CALLING THE SHOTS

Two-time Major winner Suzann Pettersen looks back on her Solheim Cup experiences as a player and ahead to her role as captain at Finca Cortesin next autumn

How much of an honour is it to be the Solheim Cup captain for Europe? I’ve loved every second of the Solheim Cup. Everything about it is an from being both a player and, in more recent years, a vice-captain. adrenaline rush. It’s an extremely big honour to lead the European squad in 2023! This is an even bigger honour than representing Europe as a member of the Solheim Cup team. Playing in the Solheim as a player was a dream from an early age, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be a captain. But that being said, I feel like I am ready to take it on, what with all of my personal experiences

How and when were you told about the captaincy and what was your reaction? I don’t remember exactly where I was when I received the phone call, but it was a good one. I’ve never second-guessed my commitment. Drawing from the pool of people who have been a part of the captaincy team has become a tradition of ours in Europe. I caught a little bit of the inside scoop with Annika Sorenstam in 2017 when I couldn’t play because of injury and was asked to be an assistant captain. That gave me a small taste of it. And then, of course, [Catriona Matthew] asking me to be part of the captaincy team in 2021 was a huge honour.