By Keely Levins
For the third consecutive Solheim Cup, Juli Inkster will serve as the U.S. captain. In 2019, the Americans will have Inkster at the helm as they take on the European team, led by Catriona Matthew, at Gleneagles in Scotland. This is the first time in Solheim Cup history that the U.S. has employed the same captain in three straight events.

It’s easy to see why the U.S. team is breaking tradition for Inkster: She led her team to victories the last two times she captained, mounting a huge comeback in Germany in 2015 and winning again handily in Des Moines in 2017.

“We wanted to find a captain that, when it gets really tight, who can keep it loose. Who can keep it fun. Who can get them to play their best,” LPGA commissioner Michael Whan said at the announcement.

In going through potential candidates, Whan said that the committee realised they had their own version of Bill Belichick on Team USA.

Inkster, who played in nine Solheim Cups, has definitely proven she has the ability to keep things fun. The World Golf Hall of Fame member was dancing on the first tee in Des Moines, rallying cheers from the crowd and dolling out hugs and high fives to her team. But she also has an uncanny ability to say the right thing, to the right player, at the right moment. When her top player, Lexi Thompson, was 4 down after four holes to Anna Nordqvist in their Sunday singles match in Des Montes last August, Inkster appeared on the fifth hole, put her arm around Thompson and told her to play her own game. Thompson surged back, and ultimately halved the match as the U.S. team took the Cup for a second straight year.

“I enjoy working with the girls,” Inkster said at the announcement. “The chemistry and the comaraderie of team sports—it’s not all about winning. It’s about the chemistry and the bonding you develop.”

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At a press conference following the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns, non-playing U.S. skipper Juli Inkster added two captain’s picks—18-year-old LPGA rookie Angel Yin and 25-year-old Austin Ernst—to her 10 automatic qualifiers (see below). Europe’s Annika Sorenstam also named her four wild-cards—Anna Nordqvist, Emily Pedersen, Caroline Masson and Madelene Sagstrom—to complete her side.

Both captains made it clear how difficult it had been to arrive at their respective conclusions. Inkster omitted the likes of former U.S. Women’s Open champion Paula Creamer, as well as six-time Cup veteran Angela Stanford and five-time player Morgan Pressel.

“This has been a really tough day,” said Inkster, herself a nine-time Solheim participant. “I don’t know if there’s ever been so many people in the running for two captain’s picks. I could have gone a lot of different ways. But in the end I went with my gut, and who I thought deserved a chance to play. I hope it turns out OK. That’s all I can say.”

Noticeably absent from the European squad will be Catriona Matthew, who was looking to make her ninth appearance in European colors. The Scot will still make the trip to Iowa, however, as one of Sorenstam’s assistant captains.

“It is always hard to say ‘no’ to someone who lives for the Solheim Cup,” said Sorenstam of Matthew. “She was involved in the plans and knew the players we were talking about and that made it a bit awkward at times. But she has been strong and mature, and I am happy to have her on the team either way.”

UNITED STATES TEAM
Points List
Lexi Thompson, 3rd appearance (2013, ’15), 3-2-2 record
Stacy Lewis, 4th appearance (2011, ’13, ’15), 4-7-1
Gerina Piller, 3rd appearance (2013, ’15), 3-2-2
Cristie Kerr, 9th appearance (2002, ’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’11, ’13, ’15), 15-14-5
Jessica Korda, 2nd appearance (2013), 1-2-1
Danielle Kang, 1st appearance
Michelle Wie, 5th appearance (2009, ’11, ’13, ’15), 7-7-1
Brittany Lang, 5th appearance (2009, ’11, ’13, ’15), 5-6-3
Rolex Ranking
Brittany Lincicome, 6th appearance (2007, ’09, ’11, ’13, ’15), 5-11-2 Lizette Salas, 3rd appearance (2013, ’15), 1-3-2
Captain’s Picks
Austin Ernst, 1st appearance Angel Yin, 1st appearance

EUROPEAN TEAM
Points List
Georgia Hall (England), 1st appearance
Florentyna Parker (England), 1st appearance
Mel Reid (England), 3rd appearance (2011, ’15), 4-3-1
Jodi Ewart-Shadoff (England), 2nd appearance (2013), 2-1-0
Rolex Ranking
Carlota Ciganda (Spain), 3rd appearance (2013, ’15), 4-1-2
Suzann Pettersen (Norway), 9th appearance (2002, ’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’11, ’13, ’15), 16-11-6
Charley Hull (England), 3rd appearance (2013, ’15), 6-2-0
Karine Icher (France), 4th appearance (2002, ’13, ’15), 5-4-1
Captain’s Picks
Caroline Masson (Germany), 3rd appearance (2013, ’15), 2-3-2
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), 5th appearance (2009, ’11, ’13, ’15), 8-7-1
Emily Pedersen (Denmark), 1st appearance
Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden), 1st appearance

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