AMERICA UNDERDOG FOR SOLHEIM CUP.Byline: Stephen Wade For the folk musician of the same name, see . Stephen Wade is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the South Australian Legislative Council after an appointment in May 2006. Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. America's golfers hold only one of the four major international cups. By the end of next week, they may hold none. Last fall, U.S. pro men surrendered the Ryder Cup Ryder Cup Biennial team golf event first held in 1927. It was originally played between teams of golfers from the U.S. and Britain; since 1979 players opposing the U.S. have been chosen from all of Europe. The trophy was donated by the British seed merchant Samuel Ryder. while the amateur men lost the Walker Cup. And three months ago, the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. failed to win back the Curtis Cup Curtis Cup Golf trophy awarded since 1932 to the winner of a biennial amateur women's match played between teams from Britain and the U.S. Teams consist of six players, two alternates, and a captain. for amateur women. Now comes the Solheim Cup in Chepstow, Wales Wales, Welsh Cymru, western peninsula and political division (principality) of Great Britain (1991 pop. 2,798,200), 8,016 sq mi (20,761 sq km), west of England; politically united with England since 1536. The capital is Cardiff. , where the European women pros will go in as slight favorites to grab the women's version of the Ryder Cup. Non-purists might hold out hope of the Americans winning in this weekend's Presidents Cup being played in Virginia. However, this is only the second time the event pitting the United States against an international team has been staged, so it's not yet considered in the same league with the four major cups. To purists, the Solheim matters more. To keep it, the Americans will have to beat a formidable team of European professionals led by three of the world's top four players: Laura Davies Laura Jane Davies CBE (born October 5, 1963 in Coventry, England) is an English professional golfer. She is considered the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times[1] [2] , Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann Liselotte "Lotta" Neumann (born May 20, 1966) is a Swedish professional golfer. She currently plays primarily on the LPGA Tour. Amateur career Neumann was born in Finspång, Sweden, and had a successful amateur career. . ``Granted, there is a lot of pressure,'' said U.S. captain Judy Rankin Judy Rankin (born February 18 1945, St Louis, Missouri) is an American professional golfer. Rankin won twenty-six events on the LPGA Tour. She topped the money list in 1976 and 1977 and finished in the top ten on the money list eleven times between 1965 and 1979. , who leads her 12-member team against the Europeans beginning Friday. ``The Solheim has come in on the fringes of the Ryder Cup excitement. It's now a very high-profile showcase of women's golf. This is something we want very badly.'' The Solheim is the youngest of golf's four major international cups. The Americans have won two of the first three, including the last one two years ago at The Greenbriar in West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. . The home team has won each time. That fact, coupled with the growing stature of European women's golf, probably makes the Europeans slight favorites at the St. Pierre Hotel and Country Club course. ``People within golf appreciate just how good European women's (golf) is, and that we have the best and most exciting women golfers in the world,'' said Mickey Walker, captain of the European team for the fourth time. ``But I think there are still a lot of people who maybe don't recognize that.'' England's Davies and the two Swedes, Sorenstam and Neumann, are 1-3-4 on this season's LPGA LPGA abbr. Ladies Professional Golf Association money list. American Dottie Pepper is fifth, and U.S. players occupy the next 20 spots. The Americans easily won the first Solheim Cup in 1990, a competition limited to eight-player teams. The sides have split the last two cups playing with 10-player teams. This time, each team has 12 players and the match-play format will follow that of the enormously popular Ryder Cup. Europe's Solheim team is younger than the Americans but slightly more experienced in cup play. Six Europeans - Davies, Neumann, Trish Johnson, Alison Nicholas, Helen Alfredsson and Dale Reid - will be playing in their fourth Solheim. Four Americans - Beth Daniel, Betsy King, Pepper and Patty Sheehan - have played in all four. Three players on each team will be appearing for the first time. Rankin had a chance to pick another rookie with one of her two wild-card picks, but opted for Daniel and Brandie Burton over 22-year-old Emilee Klein. Burton, 24, won all of her matches two years ago, including a singles win over Davies. Daniel is 6-2 in Solheim play and has won all of her singles matches. ``In the end, I picked two players with experience who have played in this kind of situation before and know the pressure,'' said Rankin, who replaced JoAnne Carner as captain. In the first two days of the three-day Solheim, the teams play foursomes (alternate shot) and four-ball, followed by 12 pivotal singles matches on the final day. There are 28 matches, each worth a point. The Americans can keep the cup by winning 14 points. The Europeans must win 14-1/2 to take it away. ``It's what we've been playing for for two years,'' Johnson said. ``There's nothing like playing in the Solheim Cup. It's nerve-wracking and sickening and it's fantastic. It's better than winning a tournament.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Laura Davies of England is tops on the LPGA's moneylist and a big reason why Europe is favored in the Solheim Cup. Daily News File Photo |
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