Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist says Leona Maguire is a player you can 'trust'
"Taking on this role as a captain while I'm still playing, it obviously allows me to kind of see them play inside the ropes, which I feel like I've enjoyed," said Nordqvist, a three-time Major winner who will captain Team Europe at next year's competition in the Netherlands.
"I think some of them really try to be on their best behaviour when they're playing with me, but I hope to not add any pressure."
Nordqvist said she will be "old school" when it comes to selecting players and pairings, rather than basing decisions solely on stats.
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"You can't just statistically put two players together if they don't have any chemistry," she said.
"I believe in knowing your partner. Under the gun, when you know you can trust your partner and you know how you react, I feel like you bring out the best in each other.
"I started collecting a lot of feedback. Once I've been their teammate, they probably have an easier time opening up to me. I'm probably doing a lot more than what they're thinking I'm doing, behind the scenes."
The 38-year-old Swede has been part of every European Solheim Cup team since making her debut in 2009. Those she enjoys playing with most are the ones whose passion for the competition is clear. Nordqvist played the foursomes with Leona Maguire during the 2023 tournament in Spain when Europe tied with the USA to retain the cup.
"You know you can trust her," she said.
"You know she's as competitive as it gets. You know she's going to do everything she can to put a point on the board. She got the nickname MVP after her first one in Ohio. I don't think she was very happy with the pairing the first day (with Georgia Hall), but they actually kill it and then all of a sudden they realise it was a good pairing and they brought out the best in each other."
Nordqvist feels that two or three years ago, she would not have been ready to take on the role. That has changed. Now she feels prepared to help Europe regain the cup they lost last year in Virginia.
"I'll pour every single bit of heart I have into it and do my best to prepare the team and show up," she said.
"Probably not everyone is excited that I'm captain, but hopefully a lot of the girls will know that I'm going to do the best job that I can to get us that cup back in the Netherlands next year."
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