Europe aim for payback

C A P TA I N Annika Sorenstam hopes her vast experience and attention to detail can help Europe defy the odds and regain the Solheim Cup t his weekend.

The United States are odds-on favourites to win the biennial contest for the 10th time at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, having ended Europe’s bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of wins in Germany in 2015.

Sorenstam’s careful planning was thrown into disarray by the withdrawal of Suzann Pettersen on Wednesday due to a back injury, with assistant captain Catriona Matthew stepping in as t h e N o r w e g i a n ’s replacement.

Europe’s t op ranked player, world No 13 Anna Nordqvist, has also been suffering from glandular f ever and it remains to be seen if she will be able to play two matches in one day today or tomorrow.

However, Sorenstam has seen it all before in eight appearances as a player and as an assistant captain in the last three contests, including Europe’s first win on American soil in 2013.

“I’m very analytical,” Sorenstam said of her captaincy style. “I take my time making decisions, but once I make a decision, I stick to it. I try to be thorough. I try to have good communication with the team. And I think you just have to be yourself.

“As far as all the other things, I mean, certainly I bring experience to the table. I’ve been in every single role. I’ve been a player. I’ve been a vice captain, and now being the captain.”

Annika Sorenstam