It’s not easy being a captain. “There’s been a lot of juggling,” admitted Annika Sorenstam, the European Solheim Cup skipper after her enforced re-shuffling of the cards in the wake of Suzann Pettersen’s late withdrawal from the team with a dodgy disc in her dorsal.
“I had a plan A. Then we started a plan B. We had a few plans back and forth and when Suzann and I spoke on (Wednesday) morning I threw out plan A. Now we’re sticking to plan B. Hopefully there won’t be a plan C.”
Ah, the best laid plans eh? Sorenstam will be hoping her various plans come together this weekend as Europe attempt to wrest this decorative clump of Waterford crystal back from American clutches here in Iowa.
With Pettersen out and Catriona Matthew in, the Solheim Cup has been denied its pantomime villain.
Pettersen prompted tears and tantrums in the last meeting between the sides in Germany two years ago after refusing to concede a tap-in putt which had mistakenly been picked up by US rookie, Alison Lee.
In the build up to this week’s showpiece, Juli Inkster, the US captain, had already asked for calm and hoped there would be no heckling of Pettersen.
The good folk of Des Moines and beyond may not have been planning that anyway but with Pettersen removed from the main spotlight, any lingering animosity will have been tempered.
The Norwegian gave a short but emphatic ‘no’ when asked if she feared any hostility from the other side of the ropes and added: “We’re all here to do a job. What happened two years ago was a very unfortunate situation for all of us and for the game of golf.
“And hopefully this year everyone can play as good as we can and showcase the best women’s golf.
“We’ve all tried to prepare as well as we can to come here to do the task that we’re asked, and that is to play our hearts out and try to win the cup back.
“That has been my focus. I know it’s been the rest of the team’s focus. I think you learn from the past, to say it that way. I’m very disappointed not to play.”
What brought on Pettersen’s pain was all rather hum-drum.
“I was actually out for a little bit of a short, easy run, a morning run before breakfast,” explained the 36-year-old who has 15 LPGA Tour wins and eight Solheim Cup appearances on her cv.
“I was going to a wedding on Saturday night and decided maybe it was nice to get moving before sitting all day.
“That’s when it happened. I never attended the wedding either.”
It’s not been a great few days for Pettersen. A European win here may soothe some of the pain, though.
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