Bragging Rights
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Golf 18th hole to secure the victory for Team Europe in 2019, and then retired from golf altogether. U.S. Solheim Cup captain Pat Bragging rights Hurst selected Major champion When Europe meet the U.S., form goes out the window and everything is up for grabs – and five-time Team USA member not least one of the oldest cups in world of sport. This September sees the Solheim Cup Michelle Wie West as an assistant captain to join Angela Stanford in and then the Ryder Cup, with the ladies striking first supporting her this September. Her team will be anchored by 23-year-old Nelly Korda (2021 SOLHEIM CUP appearances. The visitors ran out (DEN), Alice Hewson (ENG), Women’s PGA Championship 31 August – 6 September 18-10 victors in Colorado, with Sophia Popov (GER), Carlota winner and world number one) Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio 17-year-old Charlie Hull making Ciganda (ESP) and Mel Reid, plus who was a rookie in 2019, The fiercest of transatlantic her debut at Captain’s Pick. the six captain’s picks yet to be her sister Jessica Korda, Lexi rivalries will be renewed on 31st In terms of players, Hull announced. Reid acted assistant Thompson, Danielle Kang and August, with 12 of Europe’s is currently the only Colorado captain to Matthew, who made Brittany Altomare, all of whom finest female golfers defending survivor to be in the 2021 line-up, her bow as captain played at Gleneagles. There are the coveted Waterford Crystal and her 9-3-3 (won-lost-halved) Europe with be without Suzann still places up for grabs in the U.S. Trophy on Ohioan soil. Trailing record over four Solheim Cup Pettersen who, having played side and whoever steps up will not 10-6 since the biennial meetings campaigns proves that she in just three LPGA Tour events take the role lightly as the home began in 1990, Scottish captain deserves the spot. Hull will line following an 18-month maternity side look to avoid a repeat of 2013 Catriona Matthew will draw up with Emily Kristine Pedersen leave, made a 7-foot putt on the and to wrestle back the glass Cup inspiration from the one-point – before heading back to Europe victory at Gleneagles (Scotland) in 2023, and to Finca Cortesin, in 2019, but this is a different ball Andalucía, Spain. game altogether. solheimcup.com ➤ In 2013, the single victory Europe have enjoyed on Above: Morgan Pressel of American soil in 30 years marked the U.S. Team putts during an uncharacteristically poor the 2019 Solheim Cup at campaign for Matthew as a player Gleneagles Left: Europe captain – her poorest Solheim Cup in nine Catriona Matthew lifts the Cup 80 Upward Curve July-September 2021 Golf RYDER CUP Above: U.S. captain Jim Furyk 21-26 September and European captain Thomas Whistling Straits, Bjorn pose with competitors Kohler, Wisconsin of the Junior Ryder Cup ahead Steve Stricker captains the of the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris U.S. Team in his home state of Wisconsin when the delayed 2020 World number two, three and four Ryder Cup gets underway at the – Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas daunting ‘Irish Links’ Whistling and Collin Morikawa – have all Straits on 21 September. Stricker, secured a place in Stricker’s team, who was one of Jim Furyk’s with Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks non-playing vice-captains when Koepka and Xander Schauffele the U.S. lost in 2018. He tasted also in. Stricker has six captain’s victory as a player in 2008, and picks available, with Patrick Reed, loss in 2010 and 2012. And Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau and Stricker returns the favour this Jordan Spieth considered among year, with Jim Furyk, one of his the favourites. PGA Championship vice-captains, alongside Zach winner and 12-time Ryder Cup Johnson and Davis Love III. veteran Phil Mickelson is also in Stricker also wants Tiger Woods with a chance. to join the captain’s team in Irishman Padraig Harrington Fleetwood, Tyrrel Hatton, Paul National. The U.S. however, have a non-playing capacity. will feel at home as captain, with Casey, Lee Westwood and won 27 of the 42 meetings to rugged fairways, windswept Matthew Fitzpatrick all qualified. date (against Team Great Britain greens and more than 1,000 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), and Ireland prior to Team Europe bunkers. Representing Europe Viktor Hovland (Denmark), in 1979) and plenty of blood has six times as a player (with four and Victor Perez (France) are been shed. This meeting will be tournament wins), Harrington also in the line-up, with Bernd no different, with Team Europe has picked Martin Kaymer as Wiesberger (Austria), Robert having taken the spoils for a one lieutenant, the only European MacIntyre (Scotland), Shane narrow majority of the modern or American player to win a Major Lowry (Ireland) and Justin Rose Ryder Cup era. All eyes on at Whistling Straits (2010), and (England) all vying for Harrington’s Wisconsin before the Ryder Cup compatriot Graeme McDowell three remaining picks. heads to Italy for the first time as the other. World number Team Europe are the reigning in 2023 in the shape of the one and 2021 US Open winner champions going into the 43rd Marco Simone Golf & Country John Rahm (Spain) leads the Ryder Cup after a 17½–10½ Club in Rome. charge, with Englishmen Tommy victory in 2018 at Paris’ Le Golf rydercup.com ■ 82 Upward Curve July-September 2021.