The United States are looking to end their winless run in the Solheim Cup, but can Team Europe use their experience to deliver a historic four-peat on away soil?
Europe retained the trophy with a dramatic 14-14 tie last September, having won the previous two editions of the biennial contest, with Suzann Pettersen now looking to extend their run of success in this year’s edition – live from Friday on Sky Sports Golf.
Pettersen has kept 10 of the squad from 2023, with seven of her side making their fourth or more Solheim Cup appearance, whereas Stacy Lewis’ American team has seven players competing in their first home Solheim Cup and Lexi Thompson is the only survivor from their last win in 2017.
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Ahead of Europe travelling to the USA to defend the Solheim Cup, watch the greatest shots in the history of the competition
The latest Sky Sports Golf podcast previewed the Solheim Cup, with Jamie Spence and Sophie Walker joining Josh Antmann to discuss the two line-ups and look at which team may have the edge in Virginia.
“I think USA are strong favourites on this golf course,” Spence told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. “I was speaking to Dame Laura [Davies] the other week and she said it’s a long track, which influenced the picks that Pettersen made.
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“Europe have a much more experienced team than the USA. The United States have only got four players who played two more Solheim Cups, so they are quite inexperienced and that can work for you both ways.
“With the home advantage, with a crowd that are going to be rowdy, on a long old golf course, I think they’re worthy favourites. But listen, with the team camaraderie that Europe possess, you just you just never know.”
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Jamie Spence says despite being top players, a lack of Solheim Cup experience could affect Team USA
Team USA dominated the opening session last year, winning all four foursomes matches, with Walker believing that “stats woman” Stacy Lewis has already identified ways to try and give the United States the best chance of a home victory.
“She’s basically made the course tight because out of the top 10 in driving accuracy [on the LPGA Tour], eight of them are American, so she’s going for that,” Walker explained.
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Who will star for Europe at the Solheim Cup as they look to retain the trophy? Watch live this week on Sky Sports Golf
“She’s worked out that short game-wise, the Europeans are better. Finca Cortesin [last year] was wide, with reach par-fives and fours, whereas here they’re going to carry five-irons, six-irons and seven-irons into holes.
“You look at the players that played well at Spain, they might not be the ones that play well here. I don’t think we got the best out of Charley [Hull], Georgia [Hall] and Celine [Boutier] in Spain, but I would put them through as three really strong iron players.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Sophie Walker gives us the lowdown on the rookies in Europe’s Solheim Cup team – Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela
“It’s still the case that I feel the European players get better when they wear the European uniforms and I haven’t seen that from the American side, over recent years.”
What else is on the podcast?
The podcast also reflects on last year’s thrilling finish and how Europe snatched the first tie in Solheim Cup history, while Walker takes a closer look at the two Solheim Cup rookies in Pettersen’s 2024 line-up.
Spence explains the role that Thompson could play for Team USA in potentially her final Solheim Cup appearance, with the trio all offering their predictions on who will lift the trophy and which players could impress.
Live Solheim Cup Golf
Friday 13th September 5:30pm
There’s also a look back at the Omega European Masters, where Matt Wallace made an early push for Ryder Cup qualification with a play-off victory and Andrew “Beef” Johnston posted his best DP World Tour finish in four years.
Download and listen to the latest Sky Sports Golf podcast and don’t forget to subscribe via Spotify, Spreaker or Apple Podcasts! If you’d like to contact the podcast, then you can email at [email protected].
Who will win the 2024 Solheim Cup? Watch exclusively live this September on Sky Sports! Live coverage from the opening ceremony begins at 9.30pm on Thursday, with the opening day’s play live on the Friday from 11.30am. Stream the Solheim Cup and more with NOW.
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