Laura: There’ll be no Solheim Cup carry over

DAME LAURA DAVIES is not expecting any ill-feeling from the last Solheim Cup to spill over into this year’s contest.

The 2015 match in Germany is remembered for a controversial nonconcession by Norway’s Suzann Pettersen of a short 18-inch putt to America’s Angela Lee in a fourball encounter.

The Europeans won that particular game but then, with emotions running high, fell prey to a dramatic comeback in the Singles as the USA regained the Cup with a 14.5-13.5 victory.

Now the teams are gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, for the next edition which begins on Friday, and the Solheim Cup’s record points scorer will be cheering on Annika Sorenstam’s team.

“Everyone likes controversy in sport, but it was a shame that it cost us the Cup,” says Davies.

“We were playing better, and we would have won as the momentum was with us. That turned the tables on the European team and gave the Americans something to feed off.

“It was unfortunate and I wish it hadn’t happened. The Europeans had always shown such good sportsmanship until then.

“I don’t think the crowd will particularly remember it, but either way it won’t affect Suzann.

“She’s very strong and the American girls like her and have played with her for many years.”

Davies played in each of the first 12 Solheim Cups until her record was ended in 2013. In a twist of fate, that coincided with the Europeans’ first-ever win on American soil at the seventh time of asking.

There is no longer a mental barrier, but Laura knows that Sorenstam and her 12 players will be underdogs to bring the Cup back to Europe.

“I’ll be envious on Friday when the girls are on the first tee,” she says. “It’s USA v Europe and this is the biggest event in women’s golf.

“The American team is strong and they will start as overwhelming favourites, but we have a good, young team.

“We know we can win in the States and the captain can use that to tell the players not to worry about partisan crowds.

“We should have won a couple of times before we did in America, but we didn’t do well enough in the Singles or something happened that didn’t quite work out.

“This time with Annika, everything will be by the book. Everything will be regimented because that has been her career.

“But it’s why she’s been so successful. I assume she’ll do that at the Solheim Cup to get the best out of her players.”