European Solheim Cup Captain Suzann Pettersen addressed the media alongside her vice captains on Tuesday and explained how she is taking a more direct approach with the players than last year.
At Finca Cortesín in Spain 12 months ago, where Europe retained the Cup after the first tie with the United States in the event’s history, Europe lost the first four foursomes matches and the captain wants to improve on that this time at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, in Gainesville, Virginia, as Europe seek to hold the trophy for the fourth time in succession.
“I think it would be nice to have maybe a little bit better start, but that being said, I think last year’s Friday morning was a good wakeup call as well for all of us. I don’t necessarily think that everything is just going to roll our way just because we’ve been successful over the last previous ones,” said Pettersen, who captained the European team for the first time in 2023, following victories under Catriona Matthew at Gleneagles in Scotland and at Inverness Club in Toledo, in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
“I think that’s still kind of quite fresh in all the players’ minds. So, we’re trying to be consistent in each session.
“We drew a lot of great experiences from last year. I think what we learned the most is being precise. Giving quite clear messages goes a long way. Being transparent is great. But at the same time, they kind of look for somebody who can make decisions, the players. So, there’s a combination.”
Swedes Linn Grant and Maja Stark, who went out in the first foursomes match as rookies last time, described how Pettersen is approaching the task more authoritatively.
Stark explained that the captain listened carefully to the individual player feedback and has implemented more direct communication strategies.
Grant, (below), said: “She’s always very straightforward. Like you know what you get with her. You don’t ever have to wonder if what she says is actually what she means, which is great in a coach, I think.
“I think that she was maybe a bit easier last year in the way that she kind of went in and wanted to be buddies with everyone. She still is, but in a very different way this year. I think she’s taking the role as a captain like more now. She’s putting herself, in a good way, above the players, like she really wants to guide us and show the way.”
Comparing Suzann’s approach to previous captains, vice-captain Laura Davies said: “I’ve played under quite a few captains over the years. Never played under Beany, Catriona Matthew, but they have a lot of similarities for me with their approach. It’s very direct. Players know where they stand, and they have huge respect because they’ve both been such great Solheim Cup players.
“That’s one thing the players can look to, the new players. They might not have seen them necessarily playing at their very best, but they can look at their records and realise when they say something, they’re saying it from a good position of knowing what’s gone before.
“Some of the captains over the years, Dale Reid, they all bring something different. But I would say the last two captains for me have been in a very similar vein. Although very different personalities, but a lot of the same traits.
“Maybe that’s why we’ve won the last three, because what they bring is a good combination of great history in this tournament plus respect.”
The opening foursomes tee off at 7.05am Eastern time on Friday.
