![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\nCaptain Suzann Pettersen of Team Europe reacts during practice prior to the The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Suzann Pettersen is ready to guide Europe across the Andalucian slopes and the captain brings a feisty edge to what promises to be a captivating Solheim Cup. <\/p>\n
Arriving at Finca Cortesin, Pettersen has a rich history in golf\u2019s other transatlantic team golf battle, which could provide more thrills than the Ryder Cup next week. <\/p>\n
The Norwegian is familiar with the thin line that separates fiery competitiveness and unsavoury scenes when animosity spills over on the golf course. <\/p>\n
\u201cGimme-gate\u201d defined the 2015 edition with Pettersen, and her partner Charley Hull, at the centre of the storm when Team USA\u2019s Alison Lee picked up her ball without checking the putt had been conceded.<\/p>\n
Zach Johnson, the USA\u2019s Ryder Cup captain this year, branded Pettersen a \u201cdisgrace\u201d at the time, as the stars and stripes rallied to snatch a gripping 14.5-13.5 victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt killed me mentally,\u201d Pettersen conceded afterwards, but redemption came four years later at Glenagles when she drained the winning putt at Gleneagles. \u201cIt was absolute closure for me,\u201d she told The Times<\/em>. \u201cA fairytale ending.\u201d<\/p>\n But now a stacked European side, labelled the \u201cstrongest ever\u201d by both 2018 Open champion Georgia Hall and the legendary Dame Laura Davies, aim to take down Stacy Lewis\u2019s United States once more following a brilliant defence in Ohio two years ago.<\/p>\n The dynamic switches this year, though, from thriving as underdogs in 2021, while deprived of European supporters due to Covid restrictions, Europe aim to sizzle in the south of Spain as marginal favourites to inflict a third-straight loss on the Americans for the first time.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s a lot calmer than I thought she was going to be,\u201d says Davies, a vice-captain this week, on Europe\u2019s leader. \u201cShe\u2019s just friendly, a little bit fearsome now and again, but brings everyone together.<\/p>\n Suzann Pettersen, captain of team Europe talks with her assistant Dame Laura Davies during practice<\/p>\n \u201cThe young players respect Suzann so much because of what she\u2019s done, and when they see this lovely person greeting them and bringing them into the team room, I think they were surprised, number one, but number two, very, very pleased to be a part of her team and know how valued they are to her because it is, as she said, I think without doubt, the strongest European Solheim Cup team we’ve ever had in-depth. From 1 to 12, there\u2019s not much in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Pettersen boasts a formidable resume: two major championships, 21 victories on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour and nine Solheim Cup appearances, including four victories and a personal record of 18-12-6. There is instant respect and admiration from her players, as Davies mentions. Pettersen has a wealth of options at her disposal, including this year\u2019s Evian Championship winner Celine Boutier and four more top-20 ranked players, including Hull (8th), Linn Grant (15th), Georgia Hall (17th) and Leona Maguire (18th). <\/p>\n Europe edges the USA\u2019s top-20 contingent, therefore, with Lilia Vu at No 2, Nelly Korda third, Allisen Corpuz ninth and Megan Khang 14th. Though 20-year-old sensation Rose Zhang serves as a wildcard. Already a winner on the LPGA Tour, the former Stanford star could be approaching exhaustion after a whirlwind debut season as a professional.<\/p>\n So depth and marginal gains will prove pivotal, but a clever change to Europe\u2019s strategy from recent Solheim Cups appears to have bonded the group even closer, with Maguire and Boutier delighted with this year\u2019 strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s obviously very competitive,\u201d says Maguire, a two-time LPGA Tour winner. \u201cShe has an unbelievable record, so we really want to win for her.<\/p>\n Nelly Korda looks on during practice at Finca Cortesin<\/p>\n \u201cBut she\u2019s been great, she\u2019s been very open, she\u2019s been very transparent with everything this week, she\u2019s been communicating a lot with what she\u2019s thinking about pairings and different things. So, yeah, she\u2019s trying to get all of our inputs and really wants what\u2019s best for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n While Boutier appreciates Pettersen\u2019s approach to finding the perfect fit to the puzzle as Europe finalise their pairings. <\/p>\n \u201cI definitely feel like it\u2019s been nice to be able to voice our opinions and our thoughts on the pairings,\u201d says the French player.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it\u2019s not always been the case in the past, but I feel like it\u2019s very important that we feel comfortable with the choices that she ultimately decides to make.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think it\u2019s been nice to be kind of feeling a little bit more involved. I feel like, yeah, she\u2019s definitely so competitive that I feel like she\u2019s probably going to be more pumped up than us.\u201d<\/p>\nRecommended<\/h3>\n
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