The IX: Golf Thursday with Carly Grenfell, August 29, 2019
By The IX Team
Solheim Cup Rookies and Vets — Morgan Pressel interview — Must-click links in women's golf
Subscribers, thank you for your support!
Continue reading with a subscription to The IX
Get unlimited access to our exclusive coverage of a varitety of women’s sports, including our premium newsletter by subscribing today!
Already a member?
Login
You’ve opted to join us for five different women’s sports newsletters in your inbox every week! The IX helps build the necessary infrastructure for women’s sports media. If you know someone who would love The IX as much as you do, forward this along!
The Rookies and the Vets
At last, we have a full Europe roster and now a full United States roster for the 2019 Solheim Cup in Scotland! Mark your calendars for September 9 through September 15, with Opening Ceremonies being that Thursday and play starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. The broadcast is slated for Friday, September 13 from 3 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, September 14 from 3 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Sunday, September 15 from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time. Get your coffee ready!
For the United States (rookies in italics):
-
Lexi Thompson
-
Nelly Korda
-
Danielle Kang
-
Lizette Salas’
-
Jessica Korda
-
Meghan Kang
-
Marina Alex
-
Brittany Altomare
-
Angel Yin
-
Annie Park
-
Morgan Pressel
-
Stacy Lewis
For Europe (rookies in italics):
-
Carlota Ciganda
-
Anne van Dam
-
Caroline Hedwall
-
Charley Hull
-
Georgia Hall
-
Azahara Munoz
-
Caroline Masson
-
Anna Nordqvist
-
Bronte Law
-
Celine Boutier
-
Jodi Ewart Shadoff
So right off the bat, we know this year’s showdown is going to be a matter of it being the rookies verse the vets, with Europe having quite a bit more experience on their team than the United States.
Inkster has a squad with five newcomers and Europe just two. But to go with that, three of the players on the United States have only played in one previous Solheim Cup (Danielle Kang in 2017, Jess Korda in 2013, and Angel Yin in 2017). That’s eight of 12 players with not a lot of Solheim experience under their belt.
When you look at that lineup, it makes perfect sense why Inkster would go with Morgan Pressel and Stacy Lewis as her captain’s picks. Combined, the two have played in nine Solheim Cups. While Morgan has been more relevant and has had a stronger season this year, and Stacy Lewis is returning from maternity leave after having her first kid, both make sense to me. I think that’s what the United States needs, and Morgan Pressel shares some more insight on how she’ll help them navigate the week.
I would argue this is the best and most exciting event of the LPGA season. If you’ve never been to or watched a Solheim Cup, you should! The atmosphere is amazing to experience in person (as I was there in 2017 in Des Moines) but you can sense the environment and energy even on TV and social media. Really looking forward to that week and hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do!
Announcing The IX’s Civil Boost!
We’re extremely honored that Civil chose us for its first Boost, a fundraising pathway to help fund vital newsroom projects. This one is straightforward: travel costs to send me to the WNBA Finals. You’ll get daily podcasts, behind-the-scenes extras and both original reporting and the amplifying of others doing the good work on the scene. More details, and how to give, are available here:
This Week in Women’s Golf
Reminder: First, the underlined words are the links. Second. CLICK these, even if you’ve already read them. Clicks = Attention from editors, producers and webmasters. Third, if you want to push out stuff you’ve written or read, email me! carlygrenfell@gmail.com
Lyme disease sidelines Sandra Gal the rest of the year.
They dynamic between Jaye Marie Green and her caddie and brother Matt.
LPGA players withdraws from event to preserve chance at $1 million, sites injury.
Jin Young Ko wins another event on tour and hasn’t bogey’d in 106 holes.
This was an awesome scene in Canada last week for Canadian Brooke Henderson.
There’s more purse money on the LPGA than before, but viewership has dropped.
Here’s a look at some of the top names competing in LPGA Q-series.
Northern Florida assistant coach captures second LPGA Club Pro title.
A young team against an experienced team will go head to head at Solheim Cup.
Girls Junior PGA Champion Yuka Saso taking a crack at the LPGA.
These three players secured the automatic qualifying spots for Solheim Cup.
New LPGA event coming to Boca Raton next year.
Angel Yin and Anne Van Dame squared off in a long drive competition.
Tweet of the Week
Five at The IX: Morgan Pressel
It’s only right to hear from Morgan Pressel, one of two of Juli Inkster’s captain’s picks for the United States Solheim Cup Team. Considering her strong 2019 season to date, and plethora of experience playing in previous Solheim Cup’s, this was a great play by Inkster. She sat down with Golf Channel and Golfweek following the announcement on Monday.
Q: What was your reaction to Juli’s call?
Morgan Pressel: For me, I’ve just been trying to play some good golf. I’ve been on the outside for so long, really the last couple year it was definitely not to make the team in 2017. But excited to be back on the team and so thankful that Juli has given me this opportunity and the belief she has in me to help the team.
Q: You’ve been on five teams, won on the road, lost on the road, what’s the most important aspect to win in a hostile environment?
Morgan Pressel: It’s definitely much more difficult to win overseas. We have a young team with not a lot of experience, so being the underdog over there might be helpful. Not as much expectation on the team but we are going there to win. We have some incredible players. What it comes down to is playing your best golf and trying to silence the crowd. Excited to see the US fans that come out to cheer us on and maybe we can put a little bit of a hush on Glen Eagles.
Q: How much input as a player do you want?
Morgan Pressel: I think what has made Juli stand out as a captain over the last few years is taking player input and putting players with like-personalities together, which I think is really important as well; similar games, similar personalities. For me, especially this time, I’m going to fit into whatever role she wants me. If the rookies want some advice or a little bit of guidance, I’m there. If not, I’ll be there with the team. I think it will be a really special week.
Q: You spent the last month playing under a lot of pressure, but you had that fourth place finish at the Women’s British Open. What did you learn about yourself in crunch time as you tried to make the team?
Morgan Pressel: Like I said earlier, I’ve kind of been on the outside. Not to say a wakeup call, but earlier this year, when the team was having a bonding session, I was trying to qualify for the British Open. So that was quite interesting. My goal was still to make the team. Coming down the stretch at the British Open, to make big putts under pressure, that was definitely a big confidence booster for me heading into the Solheim Cup and hopefully the rest of the season.
Q: What do you think the rookies will face that week?
Morgan Pressel: I think is just the overwhelming emotion and feeling that comes with playing for your country, especially on foreign soil when no one is really cheering for you. It’s a weird feeling because in golf they might not clap if you don’t hit it super close. They’re not going to cheer against you. So this tournament is a little different. Getting them prepared for that is a possibility and recognizing that you’ll have emotional highs and lows but trying to keep your adrenaline in check. It’s nerves a lot of these players haven’t felt before.
