Players hang onto Solheim Cup bags likes trophies — Paula Creamer made her first one into a barstool

Solheim Cup bags aren’t like any other golf bags. Angela Stanford views her Solheim bags like trophies. It’s a life accomplishment to make a Solheim Cup team, and for many, the highlight of their careers.

Rookie Gemma Dryburgh got emotional when she saw her European bag for the first time.

“We’ve gotten so much gear in our room,” said American rookie Cheyenne Knight. “Like every day it’s been such a surprise. Nelly got custom Beats for us all, so that’s really cool. But just every day we get something in our room.

“But my favorite is the golf bag because I’ll have it forever.”

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Stacy Lewis put a lot of thought into Team USA’s staff bags. There’s a pocket with 13 stars for the 13 past captains. There’s a pocket with 62 stars for the prior 62 Americans that have represented the U.S. at the Solheim Cup.

And there’s a yellow duck on the bottom of the bag in memory of LPGA founder Shirley Spork, an ardent Solheim Cup fan who liked to find ducks on the course when she played to take her mind off the competition.

“I wanted these girls to know how special of a group they’re coming into,” said Lewis. “So you know what you’re playing for. If you don’t know what you’re playing for, you don’t know about the history.”

Paula Creamer made her first Solheim Cup bag from the 2005 edition at Crooked Stick into a barstool. Brittany Lang keeps her five bags lined up in her office underneath a collection of framed Solheim pin flags filled with the signatures of her teammates.

Brittany Lang keeps her Solheim Cup bags lined up in her home office. (Courtesy: Brittany Lang)

Morgan Pressel typically auctions off her Solheim Cup bags as part of the annual Morgan & Friends charity event, which raised just shy of $1 million this year for the fight against breast cancer. The bags can easily fetch a couple thousand of dollars.

Rosie Jones lines up her Solheim Cup bags from her seven appearances as a player and 2011 captaincy. (Courtesy: Rosie Jones)

Rosie Jones’ Solheim bags all have flags stitched on the top that represent places that are important to her, like where she grew up or where she currently lives. Gazing upon them all now, she said, brings so much pride and joy.

Rest assured, the next generation feels the same.

“Stacy’s put so much meaning into everything this week,” said rookie Allisen Corpuz. “And, yeah, it’s just really special to be able to carry the USA bag.”