After Two Straight Losses, Team USA Looks To Rebound At 2015 Solheim Cup

Team USA (click to enlarge)

Before I move on to posting about Team USA at the 2015 Solheim Cup, let me first say how much I respect Team Europe and give them all the credit for winning in 2011 in Ireland and 2013 in Colorado, USA. However, I am unabashedly behind Our Ladies (meaning the American ladies, as I am an American) in Germany for Solheim 2015. Most…if not all…of my posts about Solheim Cup will be from the perspective of an American fan rooting for a United States win. But should we lose, I will tip my hat and honor Team Europe. United States Captain Juli Inkster, along with assistant captains Pat Hurst and Wendy Ward, will lead a potent American squad into the 14th playing of the premier team event in women’s golf.

Paula Creamer (click to enlarge)

There are some questions for Team USA. Is Michelle Wie fully healthy? How will rookie Alison Lee handle the heat of Solheim pressure? Is this the Solheim where tour ace Stacy Lewis shows her top form? One thing I don’t question are Inkster’s captain’s picks. She chose Paula Creamer and Brittany Lang. Of the players who qualified outright for the squad, only Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie have winning Solheim match records. So adding the Pink Panther and Lang, both of whom have winning records in Solheim matches is a plus. In fact, at 12-6-5, Creamer has the best winning percentage of anybody on the team, including the non-playing captains. An American team without Paula…well, let’s just say I can’t see that as a wise decision. So let’s stop talking and start playing. May the best team win…and you know who I hope that is.

Name	Age¹	USA points rank^[5]	Points^[5]	Rolex ranking	Solheim experience	Prior Solheim record
Team USA
Juli Inkster Non-playing captain	55				1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011	15–12–7
Pat Hurst Non-playing assistant captain	46				1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007	10–7–3
Wendy Ward Non-playing assistant captain	42				2002, 2003, 2005	2–8–1
Stacy Lewis	30	1	1039.5	3	2011, 2013	2–5–1
Lexi Thompson	20	2	701.0	8	2013	1–2–0
Cristie Kerr	37	3	499.5	14	2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013	12–14–4
Michelle Wie	25	4	463.5	20	2009, 2011, 2013	6–5–1
Brittany Lincicome	29	5	440.5	13	2007, 2009, 2011, 2013	5–7–2
Morgan Pressel	27	6	398.5	24	2007, 2009, 2011, 2013	8–5–2
Angela Stanford	37	7	326.5	33	2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013	3–11–3
Gerina Piller	30	8	318.5	38	2013	0–2–1
Alison Lee	20	15	147.0	29	Rookie	–
Lizette Salas	26	9	291.5	32	2013	0–1–2
Brittany Lang Captain’s pick	30	10	283.5	42	2009, 2011, 2013	5–4–2
Paula Creamer Captain’s pick	29	11	277.5	40	2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013	12–6–5