Latest news with #EuropeanSolheimCup
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sweden's Stark grabs one-shot lead at US Women's Open
CHICAGO: Maja Stark fired three birdies in an impressively steady two-under-par 70 at unforgiving Erin Hills on Saturday to seize a one stroke lead over Julia Lopez Ramirez heading into the final round of the 80th US Women's Open. Sweden's Stark, a European Solheim Cup stalwart chasing her first major title, kept her focus in a round that stretched nearly six hours as players wrestled with firm, fast greens on a breezy, sunny day in Wisconsin. Her seven-under-par total of 209 put her one stroke clear of Spanish qualifier Lopez Ramirez, whose four-under-par 68 was the best score of a day on which only nine players broke par. Japan's Mai Saigo, who started the day with a three-shot lead, carded a three-over-par 75 to share third alongside compatriots Rio Takeda and Hinako Shibuno on five-under 211. World number one Nelly Korda, who played alongside Saigo in the final group, finished strong in a one-over 73 that left her three adrift on four-under 212. Stark said the very difficulty of the course actually made her less anxious -- a key for her as she tries to kick the habit of "playing scared". "In normal tournaments, I kind of swing scared because I think it's a birdie competition, but here it's really not," Stark said, adding that on Sunday she'll just "try to play freely". Stark opened with a confidence-boosting birdie at the first hole. She bogeyed the third, but stuck her second shot at the 10th two feet from the pin for a birdie. Stark rattled in a 21-foot birdie at the par-three 16th to seize a share of the lead on seven-under, capping her round with a par at the par-five 18th and emerging with the solo lead as Saigo closed with back-to-back bogeys. The tough scoring made Lopez Ramirez's round look all the more impressive. The 22-year-old, who had to pause her LPGA rookie campaign in March after undergoing an appendectomy, eagled the par-five first and bounced back frm a bogey at the third with a birdie at th seventh, where she got up and down from a greenside bunker. She added birdies at 12 and 16 to put herself in contention for a first major title. "It was just mentally a strong day for me, keeping myself present and dealing with what's in front of me," Lopez Ramirez added. Saigo, gunning for a second major title of the season after winning the Chevron Championship in April, was battling even before her bogey-bogey finish. She had two birdies and a bogey in her first three holes then bogeyed the fourth, fifth and sixth -- failing to get up and down after missing the geen at all three. The 23-year-old had regained the solo lead with an eight-foot birdie at the 12th but couldn't hang on. Takeda joined her on five-under with a two-under par 70 highlighted by a six-foot eagle at the first. Former British Open champion Shibuno had two birdies and two bogeys in her even par 72. Korda appeared to be spiraling out of contention with four bogeys on the front nine. That included three-putts at the second and fifth and a five-foot miss at the seventh. But the American star clawed back with birdies at the 14th and 15th -- where she took advantage of the US Golf Association's decision to move up the tee to drive the green and calmly rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt. Her six-foot birdie putt at the 18th circled the cup before falling in, leaving her exactly where she started the day three shots off the lead. "I was happy to kind of rally back on the back nine after having such a poor start," Korda said. "It's all about being patient. There's just so many ups and downs and you just have to kind of stick with it .... it just takes one shot." - AFP
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Junior Solheim Cup teams set to make history in the Netherlands alongside their idols
Junior Solheim Cup teams set to make history in the Netherlands alongside their idols Sixteen years ago, Nancy Lopez and Carin Koch jumped from a 1-meter diving board into a pool at Aurora Country Club in northeastern Illinois. The scene played out at the Ping Junior Solheim Cup, where the kids were upset their two captains didn't go for the 3-meter board. Team USA had invited Team Europe to an impromptu pool party at the conclusion of competition, where only one of the Maguire twins (not sure which) attempted an actual dive. Most jumped more than once. Lexi Thompson was one of several players who grabbed the hand of a fearful friend and coaxed her off the edge. The scene played out about 10 miles from the 2009 Solheim Cup venue at Rich Harvest Farms, away from most of the media and fans. That's usually the case for the junior event, which brings together the 12 best and brightest youngsters from the U.S. and Europe to compete every two years in the run-up to the main event. Camaraderie is at the heart of the Junior Solheim, which began in 2002, but it's also a training ground for the next generation. Players must be between the ages of 12-18 to compete, and the inaugural teams 20-plus years ago included Solheim stalwarts such as Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, Brittany Lang and Azahara Munoz. Junior Solheim Cup teams to compete on same course as pros in 2026 In 2026, history will be made at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands as officials tell Golfweek that Junior Solheim teams, for the first time, will have the opportunity to compete on the same course as the pros. Switzerland's Albane Valenzuela, who made her debut on the European Solheim Cup team last year, still has the bag from her 2015 Junior Solheim Cup appearance. 'When you're a junior,' said Valenzuela, 'the Solheim is definitely the coolest event you can get.' World No. 1 Nelly Korda also competed in the 2015 Junior Solheim at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, a 36-hole facility. The Solheim Cup was played on the St. Leon course that year while the juniors competed on the Rot course. Korda noted that having the events so close made it easier for the pros to come out and watch the juniors, which they did in Germany. 'Having them there too was super cool,' said Korda, 'such a neat experience.' The added insight, however, of playing the same course, in similar conditions, with the grandstands in place does much to amplify the experience. Valenzuela said she thought about that back in 2015 while playing the Rot course as a junior while the pros played a different course. The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland was similar with the juniors playing the Kings Course while the pros played the Centenary. 'It's kind of nice to benchmark yourself against the pros,' said Valenzuela. 'I think it makes it more fun, makes it more relatable for the viewers as well." The two junior teams will arrive in the Netherlands on Friday, Sept. 4, and the two-day competition will be held Sept. 7-8. From there, the two teams will attend a number of Solheim Cup festivities throughout the next week and, if the past is any indication, will even hang out in the team rooms with the pros. Every dinner, every first-tee experience proves unforgettable time and again for the wide-eyed teens. 'I always imagined having the Ping Junior Solheim Cup on the same course as the Solheim Cup,' said John A. Solheim, Ping Executive Chairman. 'The opportunity to play the same challenging set up and amazing atmosphere as the professionals is an experience that the junior girls will remember for the rest of their lives. I'm very thankful to the LET, Bernardus and IMG for making this a reality in 2026. It's another big step for the event and I look forward to presenting the trophies to the winning teams on the 18th green at Bernardus.' While the Junior Solheim captains have yet to be announced, the natural fit for Team Europe is the Netherlands' most decorated player, Anne van Dam. The five-time Ladies European Tour winner represented Europe at both the 2013 Junior Solheim and 2019 Solheim Cup in Scotland, where Europe won in dramatic fashion. The 29-year-old two-time Olympian is still competing on the LET and LPGA, posting a top-20 finish at last year's AIG Women's British Open at St. Andrews. Nineteen Junior Solheim Cup players from Europe have gone on to compete in the Solheim Cup as a pro, while the U.S. boasts 13 graduates to the big stage. Team USA leads the all-time series at 8-4-1. 'It's funny, when you think back on junior golf," said Valenzuela, "every time you played in something big, it just felt like the biggest thing in the whole wide world.' In the Netherlands, it just got even bigger.
Reuters
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Anna Nordqvist named European captain for '26 Solheim Cup
February 24 - Anna Nordqvist will captain the 2026 European Solheim Cup team, the Ladies European Tour announced Monday. At 37, the Sweden native becomes the second-youngest European skipper since the event's inception in 1990. Nordqvist served as a vice captain for Europe at the September 2024 Solheim Cup in Virginia, where the American team prevailed 15 1/2 to 12 1/2. She also played for the team and has a 17-15-3 record in nine appearances in the biennial competition dating back to 2009. "Whether we were winning or losing, the Solheim Cup has played such a huge part in my career ever since I made my debut in 2009 in Chicago," Nordqvist said in a news release. "The friendships I have made, and the memories created during the nine matches I've played, make it so incredibly special to be given the opportunity to be European Captain at my tenth Solheim Cup!" The 2026 Solheim Cup will take place in the Netherlands from Sept. 11-13 at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt. A three-time major winner, Nordqvist has nine wins on the LPGA Tour and four more on the European circuit. The United States has not yet named a captain for 2026. The Americans hold an 11-7-1 lead in the competition.
Reuters
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Nordqvist to captain Team Europe in 2026 Solheim Cup
Feb 24 (Reuters) - Three-time major winner Anna Nordqvist will succeed Suzann Pettersen as Team Europe captain in the 2026 Solheim Cup, the Ladies European Tour said on Monday. Sweden's Nordqvist, 37, was a playing vice-captain for Team Europe in the last two editions of the biennial golf tournament played between Europe and the United States. The 2026 edition will mark her 10th appearance in the competition. "I am so honoured to be appointed as the 2026 European Solheim Cup Captain. Whether we were winning or losing, the Solheim Cup has played such a huge part in my career ever since I made my debut in 2009 in Chicago," Nordqvist said in a statement. The Solheim Cup will take place in September next year at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, with the United States looking to defend the title.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Anna Nordqvist named European captain for 2026 Solheim Cup
Three-time major winner Anna Nordqvist has been appointed European captain for the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. The Swede, 37, was a playing vice-captain in 2023 and 2024, the latter her ninth time representing Europe in the competition. Nordqvist, who succeeds Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, has won 17 of her 35 Solheim Cup matches and halved three. 'I am so honoured to be appointed as the 2026 European Solheim Cup captain,' said Nordqvist. 'Whether we were winning or losing, the Solheim Cup has played such a huge part in my career ever since I made my debut in 2009 in Chicago. 'The friendships I have made, and the memories created during the nine matches I've played, make it so incredibly special to be given the opportunity to be European Captain at my 10th Solheim Cup!' The last European edition in 2023, which took place in Spain at Finca Cortesin, ended in a thrilling 14-14 tie with Europe retaining the Cup. In 2024, the USA triumphed 15.5-12.5 in Virginia for a first win since 2017. Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands will host the 2026 edition from September 7-13. Alexandra Armas, chief executive officer of the Ladies European Tour, said: 'We are delighted to announce Anna as our captain for the 2026 Solheim Cup. 'She has been such an important member of the European team over the years – both on and off the course – and she was excellent in the role of playing vice-captain last year. 'She has been a wonderful ambassador for European golf throughout her career, both as an individual and as part of the team, and I can tell you that the news of this appointment will no doubt be extremely popular amongst the players.'
