The 2011 Solheim Cup was the 12th Solheim Cup matches, held 23–25 September in Ireland at Killeen Castle in County Meath, northwest of Dublin. The biennial matches are a three-day contest for professional female golfers, between teams of 12 top players from the United States and Europe. Entering the 2011 matches, the U.S. had won the three recent competitions, with Europe's last victory coming eight years earlier in 2003 in Sweden.
After the first two days of team play, the competition was tied at 8-all. Europe went 7–5 in singles on Sunday and regained the Cup, 15–13. It was Europe's fourth win, all won on home soil.
Format The Solheim Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point. The format is as follows Day 1 (Friday): Four foursome (alternate shot) matches in a morning session and four fourball (better ball) matches in an afternoon session. A total of eight players from each team participate. Day 2 (Saturday): Four foursome matches in a morning session and four fourball matches in an afternoon session. A total of eight players from each team participate. Day 3 (Sunday): 12 singles matches. All 12 players from each team participate.
With a total of 28 points, 14 points are required to win the Cup, and 14 points are required for the defending champion to retain the Cup. All matches are played to a maximum of 18 holes. If the score is even after 18 holes, each team earns one-half-point.
Teams Eligibility criteria The European and United States teams have different eligibility criteria.
Members of the European Tour must be current members of the Ladies European Tour and must be "a European national," defined by Solheim Cup rules as someone:Solheim Cup, Solheim Cup Team Info Retrieved 25 August 2011. Either: (i) born in a European country; and (ii) holds a current passport of that European country; Or: (i) has been naturalised as a citizen of a European country; (ii) has held a current passport of that European country for the immediately preceding four (4) consecutive years; (iii) has resided in that European country for the immediately preceding four (4) consecutive years.
A European country is a nation situated in the continent of Europe and is recognised as an independent state by the United Nations.
Any player who holds dual nationality (of which one shall be the nationality of a European country) shall elect on joining the Ladies European Tour in each of 2010 and 2011 whether she wishes to be eligible for selection for the 2011 European Solheim Cup Team.
Members of the United States team must be current members of the LPGA Tour and be born in the United States.
Team selection The European and United States teams are selected by different methods.
Team Europe was selected by taking the top four players from the LET Solheim Cup standings, followed by the top four Ladies European Tour members on the Women's World Golf Rankings as if 29 August 2011, were not already qualified via the Solheim Cup standings, and four captain's selections. Qualifying points for Team Europe were awarded weekly to the top-10 finishers at official LET events.
Team USA qualified by earning points for wins and for top-20 finishes on the LPGA Tour over a two-year period. Points were earned beginning with the 2009 Safeway Classic and concluding with the 2011 Women's British Open. Points were increased in 2011 and doubled in the four major tournaments. The ten players with the highest points were automatically selected for Team USA. Two additional players were selected by captain Rosie Jones before the start of the Matches.
Team Europe Team EuropeNameAge1Residence or Hometown2LET rankingRolex rankingSolheimexperience Alison NicholasNon-playing captain49Birmingham, England1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009-Captain Joanne MorleyNon-playing assistant captain44Cheshire, England1996, 2009-Asst. captain Annika SörenstamNon-playing assistant captain40Stockholm, Sweden1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 Melissa Reid24Derby, England138Rookie Laura Davies47Coventry, England2781990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Suzann Pettersen30Oslo, Norway322002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Christel Boeljon24Beverwijk, Netherlands454Rookie Maria Hjorth35Falun, Sweden16192002, 2005, 2007, 2009 Anna Nordqvist24Eskilstuna, Sweden9282009 Catriona Matthew42North Berwick, Scotland19301998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Sophie Gustafson37Varberg, Sweden14371998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 Azahara MuñozCaptain's pick23Málaga, Spain2042Rookie Caroline HedwallCaptain's pick22Täby, Sweden848Rookie Karen StupplesCaptain's pick38Dover, Kent, England32222005 Sandra GalCaptain's pick26Düsseldorf, Germany7243Rookie 1Age at the start of the 2011 Solheim Cup matches on 23 September 2011. 2Residence/Hometown according to official Solheim Cup designation. LET rankings as of 20 August 2011 Rolex rankings as of 29 August 2011
Team USA Juli Inkster was a player and assistant captain, the first time in Solheim Cup history that an assistant captain was also a player. Team USANameAge1From2PointsrankPointsRolexrankingSolheimexperienceRosie JonesNon-playing captain51Georgia1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005Juli InksterPlaying assistant captain51California9188.5451992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009Sherri SteinhauerNon-playing assistant captain48Wisconsin1994, 1998, 2000, 2007Cristie Kerr33Florida1750.022002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009Stacy Lewis26Texas2467.511RookieMorgan Pressel23Florida3447.5122007, 2009Angela Stanford33Texas4438.5182003, 2007, 2009Paula Creamer25California5434.592005, 2007, 2009Michelle Wie21Hawaii6358.0142009Brittany Lincicome26Florida7356.5152007, 2009Brittany Lang26Texas8293.0332009Christina Kim27California10150.5752005, 2009Vicky HurstCaptain's pick21Florida11138.076RookieRyann O'TooleCaptain's pick24California1864.5125Rookie 1Age at the start of the 2011 Solheim Cup matches on 23 September 2011. 2Residence/Hometown according to official 2011 Solheim Cup designation. Rolex rankings as of 21 August 2011. Rolex ranking does not factor into US Team selection. Shown for comparison purposes only.
Day one Friday, 23 September 2011LPGA.com, Friday Foursomes Results 23 September 2011.LPGA.com, Friday Fourball Results 23 September 2011.
Morning foursomes Results Hjorth/Nordqvist 2 & 1Wie/KerrStupples/Reid 1 upCreamer/LincicomeMatthew/Muñoz 3 & 2Lewis/StanfordPettersen/Gustafson 1 upLang/Inkster 2 Session 2 2 Overall 2
Afternoon fourball Results Davies/Reid 1 upCreamer/PresselMatthew/GalhalvedKim/O'TooleGustafson/Hedwall 5 & 4Hurst/LincicomePettersen/Nordqvist 2 upWie/Kerr 2 Session 1 4 Overall 3
Day two Saturday, 24 September 2011LPGA.com, Saturday Foursomes Results 24 September 2011.LPGA.com, Saturday Fourball Results 24 September 2011.
Morning foursomes Results Hedwall/Gustafson 6 & 5Stanford/LewisStupples/Boeljon 3 & 2Pressel/O'TooleHjorth/Nordqvist 3 & 2Lang/InksterMatthew/MuñozhalvedKerr/Creamer 2 Session 1 7 Overall 5
Afternoon fourball By winning her match Laura Davies became the leading points scorer in the Solheim Cup with 24.5, passing Annika Sörenstam's record of 24. Results Davies/Reid 4 & 3Wie/LangPettersen/Hedwall 1 upPressel/KerrGal/Boeljon 2 & 1Lewis/O'TooleHjorth/Muñoz 3 & 1Creamer/Lincicome 1 Session 3 8 Overall 8
Day three Sunday, 25 September 2011LPGA.com, Sunday Singles Results 25 September 2011.
Singles Results Catriona Matthew 6 & 5Paula CreamerSophie Gustafson 2 upStacy LewisAnna Nordqvist 2 & 1Morgan PresselLaura DavieshalvedJuli InksterMelissa Reid 2 upVicky HurstChristel Boeljon 2 upBrittany LincicomeSandra Gal 6 & 5Brittany LangMaria Hjorth 4 & 2Christina KimSuzann Pettersen 1 upMichelle WieCaroline HedwallhalvedRyann O'TooleAzahara Muñoz 1 upAngela StanfordKaren Stupples 10 & 8 1Cristie Kerr 7 Session 5 15 Overall 13 1 Kerr conceded the match at its start, because of injury. Following Solheim Cup rules, this was a 10 and 8 win for Europe.
Individual player records Each entry refers to the win–loss–half record of the player.
Europe Player Points Overall Singles Foursomes FourballsChristel Boeljon 1 1–2–0 1–0–0 0–1–0 0–1–0Laura Davies 1.5 1–1–1 0–0–1 0–0–0 1–1–0Sandra Gal 0.5 0–2–1 0–1–0 0–0–0 0–1–1Sophie Gustafson 4 4–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 1–0–0Caroline Hedwall 2.5 2–1–1 0–0–1 1–0–0 1–1–0Maria Hjorth 1 1–3–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 0–1–0Catriona Matthew 3 2–0–2 1–0–0 1–0–1 0–0–1Azahara Muñoz 2.5 2–1–1 1–0–0 1–0–1 0–1–0Anna Nordqvist 2 2–2–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 1–0–0Suzann Pettersen 3 3–1–0 1–0–0 1–0–0 1–1–0Melissa Reid 1 1–3–0 0–1–0 0–1–0 1–1–0Karen Stupples 1 1–2–0 1–0–0 0–2–0 0–0–0
United States Player Points Overall Singles Foursomes FourballsPaula Creamer 3.5 3–1–1 0–1–0 1–0–1 2–0–0Vicky Hurst 1 1–1–0 1–0–0 0–0–0 0–1–0Juli Inkster 0.5 0–2–1 0–0–1 0–2–0 0–0–0Cristie Kerr 2.5 2–2–1 0–1–0 1–0–1 1–1–0Christina Kim 1.5 1–0–1 1–0–0 0–0–0 0–0–1Brittany Lang 1 1–3–0 1–0–0 0–2–0 0–1–0Stacy Lewis 1 1–3–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 1–0–0Brittany Lincicome 2 2–2–0 0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0Ryann O'Toole 3 2–0–2 0–0–1 1–0–0 1–0–1Morgan Pressel 4 4–0–0 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0Angela Stanford 0 0–3–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0–0–0Michelle Wie 1 1–3–0 0–1–0 1–0–0 0–2–0
References
External links Solheim Cup – official site GolfCompendium.com: 2011 Solheim Cup