- The 2015 Solheim Cup in Germany
In less than eight months from now Team Europe will face Team USA in the biggest women’s sporting event of 2015 taking place for the first time in Germany. The best 12 female golfers from Europe will take on the best players from the US at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club near Heidelberg on September 18-20. After Europe’s historic first win on American soil in Colorado in 2013 following the success in Ireland in 2011, Captain Carin Koch’s team will be aiming for an historic three wins in a row. They will also attempt to defend the Cup for the first time on home soil.
The European team includes four players from the Solheim Cup points list, four players from the Rolex World Rankings and four captain’ picks and the current top eight at the start of 2015 are:
Charley Hull
Suzann Pettersen
Gwladys Nocera
Carlota Ciganda
Anna Nordqvist
Azahara Munoz
Catriona Matthew
Karine Icher
Double Solheim Cup points are awarded this year compared to 2014, which means there could be some huge swings.
Those on the edge of qualification at the start of the year on the points list are:
Valentine Derrey
Holly Clyburn
Hannah Burke
Kylie Walker
Dame Laura Davies
From the World Rankings:
Sandra Gal
Caroline Masson
Caroline Hedwall
Former Solheim Cup team members Gal and Masson both play at the host venue and will be fully focused on earning their place this year.
- The Lalla Meryem Cup
Not only are both the men’s and women’s tournaments being played in Agadir, Morocco at the same time, but this year they will also both be televised live. Organised under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, the Lalla Meryem Cup at Golf l’Océan is played alongside the Hassan II Golf Trophy at nearby Golf du Palais Royal on the men’s European Tour on March 26-29. Last year at the Lalla Meryem Cup, Solheim Cup star Charley Hull broke through to win her first professional title just before her 18th birthday, shooting a career-best 9-under-par 62 to come from five shots back in the final round and win in a playoff against Gwladys Nocera.
- Wednesday finish for the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open
Wednesday is the new Sunday on the Ladies European Tour, with the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open becoming the first tournament on any major golf tour to finish on a Wednesday. In a pioneering move aimed at boosting the profile of women’s golf, the tournament will be played from Sunday 17th to Wednesday 20th May, to avoid the busy sporting weekend and occupy a prime slot in the television schedule. The event moves from the National to Carya Golf Club in Belek, Antalya with record prize money of 500,000 euros and will be televised live on Sky Sports and Golf Channel among other networks.
- The ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters
In the run up to The Solheim Cup, one of the highlights will be the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, the home of the Ladies European Tour, just outside London. This tournament, taking place from July 2-5, shows why the LET is more than just a golf tour, with live concerts, tasty food, tempting shops, free golf lessons, competitions and family entertainment. Last year, 2000 children experienced golf for the first time and there were celebrity appearances from the likes of Anton du Beke and Eve Muirhead. This year’s tournament promises to be even bigger and better with a unique social experience.
- The European Majors
The Evian Championship and the Ricoh Women’s British Open are two of the world’s best golf tournaments and this year will be even more exciting, for several reasons.
The Ricoh Women’s British Open will be played at the Trump Turnberry Resort in Scotland for only the second time in the championship’s history on July 30- August 2. Australian Karrie Webb won the championship for a third time there in 2002. The stunning sea-side location of the Ailsa course makes Turnberry one of the most scenic golf destinations in the world and it has hosted the Open Championship on four occasions.
Just over a month later, in its third year as a global major, the Evian Championship will take place on September 10-13 at the spectacular Evian Resort Golf Course on the banks of Lac Leman in France. Although South Korean Hyo-Joo Kim stole the headlines when she won in 2014, this year the championship takes place the week before The Solheim Cup and a win for a European or US player will certainly provide a timely boost for either team.
