Golf Pettersen to let her clubs do the talking in cup clash
THE thing about a press conference is that you have to speak about things. And how do you express those things that you have to speak about? That’s right, with your voice.
The problem for Suzann Pettersen yesterday was that she didn’t just have a frog in her throat, she sounded like she had Paul McCartney’s Frog Chorus in it.
“My voice is gone so this is as good as it gets,” croaked Pettersen. By the end of the blether, she was just about using mime and shadow puppetry to get her various responses across.
Her throat infection may have left her toiling to talk but Pettersen always gives folk something to talk about in the Solheim Cup arena.
Four years ago in Germany, she sparked that infamous stooshie over the concession of a putt which caused tears, tantrums and considerable tumult.
Two years ago in Iowa, Pettersen was an 11th hour withdrawal from the transatlantic tussle due to injury. And here at Gleneagles in 2019, the Norwegian continues to grab the headlines.
Pettersen maintains that her particular ailment won’t affect her golf but, with her inclusion as a wild card already seen as a gamble in some quarters due to the lack of competitive golf she has played in the past two years, the sair throat added another layer of intrigue to her presence this week.
“I’m fine and my golf is in great shape,” insisted the 38-year-old as she quelled any fears about her general fettle.
The atmosphere of the Solheim Cup seems to be working just as well as any packet of extra strong lozenges.
“Being here it feels like I never left the game,” added the vastly experienced Pettersen, who took time away to have a baby and has played only four events since November 2017.
“I don’t know whether it’s the atmosphere or the energy of the Solheim Cup that always brings out the best in all of us.”
Asked about the views of those critical of her inclusion, Pettersen remained as defiant as ever.
“We’ll, I’m not the captain so I don’t have to speak about that,” said the two-time major winner who will be making her ninth Solheim Cup appearance.