Swings Of An Angel

Swings Of An Angel

- Kent Gray

Juli Inkster admits she went with little more than a hunch in selecting Angel Yin as one of her two captain’s picks for last year’s Solheim Cup.

The American captain could have played it safe with the experience of either Angela Stanford or Morgan Pressel, six and five-time Cup veterans respectively, or former U.S. Open champion Paula Creamer who was originally omitted before replacing the injured Jessica Korda at the 11th hour for the matches in Iowa.

“I don’t know if there’s ever been so many people in the running for two captain’s picks,” said Inkster after opting for rookies Yin and Austin Ernst in a clear changing of the guard for the matches in August. “I could have gone a lot of different ways. But in the end I went with my gut, and who I thought deserved a chance to play. I hope it turns out okay.”

It did with Ernst contributing two and Yin an even better 2½ points (each from a possible four points) as the U.S. won 16½-11½.