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| From left: LET CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh, The 2013 European Solheim Cup Captain Liselotte Neumann, German LET member Caroline Masson and Eicko Schulz Hanßen, Managing Director of Golf Club St. Leon-Rot |
The highlight of the 2015 sporting calendar will take place over the week of 14-20 September, when the 12 best players from both Europe and the United States join together for The Solheim Cup at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany.
The three competition days are Friday, 18th September, Saturday, 19th September and Sunday, 20th September, with practice days from Tuesday to Thursday.
The dates for The 2015 Solheim Cup were announced by Liselotte Neumann, Captain of The 2013 European Solheim Cup Team, Ivan Khodabakhsh, CEO of the Ladies European Tour and Eicko Schulz Hanßen, Managing Director of Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, during the UniCredit Ladies German Open presented by Audi.
The competition, launched in 1990 by Karsten Solheim (PING) is the women’s equivalent of the men’s Ryder Cup.
“Staging The Solheim Cup in the fall, immediately after the Evian Championship, increases the impact of the 2015 golf season building up to the climax, the continental competition between Europe and the United States”, commented Schulz Hanßen. “Through this scheduling, the best players from the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour will offer outstanding sport over two consecutive weeks for golf enthusiasts, but also for all other sports, because team competitions such as The Solheim Cup, provide huge interest beyond the borders of the golf community.”
LET CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh commented: “On behalf of the Ladies European Tour, we are delighted to be bringing The Solheim Cup to Germany in 2015. The support of the Deutsche Golf Federation, Golf Club St. Leon-Rot and our new host partners Allianz and SAP has made this happen and we look forward to working with all parties to make this event the most successful in the tournament’s history. The Ladies European Tour is committed to developing the game across Europe and particularly in this region, working with our partners to boost the image and awareness of ladies’ professional golf.”
The event week starts with the PING Junior Solheim Cup in St. Leon-Rot from Monday, 14th September. For the first time in the history of The Solheim of Cup, the competition for the best European and American players will be played at the same facility as the clash of the women professionals. The juniors will play on the second championship course at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot. Schulz Hanßen continued: “It was the express desire of our President, Mr Dietmar Hopp, that our German junior golfers as well as the best women professionals can experience the best of women’s golf from both continents. Such experiences with role models from the top of amateur and professional sports can only inspire and motivate youngsters.”
Although the teams for The 2015 Solheim Cup are unknown, the home nation is hoping for representation in both the women’s and junior tournaments.
German prospects for The European Solheim Cup Team in 2013 include Caroline Masson and Sandra Gal. Masson commented: “It’s my main goal to make the European team that travels to Colorado for The 2013 Solheim Cup and to defend the title won in Ireland in 2011.” Winning for the first time in the United States is also the goal for European Team Captain Liselotte Neumann, herself one of the most successful professional golfers in the world: “Our team accomplished an extraordinary performance two years ago in Ireland and I am sure if we can play as strongly, we will have a good chance of winning in America for the first time.”
