Solheim Cup captains are always judged in part by their captain’s picks. The composition of the two 12-person teams are different in that Suzann Pettersen selects four players for Europe compared to Stacy Lewis’ three picks for Team USA.
So far, the European captain’s picks have combined for 4½ points to Team USA’s four points. While Pettersen has practically hidden two of her picks with Caroline Hedwall and Gemma Dryburgh only playing in one match apiece, she has leaned heavily on one pick: Emily Pedersen. The Swede is one of three European players to tee it up in all four matches. No American, however, will play every session.
Solheim Cup: 5 things we learned from Saturday
Here’s a look at how all seven captain’s picks have fared so far this week:
Ally Ewing of Team USA looks down the eighth fairway during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Casares, Spain. (Photo: Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Ally Ewing, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2019 subbing in for an injured Stacy Lewis, was picked by Lewis for her experience, leadership and consistent play this time around. Ewing paired with Cheyenne Knight for an early foursomes win on Friday and lost with former No. 1 Nelly Korda and fellow pick Angel Yin in the fourball sessions.
Angel Yin of Team USA hits from the eighth tee during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Angel Yin, one of the longest players on both sides, partnered with rookie Cheyenne Knight to post the only point for the U.S. in Saturday foursomes. Yin, who came to Saturday’s presser wearing shades, is one of only three Americans on Lewis’ squad to have won a Solheim Cup.
Cheyenne Knight of The United States team plays her tee shot on teh fifth hole in her match with Ally Ewing against Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen of The European Team during the morning foursomes matches on Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Cheyenne Knight has only seen action twice so far this week but, she won matches both alongside fellow captain’s picks Ewing and Yin. The former Alabama player practices at Shady Oaks with Solheim assistant captain Angela Stanford. This is her first time representing the U.S. on any team.
Knight won with Ewing in foursomes on Friday, and with Yin in the fourball format on Saturday, chipping in on the seventh hole.
Madelene Sagstrom of Team Europe plays a shot prior to The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 19, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Madelene Sagstrom won her first Solheim Cup point in team play when she partnered with fellow pick Emily Pedersen in the Saturday fourball session. Pedersen has paired with six different partners in her three Solheim Cup appearances. She halved a match with rookie Maja Stark on Friday afternoon.
Caroline Hedwall of Team Europe plays a shot during practice prior to the The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 20, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Caroline Hedwall is the only player who didn’t tee it up at all on Friday, and then sat again on Saturday morning as Pettersen told the television broadcast team that she was putting out her “A-team.”
Hedwall came out firing on Saturday afternoon alongside fellow Swede Anna Nordqvist. The veteran Swedish pairing, however, lost momentum on the back nine as the powerful Yin warmed up.
Hedwall became the first player to go 5-0-0 at the Solheim 10 years ago.
Gemma Dryburgh of Team Europe reacts on the 12th green during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Gemma Dryburgh, a spectator at the 2019 Solheim Cup in Scotland, made her Solheim Cup debut on Friday afternoon, holing out from 30 yards en route to a halved match alongside fellow pick Sagstrom.
Dryburgh didn’t see any action on Saturday.
Emily Kristine Pedersen of Team Europe reacts to a putt on the 15th green during Day Two of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 23, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Sweden’s Emily Pedersen is one of three players on Pettersen’s team to play all four matches. She started out her third Solheim appearance looking shaky on Friday alongside partner Charley Hull.
But she hasn’t been the same player since, recording the second ace in Solheim Cup history Friday afternoon and then winning both matches on Saturday. Pedersen and Sagstrom were a combined 9 under in the Saturday fourball session.
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