Solheim Cup MVPs, surprises, second guesses

Check in every week for the unfiltered views of our writers and editors as they analyze the hottest topics in sports, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @igalofu_com. This week, we break down America’s Solheim Cup victories and look ahead to the most important events remaining in 2024.

The Americans reclaimed the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017, beating Europe 15.5-12.5 on Sunday at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. What was different in the US at this time?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): The stars appeared. Back in 2019, Lexi and Danielle Kang (two of their top three players) combined for 2 points. In 2021, those two combined for 2.5 points. Last year, Rose Zhang only got half a point, while Lilia Vu, who won two majors last season, got just a point. This season? Zhang was 4-0! Lauren Coughlin, the hottest US player entering the week, didn’t slow down, finishing 3–0–1 to secure 3.5 points. Throw in a three-pointer from Nelly Korda, the only loss was a Charley Hull call-up on Sunday, and that’s how you win on home soil.

Sean Zak, senior author (@sean_zak): Sometimes, it’s as simple as what Josh said above. The best players in the US came out. An even stronger reading is that they simply hold worship. They were favorites, they had the best players, and they were playing at home. It’s not that easy, but the better team wins. This is not always the case.

Jonathan Wall, equipment editor (@jonathanrwall): I agree with my colleague. Big names came up and put points on the board in batches. The odds are stacked in your favor when the big guns are firing on all cylinders. Thankfully for Americans, it all came together this week.

Who gets home MVP honors for each team?

Behow: It’s easy to just pick the top scorer… but I’m going to pick the top scorer, especially since Rose Zhang went from half a point last year to 4 this year. And Rose didn’t just win this week, she dominated – 3 and 2, 5 and 4, 6 and 4, and 6 and 4. He didn’t play the last two holes this week, and three of his four games didn’t make it. it’s past 14! I’ll give Hull the European MVP. He scored 3 points but, more importantly, he took down Nelly Korda in Sunday’s best singles match. If Europe was going to mount a comeback, that had to happen.

Zak: I’m going to lean on Megan Khang’s approach for American honors. He is the backbone of the team. He gets the best golf from his friend, Nelly Korda. She beat Emily Pedersen in her singles match. And Berhow raised the European flag. Charley Hull, who played five games, did his best to squeeze points for the team in blue. Man, he’s fun to watch golfing.

The wall: It should be Rose Zhang. He continues to keep up with the high standard. Team USA always needed its stars to step up when it came to breaking the Solheim Cup drought — and Zhang did just that when it mattered most. He saved the opportunity for Sunday’s return to the ice.

Whose performance was the most surprising?

Behow: Surprise might not be the right word, but Lauren Coughlin had a tough job this week. He won every last two months and was playing what was a home game, which put more pressure than expected. She gave birth, and that is not easy to do.

Zak: I think Esther Henseleit is a name to watch in 2025. He was undefeated and didn’t play five games, but it felt like every time I saw him hit the road, it was flagged. He never seemed to run away from time, which you like to see in a rookie (and someone who was outside the top 100 in the world at the start of 2024). Add to his silver medal since August, and this could be the summer that really kicks off the career.

The wall: I will go with the organizers of the event. For an event of this magnitude, you would think that the entire planning situation would have been discussed and analyzed before the opening game on Friday. It was one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever seen.

Would European captain Suzann Pettersen have done differently? What changes or adjustments might you have made?

Behow: I don’t think Leona Maguire is happy about playing just two after being a key player in the last two Solheim Cups, but she was also not good in Friday afternoon’s four-ball match, which resulted in her missing out. of Saturday. It’s hard to guess too much here. As I said before, America’s best players have done their job. And, as Rory McIlroy told us, it’s really hard to win these team events on the road.

Zak: It’s nice. Most of this European team was at the Solheim Cup last year, where they won. So we changed the place and changed a few players and achieved a slightly different result. What gives? The answer is not much. I’m not sure he needed to do anything different. The Euro won a few 1.5 points this year. That can happen randomly.

The wall: I hate guessing captains after a loss. They try to make the best decisions in the moment, even if they turn out to be wrong after the fact. Like Josh said, knocking out Leona Maguire twice in three days is weird. He was a key player in the European final victory and could have helped stop the bleeding when things went wrong during the team’s performance. His comments on social media confirmed that he is not happy with this decision. I don’t blame him.

Friday’s opening day was marred by traffic problems, leaving hundreds of fans stranded for hours in the parking lot and forcing them to miss the opening games. What’s your take on the snafu and the LPGA’s reaction to it?

Behow: We’ve covered it extensively here, but it sounds like the weekend was the best. How this happened on the first tournament day of the LPGA’s biggest event of the year remains a mystery, but I’m glad things were settled on Saturday and Sunday and it wasn’t a series of events.

Zak: It’s really unfortunate. It saddened me to see pictures and videos circulating on social media of thousands of people who wanted to watch women’s golf but couldn’t. Obviously, the LPGA made the right changes over the weekend, but you can’t make that big of a mistake and kill one of the biggest vibes in all of golf: Friday morning on the first day.

The wall: Before last week, the worst traffic chaos I’ve ever seen was the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. It took two hours to travel 10 miles on the media shuttle. Some who attended the tournament were frustrated, and decided to walk to their cars. The Solheim Cup clash was on another level. How the LPGA allowed things to get so bad on Friday is baffling. I feel bad for everyone who showed up and waited in line for hours, just to look at the pictures that pop up on their phone. That should never happen at such an event.

Our Dylan Dethier breaks down the key events remaining in 2024. Which did you enjoy the most?

Behow: The Hero and PNC Challenge are successful if Tiger Woods is not healthy enough to play following his recent back surgery, but it should be the Presidents Cup. PGA Tour vs. LIV is an interesting angle, but I’m bored of those made-for-TV events.

Zak: I will choose Dunhill Links, which is played over three courses on the east coast of Scotland. And not just the usual DP World Tour crowd. This year’s Dunhill will feature Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and many European pros. And for people who are ready to turn to football watching season, well done! Dunhill will be early. Coffee golf continues!

The wall: The RSM Classic is a sneaky good event. The guys are cagey because their career is on the line, and it’s hard to beat Sea Island in the fall.