Home soil ‘can make difference’

Vice-captain Laura Davies believes Europe are a “good bet” to regain the Solheim Cup and prevent a third straight victory by the USA.

Juli Inkster’s side are odds-on favourites to win the biennial contest despite the late loss of veteran wild card Stacy Lewis due to a back injury which left the 34-year-old in tears during a practice round at Gleneagles.

However, Davies believes the bookmakers may have made a rare mistake in underestimating the importance of home advantage, with four of Europe’s five wins coming on home soil and half of them coming in Scotland.

“I think we’re 2-1 outsiders which I think is a good bet because I think our squad is really strong,” said Davies, who played on the winning side at Dalmahoy in 1992 and Loch Lomond in 2000.

“The American team is incredibly good. But I think home soil evens it out a bit and hopefully our girls will step up, because it will come down to Sunday afternoon, it always does.

“And I think we’ve got the right players that can step up and do the job under the most extreme pressure. I think we’ve got a great chance.”

On paper, and specifically by world rankings, the United States deserve to be favourites, but Davies added: “I think world rankings has a lot to do with it. I just think home soil outweighs most things.

“And if the weather is good for the week, the galleries will be really noisy. And that’s what we need.

“Everyone says we want a bit of rain for the Americans. No, we want it beautiful weather so the galleries can get out there and enjoy themselves and just cheer us on and be the 13th man out there, because that’s what the home soil advantage gives you.”