High fives, fist pumps, a rowdy home-town crowd and double butt slaps. No, this is not an NFL game, it’s the 11th Solheim Cup being held here on U.S. soil. After 16 matches over the last two days, the score is tied, dead even at eight points apiece. The atmosphere in Sugar Grove, IL today will be highly charged with crowds roaring, similar to a home-team touchdown late in an AFC Championship game.
You will recall that the U.S. needs to 14 points to retain the Cup and while the Euros need 14 ½ (this is because the U.S. won the last competition in 2007). Today, we have 12 individual matches meaning that there are 12 total points available. If the U.S. can win half of them they win the Cup, but they will not be happy with a just a tie. On the other hand, the Europeans are highly motivated to win the cup back. It will mark their 4th overall victory and the 1st on U.S. territory. They need seven victories.
Michele Wie has been outstanding in her rookie event, with two team victories and a tie helping earn 2 ½ points for team USA in team matches. While all matches today will be extremely important and pressure-packed, Wie’s will be fun to watch. She goes off in the 3rd match against veteran Helen Alfredsson. Here are today’s matchups:
Match 1: Paula Creamer vs. Suzann Pettersen
Match 2: Angela Stanford vs. Becky Brewerton
Match 3: Michelle Wie vs. Helen Alfredsson
Match 4: Brittany Lang vs. Laura Davies
Match 5: Juli Inkster vs. Gwladys Nocera
Match 6: Kristy McPherson vs. Catriona Matthew
Match 7: Brittany Lincicome vs. Sophie Gustafson
Match 8: Nicole Castrale vs. Diana Luna
Match 9: Christina Kim vs. Tania Elosegui
Match 10: Cristie Kerr vs. Maria Hjorth
Match 11: Morgan Pressel vs. Anna Nordqvist
Match 12: Natalie Gulbis vs. Janice Moodie
Each team will be looking to get out to an early lead, look for aggressive play early on. It would have been nice to see Christina Kim go off early to ignite the crowd , she will have to wait until match 9 to get them going.
This will be tight and exciting all day long. As the matches are finishing and points are put on the board look for match 10 to be decisive. Cristie Kerr could have a chance with a key putt to put this away. If she doesn’t make it, look for the anchor match to decide this. Can Natalie leverage her talent to win it? We will see!
The hometown crowd will cheer amiably for good play from the Euro side, but they will erupt for good shots from the Americans. Home field advantage will be the difference in the end and will help propel the U.S. to another victory.
Written by Coach Dave V
davev@golfishardtv.com
http://www.golfishardtv.com/
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
