Sorenstam confident in underdog European team

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — After accomplishing just about everything there is to accomplish in golf, Annika Sorenstam finally got her shot as a Solheim Cup captain. Leading Team Europe might prove to be a lot more difficult for Sorenstam than playing ever was.

Veteran star Suzann Pettersen is out with a bad back.

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, the team’s top-ranked player, recently dealt with a bout of mononucleosis.

Four of Sorenstam’s 12 players are making their debuts in the biennial tournament between Europe and the U.S. — and the Europeans are 1-6 on American soil.

But Sorenstam, the Hall of Famer who served as a vice captain in the three previous Solheim Cups, is confident the underdog Europeans can hang with the U.S. when play begins today at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.

Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson will be the opening pairing for the U.S., while Team Europe paired Nordqvist with Georgia Hall. American captain Juli Inkster also paired rookie Danielle Kang with veteran Lizette Salas, and Catriona Matthew, Pettersen’s replacement, will also open foursome play.

“It’s been a lot of juggling, to put it mildly,” said Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA Tour titles, including 10 majors. “I had a plan, I called it plan A. And then we started a plan B ... and when Suzann and I spoke (Wednesday) morning, I kind of threw out plan A, and now we’re sticking to plan B.”

Still, the Americans will have the edge in experience and with a home crowd that is expected to eclipse 100,000.