You can catch up will all our coverage by visiting the website HERE, or alternatively scroll through the ISSUU links below — from Jason Kokrak and Cam Smith to the Aramco Team Series — or download to your favourite device for later.

Issue No.1 – January 2022

Issue No.2 – April 2022

Issue No.3 – August 2022

Issue No.4 – October 2022

Issue No.5 – January 2023

Issue No.6 – April 2023

Issue No.7 – August 2023

Issue No.8 – October 2023

The post Read all the Arabic editions of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

As a Solheim Cup player, Suzann Pettersen brought her own distinctive level of drive and intensity to the nine European teams she was a part of.

The Norwegian remains the only player from either side in the biennial contest to unwittingly utter a four-letter curse word live on national television, a feat she pulled off as a rookie at Interlachen in 2002 after defeating Michele Redman.

In 2015 at St Leon Rot in Germany, Pettersen’s claiming of the hole when Alison Lee raked back her ball after missing a short putt caused a huge transatlantic storm.

And it will be a long time before another golfer, professional or amateur, man or woman, climaxes a career by holing the winning putt in one of the highest-profile events in the sport. Which is exactly what Pettersen did when she made a six-footer on the 18th green at Gleneagles to keep the Solheim Cup in Europe.

Now, however, the 42-year-old mother-of-two is the European team’s captain, a role she will repeat at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, next year. Seven months ago, at the official announcement of her new position, Pettersen was clear as to how she would handle all that would come her way. It was clear even then how much thought she had already put into every facet of the job.

“My most important key is to kind of facilitate for the players, the surroundings of the team, make sure the energy is there,” she said. “My competitive side has changed a little bit through becoming a mother and then stepping away from a competitive life. That feistiness and determination I had inside the ropes is probably still there, but it doesn’t come out as often as it used to.

“I really admire how Beany [Catriona Matthew] captained the last two Solheim,” she continued. “Obviously I’ve seen other great captains, but Beany showed how just being herself in all aspects made it so easy for the players to feel comfortable. So I’m going to be a more relaxed Suzann that you’ve probably seen.”

How well Pettersen has achieved those aims remains to be seen once hostilities begin for real on Friday. But for now at least, she seems to be handling everything well enough. Certainly, her players seem to be happy with her so far.

“She is the perfect captain,” says Linn Grant. “She is very, honest, open and straightforward. She tells you what she wants you to know. She is great fun too. We’ve had lots of laughs this week. She is the perfect mix of what a good captain should be. She has the ability to make even the most serious situation as light as it can be. Whether it is the first tee or the 18th green, she knows how to manage it all. We’ve heard a few jokes, too. She has a contagious laugh that sticks with you.”

David Cannon/Getty Images

There has also been lots of music. An eclectic mix, according to Gemma Dryburgh.

“We’ve had non-stop music blaring,” says the Scot. “All sorts of stuff. Norwegian. Swedish. Regular pop stuff. Some oldies. A real mix. I don’t mind a bit or karaoke if I’ve had a few bevvies. My specialty is ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls. Whatever, I feel like she has done a great job of pumping us up.

“Suzann is always telling us how proud she is to be our captain,” continues Dryburgh, who is making her Solheim debut this week. “It means a lot to hear that sort of thing. If I am typical, I know she has us all ready to play hard for her. On the other hand, she knows how to keep us calm too. I know she’ll be a great help on the first tee when it will be important to keep the adrenaline in check. This week can all a bit overwhelming at times and Suzann knows that.”

Caroline Hedwall is another impressed with her old teammate. Especially in the vital area of communication, Pettersen has apparently excelled. Every player is pleased to know exactly what is happening when it comes to, for example, Friday’s pairings.

“Her plan is clearly to be transparent within the team,” says Hedwall. “I love that. It’s good to know what is going on. In the past that has sometimes been different, depending on the captain. I like her style. She is very passionate and that’s what she brings to the team room. So I’m not surprised she is really good, but I am surprised she is even better than I thought she might be.

“We all know what is going on,” continued the Swede, who this week will make her fifth appearance in Europe’s colours. “We know who is playing with whom. In the past I’ve been playing in the morning without knowing if I’m going out there again in the afternoon. Knowing what is happening allows me to prepare in the best way. That’s clearly what Suzann thought as a player and she has brought that to her captaincy.”

?????@TheSolheimCup weeks hit different ?#SolheimCup | #TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/aiMrVs6i72

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 18, 2023

Still, perhaps the member of the European squad best qualified to comment on Pettersen’s strengths and weaknesses is one of her four assistants, Laura Davies. Teammates on five Solheim teams between 2002 and 2009, the pair are great friends, which gave Davies the freedom to offer the most realistic assessment of the European captain’s style.

“She’s a lot calmer than I thought she was going to be,” said Davies with a smile. “I’ll be honest with you. I’ve played alongside her, with her, and against her in normal tournaments, and she’s always been the same. She’s just friendly, a little bit fearsome now and again, but brings everyone together. I think all the young players in the team respect Suzann so much because of what she’s done. But when they saw this lovely person greeting them and bringing them into the team room, I think they were surprised, number one. But number two, they are very, very pleased to be a part of her team and know how valued they are by her. As she said, without doubt, this is the strongest European Solheim Cup team we’ve ever had.”

The last word, however, must go to Pettersen herself. Characteristically clear on how highly she rates the squad at her disposal, she calls the side, “the best ever European team on paper”. And she confirmed Hedwall’s assessment of her approach to the job.

“I kind of take a little bit from everything, but I think what I’ve kind of emphasised the most is transparency,” said Pettersen. “I want the players to be part of the decisions that we make. The more we can do it as a team, the stronger we stand together. That’s always what I appreciated the most as a player.”

The post Solheim Cup 2023: Fearsome and fiery as a player, Suzann Pettersen showing her calmer side now as captain appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Amid all the hype and camaraderie, team-building and feuds, rookies learning and veterans passing on wisdom, this year’s Solheim Cup will also witness a quirky little first taking place on the sidelines.

I say quirky because, despite the team captains having 13 Solheim Cup appearances between them, they have never faced each other on the course in the biennial event that pits the best of Europe’s female players against their American counterparts.

As we brace for the clash at Finca Cortesin in Spain next week, European captain Suzann Pettersen and American skipper Stacy Lewis will lead out their troops and the duo will go head-to-head in the competition for the first time — albeit as non-playing captains.

Norwegian Pettersen has nine previous Cups under her belt, while Lewis, four years younger at 38, has made five appearances.

As you might imagine, Pettersen (36) has played a considerably greater number of matches than Lewis (16), but it is still surprising that they never crossed paths and crossed swords on the Solheim Cup fairways, especially given the pair’s numerous appearances in the foursomes and fourballs formats of the matchplay event.

However, both captains are solely focused on the job in hand and will be up for the fight in Andalusia.

“This is the biggest honour of my career. My best-golfing memories are from the Solheim Cup,” said Pettersen, who won the Cup four times as a player. “You are out there with your teammates, your friends, and you all work for one goal. You fight for your friends, and you share incredibly precious moments.”

Lewis, the youngest American captain in Solheim Cup history, added: “For me it’s about the environment. I want to create a really positive, fun environment where the girls can be successful.”

So, while they will not be fighting for their flags on the fairways this time around, rather they will be pulling the strings behind the scenes, it goes to show there is a first time for everything — and we all welcome a little more spice to the Solheim Cup…

The post Solheim Cup veterans Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis go head-to-head — for the first time appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Suzann Pettersen has announced her four captain’s picks to round out the home team that’s trying to win an unprecedented third straight Solheim Cup for Europe next month in Spain. Much like the eight automatic qualifiers who locked up their spots two days earlier, Pettersen chose experience along with a fresh face, taking one rookie (Gemma Dryburgh) and three veterans (Madelene Sagstrom, Caroline Hedwal and Emily Kristine Pedersen). With the matches set for Finca Cortesin Resort in just four weeks (September 22-24), here’s what you need to know about the newest members of Europe’s Solheim Cup squad.

Madelene Sagstrom

Madelene Sagstrom. Jack Thomas

This is the 30-year-old’s third Solheim Cup, though it’ll be the first time she’ll play the event in Europe. The Swede was a stand-out on the Epson Tour, winning three times in 2016 and earning her LPGA Tour card for the 2017 season. She has won once on the LPGA Tour and is currently ranked No. 42 in the Rolex World Rankings. Her overall Solheim Cup record is 2-4-0.

Emily Kristine Pedersen

Emily Kristine Pedersen. Charlie Crowhurst/R&A

This is Pedersen’s third Solheim Cup as well and her first start in Europe, too. You may remember her as the player who holed the winning put for the Europeans when they closed out their upset victory at Inverness Club in 2021. The 27-year-old Dane has won five LET events in her career, including four in 2020 alone. Notably, she is one of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour, averaging 273 yards off the tee. Her career Solheim Cup record is 3-4-0.

Caroline Hedwall

Caroline Hedwall. Getty Images

Hedwall is the most experienced of Pettersen’s picks, set to make her fifth appearance. The 34-year-old Swede who was a stand-out at Oklahoma State who played 10 years on the LPGA Tour but never claimed a title. She does have seven wins on the Ladies European Tour, the most recent coming late last year at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España —  which was played about an hour from the 2023 Solheim Cup site.
“Having great memories from the end of last year in Andalucía, I hadn’t thought much about Solheim until I won and after that, it was a goal for the season,” Hedwall said. “I’m just really happy it became a reality and super pumped to play in Spain again.”
Her career Solheim Cup record is 8-6-1.

Gemma Dryburgh

Gemma Dryburgh. David Cannon

This is Dryburgh’s first Solheim Cup, though she has experience in team play, having competed in the 2014 Curtis Cup. The 30-year-old Scot played college golf at Tulane before turning professional in 2015. In 2022, she won the Toto Japan Classic, her first LPGA victory. She will make a good foursomes partner as she is one of the most accurate drivers of the golf ball on the LPGA Tour, hitting more than 82 pe rcent of fairways in the 2023 season.

Team Europe’s complete roster for the 2023 Solheim Cup

Celine Boutier
Maja Stark
Charley Hull
Leona Maguire
Georgia Hall
Linn Grant
Carlota Ciganda
Anna Nordqvist
Gemma Dryburgh
Caroline Hedwall
Emily Kristine Pedersen
Madelene Sagstrom

The post Everything you need to know about Suzann Pettersen’s four European Solheim Cup captain’s picks appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Suzann Pettersen revealed her four captain’s picks to complete Team Europe’s line-up for their defence of the Solheim Cup title at Finca Cortesin in Spain next month.

The Europe skipper opted for a blend of fresh talent and experience, as a third rookie — Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland — was added to the two there on points: Maja Stark and Linn Grant.

Dryburgh is joined by a sprinkling of Scandinavian stardust as Swedish stars Madelene Sagström and Caroline Hedwall, as well as Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen, complete the line-up heading to Finca Cortesin from September 22-24.

This will be Sagström’s third appearance in the Solheim Cup having made her debut in 2017 and being part of the winning team last time out in Toledo, but it will be a new experience as it will be her first on European soil.

“I’m super proud and honoured to get a pick from Suzann,” said the Swede. “Playing in my third Solheim Cup and the first on European soil is a huge accomplishment for me and something I’ve always dreamt about. I can’t wait to represent Europe in Spain and create some amazing memories with the team. Vamos!”

Dryburgh secured her maiden LPGA Tour title last November winning the Toto Japan Classic and just a few weeks ago recorded her best-ever finish in a major with eighth place at the Amundi Evian Championship.

“I’m over the moon to be picked for my first Solheim Cup,” said the Scot. “It has been a dream of mine to play on the European team since I can remember and for it to become a reality is an amazing feeling. It really makes all of the hard work over the years worthwhile and now I just can’t wait to tee it up with the rest of my teammates.”

Denmark’s Pedersen will also be teeing it up in her third Solheim Cup, after she made her debut in 2017 and rolled in the putt that sealed victory on American soil in 2021.

“I’m super proud to get picked,” said the 2020 Race to Costa del Sol champion. “I’m stoked because Suzann is someone that I’ve always looked up to.

“I haven’t yet played a Solheim Cup in Europe and I really wanted to play this. Spain has a really special place in my heart, I love Spain and I’m super happy to be able to represent Europe once again.”

While Hedwall will be making her fifth appearance in the biennial contest and her first since 2019 after being picked by Pettersen.

The Swedish star secured her seventh LET title at last season’s finale — the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España — and can’t wait to be playing on Spanish soil again.

“I’m just really excited to play another Solheim Cup,” commented Hedwall. “It’s my absolute favourite event to play, so I can’t wait for the week to start!

“Having great memories from the end of last year in Andalucía, I hadn’t thought much about Solheim until I won and after that, it was a goal for the season. I’m just really happy it became a reality and super pumped to play in Spain again.”

Speaking about her four picks, Pettersen said: “I’m very pleased with my team. Madelene was an obvious choice. She was right there in the pack with the rest of the eight qualifiers, has experience and is a great team player. It’s been great following Gemma and her performances over the past year, she has a very consistent game, is a great putter and has a great personality.

“Emily is a fierce competitor, especially in match play, she has the experience and I know what I’m going to get from her. I can’t think of a more competitive player than Caroline. I’m very happy to have her on our team. She compliments the team perfectly with her game and records in the Solheim Cup.”

The four picks will be joined by France’s Celine Boutier and Sweden’s Maja Stark, who qualified through LET Solheim Cup points.

Plus, English duo Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Swedish pair Linn Grant and Anna Nordqvist and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda who secured their spots through the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The post Pettersen finalises her 12 for Team Europe’s Solheim Cup defence appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

With eight of the 12 players now locked in for Team Europe ahead of their Solheim Cup title defence, Suzann Pettersen and her side can now finally turn their attention fully to the challenge ahead as they welcome the American stars to Finca Cortesin in Spain next month.

France’s Celine Boutier, the Amundi Evian and Women’s Scottish open champion, is on fire right now and topped the LET Solheim Cup Points standings with 264.57 points thanks in part to those back-to-back victories.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of Team Europe at the 2023 Solheim Cup,” said the Frenchwoman, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2019, is a two-time winner and has won 5.5 points in her seven matches at the previous two editions.

“It’s going to be such an enjoyable week and it’s always a lot of fun. I’ve had such a great year winning on the LPGA in March and then to get my first major title at Evian and to win in Scotland the week after.

“It’s been unbelievable and I’m so excited to have qualified to play in the Solheim Cup. To be able to share the week with my teammates and be able to compete for Europe on European soil for the first time since 2019 will be amazing.”

Celine Boutier. Stuart Franklin

The newly crowned major champion is joined by Sweden’s Maja Stark, who clinched the second spot with 262.42 points.

Stark, who turned professional in August 2021, has won six times on the LET in the past two years including the 2022 edition of the co-sanctioned ISPS Handa World Invitational which secured her membership of the LPGA Tour.

The 23-year-old was part of the Junior Solheim Cup team in 2017, just six years ago, and will now be teeing it up as a rookie at the 2023 Solheim Cup which takes place between September 22-24.

“It feels like there have been very many gradual steps towards this moment,” Stark said. “I have just been doing my job since turning professional to get to this point. It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time, to represent Team Europe at the Solheim Cup and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Charley Hull. Warren Little/R&A

Six players have qualified to Team Europe via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings with England’s Charley Hull leading the way.

This will be Hull’s sixth consecutive Solheim Cup, having made her debut aged 17 and she has been on the winning team on three occasions.

After an outstanding rookie performance in Toledo in 2021 where she earned 4.5 points out of 5, Ireland’s Leona Maguire returns to Team Europe.

Maguire said: “I’m really excited to be part of the European Team at this year’s Solheim Cup. I had an incredible time in Toledo, it was way beyond my expectations, but I can’t wait to be part of Team Europe on European soil and to play in front of home fans. It’s great to be flying the flag for Ireland once again and I hope to have lots of support in Spain.”

Georgia Hall. Getty

England’s Georgia Hall has qualified for her fourth Solheim Cup after making her debut in 2017 and being on the winning team for the past two editions.

There will be another rookie on the team as Linn Grant secured qualification for her first Solheim Cup in September in Spain.

The Swedish star has won five times on the LET in the past two seasons including at the 2022 Scandinavian Mixed where she became the first woman to win a DP World Tour event, and she recently secured her maiden victory on the LPGA Tour.

Grant explained: “I’m very proud. It’s the first Solheim Cup that I can play in and I’m in it which is pretty cool. It has obviously been a dream since I found out about the Solheim Cup. We’re a great team, I love Suzann and all our vice-captains, and I think we will have a really fun week. I’m looking forward to it.”

Spain will have a home hero in the team at Finca Cortesin as Carlota Ciganda will be making her sixth consecutive appearance for the European Team.

“The Solheim Cup is my favourite week of the year and to be able to play at home in Spain is a dream come true,” said Ciganda, who clinched her seventh LET title earlier this season.

“I love playing for the team and I am very excited to be able to play in front of home crowds. Hopefully, we will see a lot of girls come out and watch us play and I hope that we can inspire them for the future and for the next generations to come.”

Anna Nordqvist. Getty Images

While Anna Nordqvist will be a playing vice-captain in Spain after she secured her place in the final automatic qualifying spot via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The Swede will be making her eighth consecutive appearance in the competition having won 15.5 points from the 27 matches she has played.

“I’m very proud to be taking on vice-captaincy and playing this year,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a secret how much I love the Solheim Cup and it brings out the best in me. It’s always my biggest goal every two years to make the team and try to help Europe win. There’s no feeling like stepping up on the first tee box.”

Speaking about her team captain Suzann Pettersen said: “I’m very happy with my team right now for the 2023 Solheim Cup. Congratulations to the eight players who have automatically qualified, we have so much experience in the team and it’s great to have our rookies Maja and Linn representing Europe for the first time. We have never had such a strong group of players in terms of world ranking. The European players have been playing well this year and putting in strong performances across the board.”

Pettersen will finalise her team and name her four captain’s picks this evening as Europe look to win their third Solheim Cup in a row.

The post Team Europe set their sights on more Solheim success appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The end of the ISPS Handa World Invitational also marked the end of the qualifying period for Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. All eight players in line for automatic spots heading into the week held their places, as the Ladies European Tour announced on Sunday that Celine Boutier and Maja Stark earned their way on to the team through LET Solheim points. Charley Hull, Leona Maguire, Georgia Hall, Linn Grant, Carlota Ciganda and Anna Nordqvist claimed the remaining six qualifying spots from their placement in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings.

Six of the eight qualifiers have previous experience in the Solheim Cup, with Boutier, Hull, Maguire, Hall and Nordqvist playing for the victorious European team at Inverness Club in 2021. Stark and Grant are the two rookies to qualify, each winning their first-ever LPGA events during the qualifying period. Stark won the 2022 ISPS Handa World Invitational last season, and Grant won the Dana Open in July.

“I’m very happy with my team right now,” said European captain Suzann Pettersen via a release, the biennial competition set for Sept. 22-24 at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia, Spain with the Europeans looking to win for a third straight clash, something they haven’t done since the start of the competition in 1990. “Congratulations to the eight players who have automatically qualified, we have so much experience in the team, and it’s great to have our rookies Maja and Linn representing Europe for the first time. We have never had such a strong group of players in terms of world ranking. The European players have been playing well this year and putting in strong performances across the board.”

Congratulations to the eight players who have qualified for the ???????? ??????? ??? ???? ???

Boutier ??
Stark ??
Hull ???????
Maguire ??
Hall ???????
Grant ??
Ciganda ??
Nordqvist ??#TeamEurope | #SolheimCup

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 20, 2023

Boutier led the points list with a commanding European swing, winning the Amundi Evian Championship and the Women’s Scottish Open in back-to-back weeks starting at the end of July. The 29-year-old from France will be playing in her third Solheim Cup, having impressively earned 5.5 of a possible seven points combined in 2019 and 2021.

Outside of Grant, the Rolex Rankings group has played in a combined 21 Solheim Cups, with Nordqvist (who is also serving as a vice captain) leading the way with seven consecutive cups dating back to 2009.

“I’m very proud to be taking on vice-captaincy and playing this year,” Nordqvist said. “I don’t think it’s a secret how much I love the Solheim Cup and it brings out the best in me. It’s always my biggest goal every two years to make the team and try to help Europe win.”

Pettersen will fill out the remaining spots on her 12-player roster on Tuesday when she announces her four captain’s picks. The United States end their automatic qualifying period after next week’s CPKC Canadian Open, with only four of the nine spots already locked up (Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Allisen Corpuz and Megan Khang). US captain Stacy Lewis then will name her three captain’s picks afterward.

The post Rooting for Europe at next month’s Solheim Cup? You had to be happy with how qualifying just shook out appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Suzann Pettersen has been named captain of the 2024 European Solheim Cup Team for next year’s competition at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, on September 10-15.

The two-time Major winner, who is already preparing to lead the top 12 European female golfers at the 2023 Solheim Cup, to be played at Finca Cortesín in the heart of Spain’s Costa del Sol on September 22-24, will continue in the role for a second term.

“I love the Solheim Cup and it’s such a unique honour to be asked to captain Team Europe again in 2024,” said Pettersen. “Being offered the role for a second time before the 2023 matches have even been played is a little different to usual, as we usually play the competition every two years and announce the next captain after the competition, but because of the changes to the schedule and having back-to-back Solheim Cups in consecutive years, it makes perfect sense.

“So far, my 2023 captaincy has been a pure joy so to be able to lead the team in Europe this year and then again next year in the US, near the nation’s capital, will be a great honour. This will allow us to build a strategy and a philosophy for the team that we can keep which will offer more consistency for the players and enable them to focus on their performance. My focus is on getting the team around the players and the atmosphere right and then taking that up to the next level.”

Delighted to announce that @suzannpettersen has been named the 2024 @SolheimCupEuro captain ???#TeamEurope | #SuzannSigns

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) February 21, 2023

LET CEO Alexandra Armas addedd: “Suzann was a natural choice to lead the 2024 European Solheim Cup Team. She is doing a superb job in her preparations for the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain and her experience, passion and pride will make her a great leader in 2024. The players know and respect Suzann and this continuity in leadership will ensure that they have the best preparation as we drive towards another incredibly successful event in 2024.”

Pettersen is a 21-time tournament winner, earning major titles at the 2007 LPGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship. During her career she earned 23 top-10 finishes in major championships and was ranked as high as No.2 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. In 2016, Pettersen represented Norway in the Olympic Games in Brazil, finishing 10th place.

Pettersen represented Europe on nine Solheim Cup teams, in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2019, when she famously holed the winning putt at Gleneagles in Scotland. She made a dramatic comeback as a captain’s pick after her maternity leave and she then retired from competitive play immediately after the match. As a player, she owns a 18-12-6 win-loss-tie record and has earned 21 points for the European team from 36 matches. In 2017, she served as an assistant captain to Annika Sorenstam after withdrawing from the competition due to injury and she also worked in that role under Catriona Matthew during Europe’s second away victory at Inverness Club, Ohio, in 2021.

Stacy Lewis, the 2023 US Solheim Cup Team captain, will also continue in her role in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, located just outside Washington DC.

The post Suzann Pettersen named Team Europe captain for 2024 Solheim Cup appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Norwegian announced her retirement on the green as she and her teammates celebrated, hanging up her competitive clubs for good to concentrate on her growing family (she and husband Christian Ringvold now have two young children). Or so we thought…

Despite exiting the playing side of the game, Pettersen kept an active presence in the Solheim Cup, helping Catriona Matthew’s side defend their title in 2021 at Inverness Club in Ohio as a vice-captain.

And while family life is still a top priority, it was announced in November that the two-time major winner would take over from Matthew as European Captain for the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain.

As a result, Pettersen dusted off the clubs and made a competitive return to action at the recent Ladies European Tour (LET) Aramco Team Series — Jeddah.

However, despite claiming more than 20 professional titles in a career going all the way back to 2000, she insists this is definitely not a comeback.

“As part of my captaincy role, I decided to play in a few events to get to know the players better,” she told Golf Digest Middle East and, despite a disappointing return on a personal level (she shot seven-over and missed the cut at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club), it was a very worthwhile exercise.

“First of all, it was just great to be back in that atmosphere after a long time. You know, walking into the players’ locker room and the players’ lounge on the same terms as everyone else.

“I wanted to be here on a level playing field and get to know some of the players who could be on Team Europe in Spain come September. That was the main reason for being here.

“There are some players that I know well and some that I don’t know so well, so I wanted to see them all in action and give them all the same chance of making the team.

“I got to spend two days with two of those players that I didn’t really know that well [Daniela Holmqvist and Paz Marfa Sans] at the beginning to get my list of potential candidates together in my mind.

“It is also fun to see how you envisage certain players playing together and start to get a picture of potential pairings who complement each others’ games.

“It’s been very much worth the trip I like what the Aramco Team Series has done for women’s golf and I really want to support that.”

2023 Solheim Cup Captain Suzann Pettersen, 2nd From Left, With Her Vice-Captains, Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Martens And Laura Davies. Tristan Jones/LET

Thanks to Aramco and Golf Saudi, team golf has taken off once again and Pettersen is confident that can only help her players — whomever makes the final line-up for Spain.

“I have heard a few people’s experiences at these team events, and I was curious to see how it was for myself,” she said. “I must say it was really fun. I didn’t know what to expect and I obviously didn’t expect to play my best, but it has really, really good potential. It is nice to have these events in between a packed individual schedule as it makes things a bit more fun and also allows the players to pull together as a team, something vital come the Solheim Cup. It’s a good vibe.”

Back to that burning question for Pettersen herself: Has playing competitively again reignited that fire in the belly to get out there again?

“Well, to start on a personal note, I have never hit a driver worse than I did out there,” she admitted with a laugh. “Before the retirement I would have had a better score, but I have not played that much.

“I must concede it felt good to get that buzz of adrenaline on the first tee again, be back out there. It is fun to be back but I am not sure I miss it that much and I have moved on to a new part of my life. Obviously I am still around the world of golf and that can do for me just now. It is the younger girls’ turn now.”

Another recent golfing retiree Michelle Wie West recently admitted she had trouble adjusting to life and an “identity crisis” away from the competitive game, but Pettersen is taking her new path in her stride.

“I can see where she is coming from,” she said. “I can’t say I have been there myself, but my adjustment was maybe more gradual as when I stepped back I already had one child, and quickly we had another one, so I really didn’t have much time to dwell and look back. I do know the feeling Michelle is referring to when you go from everything to nothing in the game, from everywhere to people not expecting you to be anywhere anymore. It takes a bit of getting used to from being a professional athlete to being a family. They are two completely different scenarios.”

One future career avenue could be in the commentary booth, doing a fine job as she picked up the mic to help out with the analysis in Jeddah.

“I am definitely going to be doing a few of those moving forward when I am attending LET events.”

The post Solheim Cup: Suzann Pettersen is Captain Sensible appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

All this and much, much more in the January 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East available in both English and Arabic.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

See below for the fifth issue of the Arabic edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The post Get the January 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.