Dame Laura Davies insists Team Europe will avoid any complacency ahead of the 2019 Solheim Cup, which starts on Friday. The 16th edition of the Solheim Cup takes place at Gleneagles in Scotland and defending champions the USA, led by Julian Inkster for the third straight time, are looking to win the coveted biennial event for the 11th time.
America have had the beating of Europe in the past two meetings, winning 14.5-13.5 in Germany in 2015 before recording a comfortable 16.5-11.5 success at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. However, the reigning champions’ preparations have been disrupted this week with Stacy Lewis forced to pull out due to injury, meaning Ally McDonald has replaced her to become the sixth rookie in the squad.
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Angel Yin has also been unable to practice fully as her set of clubs were two days late arriving at Gleneagles, a situation that European star Jodi Ewart-Shadoff had to deal with as well. With the lack of experience in USA’s side, Europe are expected to put up a fiercer challenge than they did in 2017 but Davies, who is one of three assistant captains, insists her players will not get complacent.
“Team USA now have six rookies in their line-up, and only three have played a Solheim Cup outside the US, but we certainly will not be getting complacent when we look at the inexperience in their team,” she told Sky Sports. “Juli has a very solid team with players that are firmly established on the LPGA Tour, and it’s a tough qualifying process in which you have to play good, consistent golf over the best part of two years.”
