Suzann Pettersen wins the first battle against Stacy Lewis. The American captain, as the local, chose which of the two available houses at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club would be for her team. Each one more beautiful than the other. Both are adjacent, with the difference that one is much larger. However, the smaller one, directly overlooks the driving range from the back and has doors in the garage. Not minor details, as will be seen below.
Lewis, logically, chose the larger of the two. She was looking for comfort and space for her team. The Norwegian had no choice, but she did have the ability to turn the situation around. In the European team’s house, it was practically impossible for everyone to fit in to sit down, for example for dinner. Pettersen decided to open the garage doors that lead to the practice field, set up some tables like a bar terrace and organised an outdoor gym. What seemed like a limitation has become her greatest strength. There, the European team spends hours in a relaxed atmosphere and in the middle of nature. Lewis herself approached Pettersen to tell her that this was not discussed or planned. Suzann shrugged her shoulders as if to say that nothing prevented her from doing so. Loud music and camaraderie on all sides. Europe is having a great time. It’s not a battle that scores points, but to some extent, it eats away at morale.
That’s Pettersen, a lot of charisma and a great ability to build a team. She can even make the very Leona Maguire smile: “Would you like to be my caddie this week?”, the Irishwoman said laughing this Thursday after a piece of advice from Suzann on the 5th hole green. Her caddie offered the bag to the captain.
By the way, on the first tee, the team leader reminded the four players who were starting that round to sign as many autographs as possible. They are away from home, but she knows they owe it to the fans. No one connects as much as she does. Fun yes, but she seems a bit more moderate than twelve months ago, where at times, she seemed too passionate. Perhaps it’s because they’re playing away from home.
Along with Leona, in the aforementioned round, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant and Georgia Hall were playing. After playing the first hole, the Swede asked her teammates if they minded if she went to play the second nine holes. The three teammates encouraged her to go if that’s what she needed to be ready for the opening day. On the other hand, Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire played swapping balls. It seems that it was not previously discussed and that they decided to do so in case they play together in a foursome format. It was also fun to hear several chants for Carlota Ciganda throughout the course. The Spaniard enjoys this competition like no one else.
On the other hand, Stacy Lewis plays the fool. Initially, it was said that the captain would have fast greens and high roughs. Quite the opposite. On Sunday she ordered the rough to be cut and the greens are getting slower each day of the week. The Americans, being less hitters than the Europeans, will usually have longer second shots. With high rough and fast greens they could lose ball control, but the European team still wonders why this strategy. The European hitters are now much more relaxed. They won’t have to pace themselves as much. Compared to the visit they made in May, the rough is noticeably more trimmed.
As for the atmosphere and the public, it is noteworthy that this Thursday the stands of the 1st tee barely had any public. It is true that the course is very wide and large and it is not easy to calculate the number of people who were on the course in this last practice round. What does seem clear is that tomorrow will be a boiling point and that Europe will try to overcome with a lot of play and team spirit.
This Friday, one of those magical moments in golf will be experienced again. The 1st tee in a Solheim. Let’s go, this is starting now.
