Solheim Cup: Dame Laura Davies plays down inexperience on USA team
Dame Laura Davies is confident if they take on among the very inexperienced USA teams Europe will avoid complacency.
Juli Inkster’s bid to lead her team to a third success has been hit by preparation, with Stacy Lewis being forced to pull out because of a back injury with Ally McDonald stepping to become the sixth rookie in the line-up.
Angel Yin has been not able to practice entirely because her collection of clubs two days late arrived at Gleneagles, but Davies insists the group will be focused on their particular games rather than being distracted by events from the opposition club area.
“It has certainly been an eventful start to Solheim Cup week,” Davies told Sky Sports. “Ordinarily on a Monday and Tuesday it is about getting a sense of the place, trying to relax as much as you can, and getting in some good practice.
“However, with lost clubs such as Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Angel Yin, along with the USA being made to make a late change to the group, there’s been much more going on. As she is a big part of the team stacy Lewis needing to extract is a pity for the Americans.
“However, Ally McDonald has played this year also, if anything, she might actually be enjoying somewhat better than Stacy. Ally may be another rookie, but she will be prepared for the battle and will not shy away from it. It will rob Juli Inkster of a seasoned player, but Stacy is remaining with the staff in order that they can use her expertise.
“Team USA currently have six rookies in their line-up, and only three have played a Solheim Cup outside the united states, but we definitely won’t be getting complacent while we look at the inexperience within their team. Juli has a very solid team with players that are firmly established over the LPGA Tour, and it’s a tough qualifying procedure in which you need to play great, consistent golf over the very best portion of two decades.”
Europe remain 13/8 outsiders with Sky Bet before this 16th edition of the championship, however Davies, who’s enjoying her very first experience of vice-captaincy beneath Catriona Matthew, believes the 2 teams are evenly matched and has predicted a competition.
“The bookies currently have us since the outsiders using the Americans odds to triumph, but with what I’ve observed from our team both on and off the program, it is even cash in my novel,” added Davies, that remains the highest points scorer in the competition’s history together with 25 points from her 12 appearances – yet another record.
“Obviously we’re hoping for a huge win, however I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be very near as it comes to the dip on Sunday afternoon. We need to feed the home support and the air and carry that.
“There will surely be a wonderful atmosphere around the first teewhere our players will feel the burden of anticipation while the US team may feel a little intimidated. But I’d rather be on the home team. Four of Europe’s five Solheim Cup wins are in the home, and a lot of this achievement is down to our”13th participant” outside the ropes.
“Experienced or notevery single player will feel the nerves on that very first tee. It had been something I suffered from, and I will admit that when I was playing foursomes, I had been absolutely happy for my partner to hit the first tee shot!”
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