Kupcho ready for her third Solheim Cup

Colorado’s Jennifer Kupcho part of Solheim Cup squad taking on the Euros this weekend in Virginia

By Garrett Johnston

Westminster native Jennifer Kupcho prepares for her third Solheim Cup this week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club outside of Washington, DC.

Kupcho is one of U.S. captain Stacy Lewis’ three captain’s picks, and she has yet to be on a winning U.S. team in this event. But she can’t wait for a home-friendly competition this week.

“I’m incredibly excited for my third Solheim Cup,” she said by email on Tuesday. “The Solheim Cup is such a unique experience and to get to be a part of Team USA and represent my country is always an incredible honor. My favorite aspects are getting to be a part of a team alongside the greatest players in our country, the team bonding, and the intense competition. The energy and passion from both the players and the fans create an atmosphere unlike anything else in women’s golf.”

The week can be intense and the energy and excitement that comes with it are unmistakable.  So what has she learned about herself and her game in the other two Solheims and how will that help her this week?

“I’ve learned a lot about handling pressure and maintaining focus under intense conditions,” she said. “I’ve realized the importance of staying adaptable and supportive, both for myself and for my teammates. I think finding that right balance while bringing my absolute best game will hopefully allow me to contribute positively to the team’s dynamic this week.”

Stacy Lewis said recently that she thinks Robert Trent Jones Golf Club is a perfect fit for Kupcho – which is a great compliment. Kupcho certainly appreciated the support. “It was really encouraging of Stacy to say that. I admire her so much as our captain and just look up to her a lot in general, so it’s definitely very motivating to hear her belief in me. I don’t want to put any additional pressure on myself, but I’m excited to try to capitalize where I can this week.”

Kupcho says she played the course back in June for the first time to get acclimated to it. “I think it’s a fantastic venue for the Solheim Cup. It’s visually stunning, has a great layout, and I think will be really great for my game off the tee in particular. I’m looking forward to seeing how it feels with full Solheim Cup energy later this week.”

The Solheim Cup is being contested for the second-straight year to get it back on track after a covid-year cancellation. It is typically held opposite the men’s version of the same event, the Ryder Cup. Both feature a mix of match and one-on-one play and pit the best players from the U.S. against their peers from the U.K. and Europe.

The Solheim Cup competition began in 1990 and U.S. teams have won 10, while the Europeans have won eight. The Euros retained the Cup after the 2023 Solheim Cup ended in a 14-to-14 point tie in competition at Spain’s Finca Cortesin.

This week will mark Kupcho’s third stint on the U.S. team. In 2021, when the U.S. lost the Cup in play at Inverness Country Club in Ohio, Kupcho won 2.5 points for the U.S. with two match victories, one loss and one tie. Last year in Spain she earned half a point by being part of one tie and two losses in her matches.

Stacy Lewis is captain for the U.S. side for the second time in her career and was a key player in this event before assuming the reigns. So what does Jennifer appreciate about Stacy as a leader?

“Stacy is an awesome captain. Like I said, I look up to her a lot so it is really special to get play on a team under her lead. She’s such a fierce competitor and also has so much Solheim Cup experience, so it’s just easy to really trust that she will do everything she can to both fire us up and also set this team up for success.”

Lewis mentioned at Solheim Cup media day that the atmosphere on the first tee at a Solheim Cup is unforgettable and a thrill every time she experiences it. This year figures to be no different, with a supportive U.S. crowd.

“The first tee at the Solheim Cup is electric,” Kupcho said. “The chants, the music, the energy – there’s really nothing else like it in women’s golf, so it’s pretty special. I personally absolutely love it and totally feed off of the energy the crowd brings, so I like it to be loud!”

Lewis mentioned recently on the Beyond the Clubhouse Podcast that she puts a lot of effort into her team room and building a strong bond in there. Kupcho has noticed.

“The team room is a really cool aspect of the Solheim experience,” she said. “It’s obviously unique for all of us to be playing on a team together and to spend so much time together, so it’s fun to have the chance to bond everyone away from the course. It definitely contributes to the team dynamics and gives that sort of team locker room environment. Great snacks too!”

Kupcho mentioned in her last start that she’s seen improvement in her putting of late. So it begs the question of what she’s been working on that’s helping.

“I think it’s just having the confidence and being able to stay in the moment over putts. A lot of golf is so much about mental game and I think this year I’ve been worrying so much about the outcome instead of playing in the moment. So that is what I have really been trying to do putting and it’s been successful in freeing me up and just playing while also making more putts,” Kupcho said.

How to Watch:

Friday, Sept. 13: 5 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel)

Saturday, Sept. 14: 5 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Golf Channel); 1 – 4 p.m. (NBC/Peacock); 4 – 4:30 p.m. (Golf Channel)

Sunday, Sept. 15:  6:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. (Golf Channel); 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (NBC/Peacock); 1 – 2 p.m. (Golf Channel – Closing Ceremony)

 

Garrett Johnston is a golf journalist based in Washington, DC. He’s also the host of the Beyond the Clubhouse Podcast with players, caddies, and broadcasters. You can find him on the nineteenth hole or on X @JohnstonGarrett