Suzann Pettersen has sprung a shock as Europe begin their defence of the Solheim Cup by omitting Leona Maguire for the opening foursomes session in Virginia.
Pettersen has turned to Charley Hull to lead Europe off at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club today. Hull and the European debutant Esther Henseleit will raise the curtain on the event against the world No 1, Kelly Korda, and Allisen Corpuz.
Pettersen's faith in Hull comes after the 28-year-old was pictured lighting up a cigarette with the assistance of a spectator yesterday.
"She is old enough to make those decisions," said Pettersen of Hull's tendency to smoke when competing. "She is interacting great with the fans around this place. She found exactly what she needed in that one guy standing there. So she is having a ball.
"Charley and Esther are a very good match. They are good friends, they get along great. It is nice to get Charley going; she doesn't like to sit around and wait. It is a great combination between the two of them."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'Show your teeth' Arteta's message to players as Arsenal lose more ground
A disappointed Mikel Arteta told his players to \"show their teeth\" and said he was praying they remain injury-free during the international break after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea that meant Arsenal lost further ground in the title race.
Amorim hit by visa delay as he jets in to lead United
Rúben Amorim is yet to be granted a visa despite starting his first official day as Manchester United's head coach today and will not be able to take an opening training session.
Ødegaard brings clarity in the chaos but a few regrets too
On the plus side he notably improved the team. On the minus, well, there's only one of him
Neto makes point as Arsenal falter again
There were people on the pitch, Chelsea substitutes to be precise, the joy of everyone connected to the club overflowing. Pedro Neto had produced the equaliser with a vicious low drive from distance and if it did not turn out to be the statement victory that Enzo Maresca and his players wanted – a first against a so-called Big Six rival – they could see the merit in a battling draw.
Beaming McKenna savours Ipswich's winning moment
The away end's explosion of noise and limbs at full time left no question about what this meant to Ipswich.
United hit cruise control as Van Nistelrooy signs off
Eleven days after Manchester United routed Leicester under Ruud van Nistelrooy in the Carabao Cup here, the interim manager signed off with another easy-street win over the Foxes and so ends his four-game term unbeaten.
Campbell earns United the Sheffield bragging rights
The Steel City derby may not be played quite as regularly as some others or quite have the same pull on a national scale but there is no doubting that what you do in this fixture can make you a legend in this particular part of the world.
Bompastor keeps cool despite more perfection
Sonia Bompastor insisted her Chelsea team have won nothing yet and said she will keep their feet on the ground after the defending champions continued their strongest ever start to a Women's Super League season with a routine victory at Liverpool.
Barnes has last chop to cut down Forest
Nottingham Forest have been fishing in the waters Newcastle aspire to swim in. This season, Nuno Espírito Santo's team are the provincial outfit punching above their weight but in taking them down at the City Ground, Newcastle, now just a point behind Forest, showed they too possess the capability to join the throng.
WSL roundup Hayashi saves Everton but trouble looms
When the Crystal Palace midfielder My Cato found herself with the ball on the left, inside a minute at the VBS Community Stadium, the Everton defence followed, three of the back four shifting across and then looking back in horror as an unmarked Indiah-Paige Riley collected the pass from Cato in the middle before slotting home.