Suzann Pettersen has had an incredible Solheim Cup journey since first appearing in the biennial tournament as a rookie in 2002.
Over three decades the Norwegian has become synonymous with the prestigious event, staring for Team Europe in nine Solheim Cups in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2019, when she famously holed the winning putt at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Bowing out with a 18-12-6 win-loss-tie record, Pettersen will now captain Team Europe in the next two editions of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesín in 2023, and Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 2024.
Speaking exclusively to the Ladies European Tour (LET) on Episode 3 of the LET Golf Podcast, the two-time major winner takes us through the highs and lows of her illustrious Solheim Cup career…
If I look back at my career, had I not had all the Solheim Cup memories, experiences, and everything that comes with it, a huge part would be missing. The Solheim Cup has been the highest high, but I’ve also had some of the lowest lows in the event.
If you take out the winning aspect, there’s so much more you sit back with in the aftermath. You bond for life with the players. You have memories for life. When you share a journey together with other people it all becomes different. As individual athletes, it definitely means something different. Solheim is the pinnacle of women’s golf. It’s amazing how it always brings out everyone’s best game.
2002: Interlachen
I didn’t really know what to expect. Everything was overwhelming. All the stuff in the room, the reception, being a part of a team, having our own cars. I remember sitting in this American sedan, it was like three seats in the front, I was stuck in the middle and Laura Davies was driving. This was all new to me.
I got to play with superstars who I’d looked up to. They were my role models, icons of the game, and I was fortunate enough to be a part of it. It was amazing. There’s 10 times bigger crowds, 10 times more pressure, and everything is on the line. I think from then on I just loved it.
Obviously you had my famous f-bomb live on TV. That’s probably what I’m most famous for in 2002! But then there was my comeback against Michele Redman. At the time it looked like a crucial point, but in the end we sadly lost. But I think that helped me grow as a person, to be thrown into a situation like that. Being part of one, you then want to be part of all of them moving forward.
Result: Europe 12.5 – USA 15.5
Record: 1-1-1
2003: Barseback
The next one was in Sweden with Annika being at the pinnacle of her career. There were even bigger crowds, and I remember all of it as if it was yesterday. I was paired with Annika [Sorenstam] on the first day, and I still felt like a rookie. I had massive respect for Annika, but I remember when I was told I was paired with her, I had to call my mental coach being like ‘I don’t know what to do, I’m so nervous, how am I going to deal with this?’ But then they turned it around and said maybe she asked to play with you, which really changed my mindset.
It was a rollercoaster of a journey that I had with Annika. We went undefeated from then on in all the Solheim Cup matches we played together. Each Solheim has its own history and unique place in my heart, but 2003 was a lot of fun and obviously we won early on the Sunday. I have some fantastic memories from the weekend. When I look back at the photos from it, it looks like a fairytale. What I took most from 2003 was getting to know Annika so well. She was my biggest role model.
Result: Europe 17.5 – USA 10.5
Record: 4-1-0
2011: Killeen Castle
Ireland in 2011 was another fantastic Solheim. Alison [Nicholas] was captain, and I think I was the best ranked European player, but there was a situation where I had to play one more event to qualify automatically, or else she had to use me as a captain’s pick. So we had this little dispute, and I ended up taking one for the team and playing one more event on the LET so she didn’t have to waste a wildcard pick on me.
It ended up being a fantastic week. Sunday was another magical moment. I remember it was such bad weather in Ireland. Beany [Catriona Matthew] had already won her match before the last match had even started because there was so much start-stop-start-stop.
There was a fantastic pep talk myself, [Caroline] Hedwall and Azahara [Munoz] had in the buggy going out on the course to finish our last five holes. We all had to win our matches, and we all did. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Moments like that, you just don’t capture in your individual careers, and that’s what I love about Solheim.
Result: Europe 15 – USA 13
Record: 3-1-0
2015: St Leon-Rot
After winning again in 2013, this one was also a lot of fun. We probably should have had the biggest defeat in the history of the Solheim Cup. We didn’t, but it then turned out to be a disastrous situation, especially in the aftermath. So that gave me a little different taste of the Solheim Cup.
It really ruptured my heart to the point where I literally gave it a thought as to whether I should ever play golf again. That was the first time I really felt the downside of social media, how tough that side can really be. It hit me really hard. A lot harder than I thought. So that was obviously very tough.
Result: Europe 13.5 – USA 14.5
Record: 2-2-0
2017: Des Moines
The next one came around and Annika was captain. Unfortunately my back went out the weekend before. I’d made Annika a promise that I would do everything in my power to make myself playable, but sadly I never made it. So I swapped my position with Beany who was our first sub on site and who was vice-captain at the time.
I remember Annika asking me if I would then be a vice-captain instead, and honestly it was the biggest honour. I knew I wouldn’t have been able to play my best, I could barely hit a golf shot, so that was an easy decision. 2017 was my first taste of being a part of the captaincy team. Even though Annika had the final say, it was great to be a part of the discussions and to listen and learn from her.
Result: Europe 11.5 – USA 16.5
Record: N/A
2019: Gleneagles
I had my first child, Herman, in 2018, but I kept being bugged by other players that I had to get back as I was needed for the team in 2019. For a while it felt quite foreign to me, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. But I guess I’m stubborn, so once you set yourself a goal to comeback, I did everything in my power to make it. And well, the rest is history.
The process of coming back was a fun journey. It’s not necessarily like learning to ride a bike again, but you still need to put in the work and the hours. So the way it all turned out in the end, hitting the winning putt, it was a massive relief for me.
Yes, we won, but when I hit that putt it was like a 1000 kilos dropped off my shoulders, because I felt the pressure being a captain’s pick for the first time. You don’t want to disappoint anyone, so I’m glad it turned out the way it did.
Result: Europe 14.5 – USA 13.5
Record: 2-1-0
2023 & 2024…
Every captain is different, and they all bring their different flavour to the Solheim Cup. So that’s what I take going into this role. I’m trying to take the best characteristics from all the captains I’ve played under. Which is a lot! But then I’m going to try and add my own flavour to it.
Hear more about Suzann Pettersen’s Solheim Cup highs and lows, as well as her preparation for the 2023 tournament on Episode 3 of the LET Golf Podcast, available now on Apple Music, Google and Spotify.
