Europe Follow The US Lead In Appointing Pettersen For Consecutive Solheims

Europe Follow The US Lead In Appointing Pettersen For Consecutive Solheims

Two time major golf winner, Suzann Pettersen, had already been named as the skipper for team Europe’s 2023 defence of the Solheim Cup this coming September at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, but recently it has been announced that the 41 year old Norwegian will again lead Europe at the 2024 event in the United States.

The European team, are of course, hoping to secure an unprecedented hat trick of wins following on from their previous successes at Gleneagles back in 2019, and then 2021’s Inverness Club in Ohio.

Traditional golf fans will know that matches between Europe and the United States usually take place on a biennial basis, but with the men’s Ryder Cup tournament moving to its new every odd year basis after all the trouble caused by the Covid pandemic and the need to postpone the 2020 contest and Whistling Straits, as a consequence of that, the Solheim Cup is now switching to even years in September 2024 in an effort to fully get the calendar back on track, and for those who like a flutter by following this link you will find the latest golf odds from a reputable and respected bookmaker.

In appointing Pettersen for two consecutive Solheim’s, the European’s are following the lead of the American’s who have already announced that 38 year old Stacy Lewis, will take charge of the two consecutive events as they take place in back to back years.

With the announcement confirmed, Pettersen said of the honour.

“I love the Solheim Cup and it’s such a unique honour to be asked to captain Team Europe again in 2024 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.”

Pettersen is, of course, a good pick here.  With 21 professional wins under her belt, including major successes at the 2007 LPGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship, she succeeds Scotland’s Catriona Matthew as Europe’s skipper and she previously sunk the winning putt back in the tournament in Glenagles – the last of her nine Solheim Cup appearances.

Following on from the Spanish based tournament this year, the US follow up will be staged at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia between September 10 to 15 in 2024.  In confirming the decision, Ladies European Tour chief executive Alexandra Armas commented.

“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.”

Europe will obviously come into the tournament in good confidence and with great spirits, but no one can rule out the United States team here as there is a reason why nobody has yet secured three wins on the spin, and they will be confident of their own chances to ensure it does not happen for a first time.