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Charley Hull means business in 2019 Solheim Cup
January 10, 2019
Charley Hull, the first-round leader at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, says that stepping out on the first tee at The Solheim Cup this year “means business.”
- Ladies European Tour
The 22-year-old three-time European team member was the youngest ever Solheim Cup player aged 17 when she formed part of Liselotte Neumann’s victorious side at Colorado Golf Club six years ago.She is determined to put in another winning performance, this time, for first-time captain Catriona Matthew, when the 16th match against the USA is played at Gleneagles in Scotland from September 9-15.
“It would be really good,” said Hull. “It’s on home soil and Catriona is a really nice lady and I’ve played in Solheim Cups with her before. It would mean a lot to get a win under her belt as a captain.”
Jodi Ewart Shadoff is another member of the victorious 2013 side looking to seal her spot in the team this year. She said: “Being on Team Europe for The Solheim Cup in my number one goal. I haven’t won yet, on the LPGA or LET, but I feel ready.
“Obviously I played in The 2013 Solheim Cup when we won in Denver and that whole week was an amazing memory but when I played with Charley, we played against Lexi and Paula and we took them down the last. I had to hit this shot, I had a 9-iron in my hand, and I had to hit the green and make par to win the hole and win the match and I did. I also remember Karine holing that putt on the second afternoon when we swept them.”
.@HullCharley looking forward to @FBMLadiesOpen debut & sets her sights on making her fourth @SolheimCupEuro appearance @GleneaglesGolf 🏆
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) January 9, 2019
🗣️ "@Beany25 is a really nice lady. I have played in Solheim Cups with her before & it would mean a lot to help her get a win as Captain." pic.twitter.com/j5WahtTHWp
Ranked second in Solheim Cup points following two wins in 2018, the year when she finished second on the LET order of merit, Van Dam has a strong claim to a debut place on the team if she continues to play well and has certainly caught the eye of the captain.
Van Dam said: “Of course The Solheim Cup is a big goal. It would mean the world. I played in the PING Junior Solheim Cup and you see the real Solheim Cup from up close. Those are your idols growing up and it would be great for Europe but also great for Holland to have a player in the team as well.”
Nicole Broch Larsen is another player who would love to make a first appearance in The Solheim Cup. She said: “The Solheim Cup is a big goal but I’m trying not to think about it too much because the last two Solheims I have been thinking about it too much and not played well going into the match but then started playing well again. I’m thinking about it but not too closely. It would be an honour to play for Catriona in Scotland. Europe has a great team and it’s shaping up well.”
The other potential team members who are playing in the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi include Caroline Hedwall, Becky Morgan, Olivia Cowan and Felicity Johnson, as well as the captain herself.
