Davies backs English Solheim Cup bid
Tour believed to want Malaga as next host Record points-scorer says ‘it’s a bit mad’
Laura Davies is pleading with the Ladies European Tour to listen to what she insists are “legitimate bidders” and consider staging the Solheim Cup in England for the first time in 2023 after the “Three Lionesses” made such a stunning impact in Europe’s victory on Sunday.
Between them, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Bronte Law – all under 25 years old – lost only one match out of 12 and contributed nine of the 14½ points as the United States were defeated by the slimmest margin for the first time in six years. Davies, the record Solheim points-scorer, acted as an assistant to Scot Catriona Matthew at Gleneagles and witnessed what she considers to be incontrovertible evidence that her country finally gets the chance to host the match.
However, Davies is plainly aghast that the LET is supposedly determined to take the next home match to Malaga despite that bid faltering. No specific course in the Costa del Sol has yet been named and regional politics have so far interfered with the financial commitments.
“It’s a bit mad,” Davies said. “I know the people behind the English bid and they aren’t being given a chance. The board have basically told Malaga it’s theirs, but they’ve missed two deadlines already and still the board are saying, ‘No, we are not accepting other bids.’
“Listen, this English bid is legitimate. They have the finance, the course and the will, so what would be the harm in the board at least listening? We deserve to have the Solheim Cup in England. Look at our history in the event and at Gleneagles. We had four players and two assistant captains.
“I never got the chance to play a Solheim in England for reasons that always mystified me, but I’d love Charley, Georgia and Bronte to have that opportunity. We wouldn’t have won this match without them.”
Davies concedes that Spain would be anything but inappropriate hosts. “Obviously they warrant a shot with players like Carlota [Ciganda] and Azahara [Munoz], but I just think a Solheim in England would be special,” Davies said.