-0 0-0-1
Megan Khang 3-0-1 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-1
Lexi Thompson 3-1-0 1-0-0 2-0-0 0-1-0
Jennifer Kupcho 0-2-1 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-0-1
Ally Ewing 1-3-0 0-1-0 1-0-0 0-2-0
Rose Zhang 0-3-1 0-1-0 0-0-0 0-1-1
Danielle Kang 2-2-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 0-1-0
Angel Yin 2-1-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 1-1-0
Andrea Lee 1-2-1 0-0-1 1-1-0 0-1-0
Cheyenne Knight 2-0-1 0-0-1 1-0-0 1-0-0

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=451202858]

2023 Solheim Cup Sunday singles results: Europe retains trophy in Spain with late heroics from Carlota Ciganda

The Solheim Cup will remain in European possession for another year.

CASARES, Spain — For the fifth time since 2002 the Solheim Cup was all square entering the final day of play, setting the stage for a grand finale on Spain’s southern coast.

After the Americans swept the first session, it’s been all Team Europe ever since as captain Suzann Pettersen’s side took eight of the next 12 points across the last three sessions to climb back into contention.

Just 12 singles matches remained in the 18th edition of the biennial bash between the Americans and Europeans, held this year at the luxurious Finca Cortesin. When past Solheim Cups had been tied entering Sunday, both the U.S. and Europe had each claimed the Cup twice.

The U.S. and Europe each won five matches and two were tied as the event ended in a 14-14 tie, meaning the Cup would be retained by Europe for another year. Here’s a breakdown of each of the 12 Sunday singles matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup.

Sunday singles results

Europe’s Charley Hull confirms that she’s battling a neck injury at the Solheim Cup

“I actually picked up my tour bag last week and that kind of started it.”

One day after Suzann Pettersen told the media that Charley Hull is not injured, Hull told Golf Channel’s Amy Rogers that she is, in fact, dealing with neck pain.

One of the hottest players on the LPGA coming into the Solheim Cup, Hull has only played in two sessions so far, losing with Emily Pedersen in Friday foursomes and winning alongside Leona Maguire Saturday afternoon.

Hull, who has kinesiology tape on the back of her neck, told Rogers that she’s suffering from a facet sprain.

“I actually picked up my tour bag last week and that kind of started it,” she said, “and then I’ve done it from sleeping as well on the plane over here.”

Solheim Cup: Photos | Sunday singles matches

Hull said she’s operating at about 70 to 80 percent right now. She faces Danielle Kang in Sunday singles in the third match of the day. A veteran of five previous Solheim Cups, Hull has four runner-up finishes on the LPGA season including two majors.

“It’s been pretty sore, I’m not gonna lie,” Hull told Golf Channel. “I’ve kind of had to change my swing a little bit to kind of turn through it.”

The Englishwoman plans to take next week off to rest up for her LPGA title defense next month at the Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America in Texas.

2023 Solheim Cup Sunday singles match pairings feature high-profile showdowns

The U.S. and Europe are all tied at 8-8 with just 12 singles matches to go.

CASARES, Spain — After two days of play just 12 matches separate the champions from the heartbroken.

The final day of play at the 2023 Solheim Cup on Spain’s southern coast features the Americans and Europeans all tied at 8-8 for the fifth time since 2002 when the current format was implemented. Team Europe squared the biennial bash against the U.S. thanks to a second consecutive 3-1 session win in afternoon fourballs on Saturday.

Both U.S. captain Stacy Lewis and European captain Suzann Pettersen have made their selections for Sunday singles, which have produced some must-watch matches you won’t want to miss.

Solheim Cup: 5 things from Saturday | Captain’s picks records

Check out who’s playing who in the final 12 singles matches of the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin.