Captains Stacey Lewis (left) and Suzanne Pettersen – image Ladies European Tour 

This week’s Solheim Cup in Gainesville, Virginia, will again highlight one of the more fascinating David and Goliath battles in world sport never mind just women’s golf.

Of the 18 encounters between the USA and Europe since the event’s inception in 1990, the USA, who have traditionally been much the stronger team on paper, have won 10½ points to Europe’s 7½ but it is the more recent results that suggest a star team can perform better than a team of stars.

In the last seven encounters since and including 2011, the Europeans have a 4½ to 2½ advantage, mirroring in many respects, the dominance Europe has played more recent times in the men’s equivalent, the Ryder Cup.

Played only last year, the typically biennial contest reverts back to its traditional even numbered years disrupted by the Covid epidemic, this being first time the event has been played in back-to-back years.

Once again the odds are stacked against the Europeans in terms of world ranking with five of the Americans inside the top 20 in the Rolex World Rankings versus only two from the European side but this is nothing new to the Europeans who have shown a capacity to win at home or away despite the disparity.

World number one Nelly Korda heads the Americans while Charley Hull is seen as the European’s number one with Stacey Lewis (USA) and Suzanne Pettersen (Europe) captaining the respective teams for the second successive occasion following their 14-all tie in Spain last year.

As has been the case in the Ryder Cup in recent years the Europeans have well and truly overcome a ranking shortfall to dominate the respective events of late and it is perhaps this factor that makes the event such an intriguing encounter to watch.

Four Foursomes and Fourball matches are played on each of the opening two days with all 12 players from each side involved in singles matches on Sunday, the first team to 14½ points sealing the win.

The American crowd will no doubt provide a noisy and partisan advantage at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville in Virginia, but if history is anything to go by the Europeans are likely to give as good as they get.

Americans 

Europeans 

Jason Scrievenr – file photo courtesy of Golf NSW

Perth’s Jason Scrivener has made an important leap in the Race to Dubai rankings following his share of 4^th place at the European Masters in Crans Sur Sierre this weekend.

In 123^rd place in the ranking heading into the event held high above the Rhone Valley in Switzerland, Scrivener’s first top ten of the season comes at an opportune time to secure his playing privileges for next season as he jumps to 78^th.

The finish also opens the door for a good run through the lucrative events in September and October to launch him into the top 50 who gain access to the DP World Tour Championship.

Having missed eight of his previous ten cuts, it was a welcome return to form for the 35 year old South African born but Perth raised golfer.

A slow start to his third round when close to the lead proved costly in the end result but it was an encouraging bounce back as he added a final round of 67 to finish three shots behind the playoff between the winner, Matt Wallace and  Alfreda Garcia Heredia.

Scrivener earned €135,000.

RESULTS