2013 Solheim Cup: Rumble in the Rockies

It might not rival the U.S. Ryder Cup’s choke at Medinah last year, but the U.S. team’s loss in the 2011 Solheim Cup at Ireland’s Killeen Castle ranks as one of the more deflating defeats in U.S. team golf history.

In case you missed it, going into Sunday’s singles competition Rosie Jones’ team needed five points to retain the Cup for the fourth consecutive time. But before the day’s action even began, Cristie Kerr’s sore wrist cost the team a point. Then down went big guns Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Angela Stanford, Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer. Juli Inkster stumbled to halve her match with Laura Davies. Ryann O’Toole followed suit against Caroline Hedwall.

Suddenly and improbably, a jubilant European team, led by Captain Alison Nicholas of England and Suzann Pettersen of Karsten Solheim’s native Norway, stormed the course, leaving in their wake a dozen crestfallen faces painted with the Stars and Stripes.

A stunned Creamer and Lewis made themselves watch the celebration, vowing never to forget the hollow feeling only a victory in 2013 could erase.

Meanwhile, the triumphant Europeans, behind the stellar play of veterans Catriona Matthew, Sophie Gustafson and newbies Azahara Muñoz and C. Boeljon overflowed with the happy confidence that comes with an improbable, against-all-odds victory.

Thus inspired, the team captained by Liselotte Neumann and co-captained by the great Annika Sorenstam now believes it can win for the first time on U.S. soil.

Meg Mallon’s team, wanting to avenge 2011, will do everything it possibly can to prevent the Europeans from accomplishing that.

Is European momentum a match for American motivation?

The answer will come at Colorado Golf Club, which itself has something to prove. This is, after all, the Solheim Cup’s first time west of the Mississippi River, and everyone involved want the trip to produce the best event in the its 23-year history. It’s also the second major event for the six-year-old club (after the 2010 Senior PGA), but the first to be held since the completion of its spectacular clubhouse.

With veterans Lewis, Kerr and Creamer playing well and (as of press time) rising stars Lizette Salas, Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda making their debuts, American fans will have plenty of reasons to get loud.

So will the European contingent. Pettersen is a spirited leader. Matthew is playing some of the best golf of her career. At least three players— Caroline Masson, Beatriz Recari and last year’s LET Rookie and Player of the Year Carlota Ciganda—will be appearing in their first Solheim Cup.

How will the first-timers from both teams respond to the crucible of “stadium golf ”? How will the captains pair their players and face them off? And, of course, which team will have the better outfits?