Winning Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew (left) and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie (right) with Scottish Golf club buisness manager Iain Evans, during the Zoom call

MORE than 300 people from across Scotland came together for an exclusive Zoom panel call with Major champions Paul Lawrie and Catriona Matthew.

Both Paul and Catriona contributed to discussions on a number of topics including junior golf in Scotland – their individual career highlights – and how they are adapting to challenges posed by the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Matthew, the only Scottish woman to ever win a Major after victory at the 2009 Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham, went on to lead Europe to victory at the Solheim Cup in September.

Meanwhile Lawrie, who survived the carnage on the last day of the 1999 Open at Carnoustie to come from 10 shots back to lift the Claret Jug, was named as Europe’s captain the Junior Ryder Cup in Wisconsin, in September – if the biennial clash against the USA gets the go-ahead.

The 30-minute call was the second in a series of events being delivered by the governing body to help club managers and golfers in dealing with the disruption facing the golf industry during the coronavirus pandemic.

The conversation, which can be watched back in full online here, was another huge success with a retention rate of 96 per cent, according to the organiser.

Iain Evans, who is Scttish Golf’s club business manager, said: “I would like to say a massive thank-you to our excellent panellists, Paul and Catriona for providing all of our attendees with fascinating insight into their illustrious careers and all things golf in Scotland.

“We know that these are uncertain and challenging times for everyone involved in our great game and it was a pleasure to be able to bring two of Scotland’s greats together to answer questions from golf club managers and golfers across Scotland.

“Our Zoom panel calls are providing some really valuable insights and we are delighted we can continue to embrace digital technology during this period to bring people from across our golfing community together.”

Details of the next Zoom panel call will be issued to all affiliated golf club in the coming days.

A Scottish Golf spokesman said: “We look forward to welcoming everyone online again soon.”

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Left to right: Keith Pelley, Marta Figueras-Dotti, LET CEO Alexandra Armas, Catriona Matthew and LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, which unveiled the significant jump in prize money for 2020. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

A NEW decade brings a new-look Ladies European Tour and for the first time in history, LET members will play for a combined prize money fund of almost €18 million in 2020.

That’s an increase in prize money of around a third – up €4.5 million on 2019, with the 2020 schedule featuring 24 tournaments, which is four more than last year.

They include 15 in Europe, in addition to August’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, plus a new event in England in August, which will be announced separately.

The Race to Costa del Sol, offering €250,000 in prize money between the top three finishers on the official ranking, will commence with the Australian Ladies Classic Bonville, in February.

It will conclude with the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino in November, the latter having doubled its prize money to €600,000.

The 2020 LET schedule includes two new events in Sweden – the €1.5million Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam and the Creekhouse Ladies Open.

There is also a new $1million event in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Ladies Championship, as well as the Mithra Belgian Ladies Open, the Dutch Ladies Open and the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.

The 15 events in Europe also include the Jabra Ladies Open, La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open, the Evian Championship, Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, AIG Women’s British Open, TIPSPORT Czech Ladies Open and Lacoste Ladies Open de France, as well as the new UK event.

The significantly improved schedule demonstrates the immediate success of the new LPGA-LET joint venture, with a new board of directors working together to grow the opportunities for LET members, especially in the continent of Europe.

Chaired by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, the new joint venture board includes six directors from the LET, who met at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club for the historic announcement on Friday.

The six LET directors are Marta Figueras-Dotti, Eleanor Givens, Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, Liz Young, Justin Abbott and Alastair Ruxton.

There are also four directors from the LPGA – commissioner Mike Whan, Liz Moore, Kathy Milthorpe and Mike Nichols – as well as The R&A’s chief executive Martin Slumbers and the European Tour’s chief executive Keith Pelley.

Whan said: “The LET and the LPGA only began working together in September 2019, but we’ve been blown away with the results in the first 90 days and the positive response from across the golf industry.

“With overall purse increases and seven new events, our athletes will have more opportunities for success.

“It’s exciting to think what we can accomplish after a full year of working with our new board.

“We have a long way to go, but I’m so happy to say that this is the best position that European women’s professional golf has ever been in.”

The LET’s new chief executive Alexandra Armas was given the job having been in charge since September when outgoing-boss Mark Lichtenhein departed.

Armas said: “I want to thank all the federations who have shown their belief in our new team and vision – but also recognise the important contribution of our existing event promoters and sponsors, whose long-term support and commitment is immensely valuable to our organisation.

“What we have achieved in the last 90 days in incredible and this is just the start of a new direction for the LET.”

Solheim captain hails exciting LET future

VICTORIOUS 2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew believes the LET will hit new heights in 2020.

Matthew said: “I committed myself to playing on the LET in Europe last year and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s been achieved over the last 90 days to improve the schedule.

“This is a tour that existing players and those joining for the first time should be proud to be part of.

“I’ll be keeping an eye on some of the exciting young players coming through as we look ahead to retaining the Solheim Cup in Toledo next year.”

Solheim Cup player Anne van Dam is happy to be involved as an ambassador for the new Dutch Ladies Open, which will be played at her home course, Rosendealsche Golf Club, in Arnhem.

Van Dam said: “It’s important to have an event in your country to help develop the game and inspire the next generation – just as I was inspired when I was able to watch and then play in the Dutch Ladies Open when I was young.

“The 2020 schedule is looking really strong and I’m so pleased to have an event in the Netherlands.”

Jeroen Stevens, director of the Netherlands Golf Federation, said the organisation was proud to have a new LET event, with van Dam as its ambassador.

“The LPGA commitment toward the LET was what the NGF Board needed to commit to signing a three-year contract with the LET, to promote ladies’ golf in the Netherlands,” he said.

“We strongly believe it is essential to have more female golfers, to grow the game of golf in our country.

“We are therefore convinced we will prove in the coming years that investing in women’s golf is not only logical, from a diversity point of view, but also from the commercial perspective.

“We thank the LET and LPGA for giving us the opportunity to prove that golf is a sport for women, men and children of all ages.”

With two new tournaments in Sweden, rising star Julia Engström is looking forward to playing on home soil.

Engström said: “This is my third year on Tour and I’m very excited to have the opportunity to play in my home country for the first time since turning professional.

“The last time I played an LET event in Sweden was when I was 13 years old and I remember it to be the greatest thing in my career.

“I had so much support on the course from all the fans. It’s very exciting to have two new Swedish events, both completely different concepts and at world-class venues!”

European federations hail LET-LPGA joint venture

A NUMBER of European Golf federations have come out strongly in support of the LPGA-LET joint venture, including Sweden, which has two new events.

Gunnar Håkansson, secretary-general of the Swedish Golf Federation, said: “For the Swedish Golf Federation, it’s an important role, to support talent in their aim to become world-class players.

“In doing so, tournaments are important, but for a long time we have lacked an LET event in Sweden.

“It’s therefore very satisfactory that the LET will return in 2020, where our partner Kristianstad GC will arrange the Creekhouse Ladies Open.”

Barbara Albisetti, general secretary of Swiss Golf, also welcomed the LET back to Switzerland.

Albisetti said: “Swiss Golf is extremely pleased a professional women’s tournament of the highest category will take place in Switzerland in 2020.

“Such an event has been missing since the LET tournament in Losone, more than 10 years ago.

“We are very grateful for the support of the LET and LPGA for making this event a reality, and we look forward to hosting the VP Bank Ladies Swiss Open next September.

“The LET event is the ideal platform to promote golf and ladies’ golf in Switzerland, and obviously it is the best place to inspire our top players and our young talents.

“We are determined to make the event in Ennetsee one of the most important appointments for golf in our country for many years to come.”

•To see the full dates of the LET 2020 season and the prize money at each event click here.

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Norway’s Suzann Pettersen gives her son Herman a kiss after holing the winning putt in the Solheim Cup, before announcing her retirement at the age of 38. Picture by MARK RUNNACLES

SOLHEIM Cup winner Suzann Pettersen announced she is to retire for competitive golf after a sparkling professional career spanning two decades.

Moments after holing the birdie putt that secured Europe’s victory in the 16^th Solheim Cup, the 38-year-old Norwegian, confirmed she would be hanging up her clubs with immediate effect.

“That’s it, I’m done,” she said. “I’m closing it down tomorrow.

“I think it’s the perfect closure, there’s no better way to end my professional career. I never thought I was going to be here four months ago until I met Beany (Catriona Matthew).

“So, to end it this way, that’s very special,” said the two-time Major winer.

Pettersen bows out of professional golf having won 15 LPGA tour titles and seven on the Ladies European Tour.

This year marked her ninth appearance in the Solheim Cup, stretching back to 2002, during which she won 18 matches, tied third on the all-time European list alongside Matthew – behind only Laura Davies and Annika Sorenstam.

Her most successful year came in 2013 when she won five tournaments around the world and posted an additional 11 top-10 finishes. She ended the year as World No. 2, just behind Inbee Park.

Suzann arrived at Gleneagles as one of Matthew’s captain’s picks having played just twice this season following the birth of her son, Herman, last September.

But that didn’t stop her combining with Anne Van Dam to beat Danielle Kang 4&2 before delivering the winning point against Marina Alex in the singles.

“It didn’t surprise me when Suzann holed that putt,” said US captain Juli Inkster. “It was great. I mean, I knew she knew the cup was on the line.

“And to go ahead and roll that putt in, that’s impressive. That’s why she’s Suzann,” added Inkster, who lost as captain for the first time in three Solheim Cups, having competed in nine as a player.

Pettersen also received a glowing tribute from teammate Anna Nordqvist.

“I think I’m speaking for everyone on this team,” Nordqvist said. “Suzann has been a big role model for all of those the last couple of years, more than that.

“I remember my first Solheim Cup in 2009, I got to play with a lot of my idols growing up.

“It was Laura Davies, Helen Alfredsson, it was Beany, it was Mimmi Hjorth and Suzann Pettersen.

“I got paired with Suzann in my second match and it was really cool. It was definitely one of the best highlights of my career.

“She’s going to be missed,” Nordqvist added. “She’s a rock star. She’s such a great character and a big role model for all of us.”

The post Suzann Pecks-her-son after winning Solheim Cup and then announces she’ll quit appeared first on Golf North.

AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Team Europe celebrate winning the Solheim Cup during the final day singles matches of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles on September 15, 2019 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Sunday 15 September, 2019 – Europe won The Solheim Cup for the first time since 2013 after an incredible finish to the final day singles, which ended with Suzann Pettersen holing the decisive putt on the 18th green to send the thousands of fans into raptures.

Team USA looked set to retain the trophy when they needed a half point from any of the final three matches, but Europe won all of them to secure a sensational victory.

With Anna Nordqvist closing out a 4&3 win over Morgan Pressel and Bronte Law beating Ally McDonald 2&1 in the final two groups in the minutes preceding, Pettersen and Marina Alex were both on the 18^th green and with makeable putts for birdie.

Alex missed and Pettersen, one of Captain Catriona Matthew’s wildcard picks, stepped up and rolled in an eight-footer to give Europe the point they needed to get to the all-important 14½.

Team Europe went wild; the Americans were stunned.

All day the momentum swung either way, with Carlota Ciganda beating Danielle Kang on the last in the top group followed by Nelly Korda putting some red on the board with a two-hole win over Caroline Hedwall.

The next two points went to Europe, Georgia Hall defeating world number three Lexi Thompson and Celine Boutier seeing off Annie Park 2&1. Devastating as a pair, Hall and Boutier showed they could produce the goods individually too as both secured their fourth point from four matches this week.

The middle order matches all went America’s way and put them on the brink of a triumph which would have been Juli Inkster’s third in a row as Captain. First Angel Yin beat Azahara Munoz in the fifth match, then Meghan Khang won the 18^th hole to claim a half from Charley Hull.

Next up was Lizette Salas who downed Anne Van Dam by one hole, and there were easy wins for Jessica Korda, 3&2 against Caroline Masson, and Brittany Altomare, 5&4 over Jodi Ewart Shadoff.

Team USA, on 13½ points, were preparing to pop the champagne corks on the 18^th green, but a dramatic finish then ensued as the final three Europeans completed a remarkable comeback.

Pettersen, whose selection by Matthew last month raised eyebrows because of her lack of competitive action since having her son at the end of 2017, struggled to hold in the emotion after winning the Solheim Cup for her team.

“Can you ask for more?” she said.  “The last putt to win the Cup, when it’s that close? History was just made, to win here in front of the Scottish crowd, to be here most of all. I could never in a million years dream of this.

“I mean, to hole the winning putt, to win the Cup. Nothing beats The Solheim Cup in my career.

“I honestly didn’t know when I stood over the putt that that was to win it. It was left centre and I couldn’t have hit it any better. I’m on the best team ever.”

USA Captain Juli Inkster was philosophical after the narrow defeat, saying: “The Europeans played great. You tip your hat.

“We had a few tears. And I said it’s okay. But the bottom line is we had a great week, the Europeans played great and we’re going to have a great party.

“The sun’s going to come up tomorrow. This will give them the fuel and fire for another two years to work at their game, to be on that team, to try to get that Cup back. I just said, ‘Hold your heads up because you should not be disappointed’.”

The post Europe Win 2019 Solheim Cup In Scotland appeared first on Golf North.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen (left) and Holland’s Anne Van Dam walk off the seventh green during Friday afternoon foursomes against the USA. Picture by MATTHEW LEWIS

EUROPE will take a narrow one point lead into the second day of the 16^th Solheim Cup at the PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles.

The home team are 4½-3½ in front heading into the second series of foursomes and fourballs.

But it is the American team who have momentum on their side after a dramatic finish to the day in which they came from behind to salvage halves in both of the last two fourball matches.

The home side took a slender 2½-1½ lead into the fourballs. But it disappeared when in the second match on the course Ally McDonald and Angel Yin – both left out of the morning foursomes – took just 13 holes to beat Swedish duo Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall 7&5.

The Americans good off to a fast start with birdies at the first three holes and they also birdied the fifth, ninth, 10th and 11th to increase that advantage to seven.

Nordqvist did get one hole back with a birdie at the 12^th before McDonald, a late replacement for the injured Stacy Lewis, closed out the match with a par on the next.

The 7&5 score tied the record for the biggest margin of victory in a Solheim Cup fourball, set by one of this year’s US vice-captains – Pat Hurst – and her partner Rosie Jones in their match against Lisa Hall and Sophie Gustafson, at Muirfield Village, in 1998.

“That was the year I was born,” laughed a delighted Yin. “I would say we’re ham and eggs.

“We’ve always got each other’s back, no matter what, and we work together as a team, communicate well. We’re just such a good pairing.”

Her partner McDonald added: “When Juli called me in to replace Stacy, I knew it could go either way, so to be able to go into my first match and get a point for the US means a lot.”

The USA won the first fourball series 4-0 two years ago in Iowa.

But any hopes they had of replicating that feat disappeared when the veteran Swede, Suzann Pettersen, and the rookie Dutchwoman, Anne Van Dam, beat Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas 4&2.

It was a significant win for Pettersen because it was her ninth Solheim Cup fourball victory, tying the European record, held by Laura Davies.

“I just want to say I had the best partner in the world,” said the Norwegian.

“I told you we don’t have any rookie on the team. I mean, this girl, I think she’s the best golfer I’ve ever seen on the women’s side. Today, she was an absolute rock star.”

Van Dam added: “Walking through that tunnel, especially to play with Suzann, who has been my idol growing up, for her to say, ‘Let’s enjoy this,’ that is what I was going to do.

“I was just hitting it solid from the beginning. It is not an easy golf course.

“Even from the tee you have to hit it in the fairway. If I hit it in the rough I lose my advantage a little bit from the tee, but it was great.

“I’m happy I played well and I was happy and comfortable around Suzann.”

At that stage, the Europeans were one point clear of the Americans.

And that is how it remained when Lexi Thompson holed a curling 25-foot birdie putt across the last green to secure a halve for her and partner Jessica Korda against Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda.

Then, in the final match, and with the sun starting to set at the end of a long but riveting day, the Europeans, Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz, also lost the last to a birdie to tie their match with Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare.

The Europeans had been four up with five to play. This time it was rookie Altomare who did the damage, also holing out from long range to keep her side within one point of their rivals.

“Those two half points at the end of the day were huge,” said US captain Juli Inkster.

European captain, Catriona Matthew at the 10th tee during Friday morning foursomes. Picture by MARK RUNNACLES

“For two rookies (Nelly Korda and Altomare) to be four down with five holes left and come back and tie, you can’t teach that.

“It’s just in your belly. I’m just so impressed with them. It was a great end to the day.”

European captain Catriona Matthew said: “Obviously, we got off to a great start in the foursomes. Our objective was to win every session.

“The finish wasn’t what we were looking for, everyone’s a little disappointed with that, but I think you have to take the positives.

“We’re leading. We’re a point up. If we’re leading at the end of each day, that would be great.”

Matthew sticks with three pairings

CATRIONA MATTHEW has named three unchanged pairs for the second series of Solheim Cup foursomes.

The Scot brings back Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier and Charlie Hull and Azahara Munoz after both pairs won on the first morning.

Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law also return after halving their first foursomes match. The newcomers are Anna Nordqvist and Anne Van Dam.

The American captain Juli Inkster has rung the changes in an effort to make up the 4½-3½ overnight deficit.

She has given a second foursomes start to sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda who won on the first morning and also Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex who supplied a half point against Ciganda and Law.

The new American pairings are Lizette Salas and Ally McDonald and Danielle Kang and Megan Khang.

The first match on the course at 8.10am will feature Nordqvist and Van Dam against Pressel and Alex.

They are followed by Hall and Boutier against Salas and McDonald at 8.22am, Hull and Munoz against Kang and Khang at 8.34am and Ciganda and Law against the Korda sisters at 8.46am.

For live scoring from day two click here.

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Packed crowds gather at Gleneagles for the opening day of the Solheim Cup 2019. Image credit: Getty Images

Europe edged a thrilling opening day of The 2019 Solheim Cup which ended 4½-3½ after a tense afternoon fourballs session at Gleneagles on Friday.

On a day which began with the biggest and loudest first tee ever seen at a Solheim Cup, Europe claimed the opening session 2½ points to 1½ and shared the spoils in the afternoon as the fourballs ended 2-2.

It could have been a larger margin were it not for Lexi Thompson holing a putt from 18 feet to win the 18^th with Jessica Korda and grab a half from Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law, and then Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare snatched an unlikely half against Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz.

Team Europe’s Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda take a 1/2 point in the afternoon fourball. Image credit Getty Images

The English-Spanish duo had been up since the fifth hole but their lead – they were four up after 14 holes – was eroded as they lost the last three holes.

Earlier in the afternoon, Ally McDonald and Angel Yin inflicted the heaviest ever Solheim Cup fourball defeat on Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall, a 7&5 drubbing to level the match.

Europe restored their advantage when wildcard pick Suzann Pettersen and rookie Anne Van Dam delivered a 4&2 win over Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas. In doing so, Pettersen equalled Laura Davies’ record for Team Europe of nine fourball wins.

But the momentum was undoubtedly in favour of the Americans, who at one stage looked likely to lose three of the four afternoon matches.

USA Captain Juli Inkster said: “No one really ever talks about the half point. I have to say those two half points at the end were huge. For two rookies to be four down with five holes left and to come back and tie, you can’t teach that. It’s just in your belly. I’m just so impressed with them.

Thompson and Korda high five for Team USA on day one of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Image credit Getty Images

“We’ve just got to keep the Europeans in our rearview mirror, so we can see them. You don’t want to get too far down. It was looking like we could be two and a half points down, but you keep gnawing a half a point here and there and it adds up. You look at all the golf today and we’re only a point down, so I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now.”

Catriona Matthew, the European Captain, said: “I’d be lying if I said it was what we were looking for. But I think you have to take the positives and we’re leading. We’re a point up. If we’re leading at the end of each day, that would be great.

“I think everyone’s a little disappointed, but Charley had a great putt on the last, it was just a little firm. Brittany holed up and made a great birdie. It’s not as if we lost it with bad play; the others birdied it. We’re pleased with going in with a one-point lead.”

In the morning session, having been sent off down the first fairway of the PGA Centenary Course by a deafening crowd, Ciganda and Law, in the first group, finished all square with Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex. Ciganda holed a brilliant putt for a two on the par three 17^th and then finished off an excellent up-and-down on 18.

Just behind them in match two, Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier won 2&1 against Thompson and Altomare, but the Korda sisters – Jessica and Nelly – put some red on the board with a thumping 6&5 win over Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff.Ei

In the final match of the session, Hull and Munoz closed out a 2&1 victory over Megan Khang and Annie Park after a tense back nine.

Solheim Cup 2019 Day 2 – Saturday Foursomes. Image credit Getty Images

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European fans at a practice round. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

THE Ladies European Tour’s TRISTAN JONES and PHIL INGLIS have been capturing the best shots from the official practice days at the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles… with the players and the crowds making a very colourful spectacle even before a ball has even been struck…

We will be bringing you the best action from Scotland over all three days…

KORDA SISTERS SET TO MAKE SOLHEIM CUP HISTORY

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American Jessica and Nelly Korda (right) will become the first sisters to play together in a foursomes match whenthe Solheim Cup gets underway at Gleneagles on Friday morning. Picture by TRISTAN JONES

SISTERS Jessica and Nelly Korda will create a slice of Solheim Cup history when they play together in the Friday Foursomes over the PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles.

Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam were the first sisters to be named together on a Solheim Cup team in 1998 – but they did not play alongside each other in either the foursomes or fourballs.

So the American sister will be breaking new ground at 8.34am when they set off in the third foursomes match against Germany’s Caroline Masson and Yorkshire’s LPGA winner Jodi Ewart-Shadoff.

The honour of hitting the first shot will go to America’s Morgan Pressel, who plays alongside Marina Alex in the first foursome at 8.10am, against Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Yorkshire’s Bronte Law.

Dorset’s Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier make up the second European pairing at 8.22am against Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare, while the last match on the course at 8.46am will feature Woburn’s Charley Hull and Spaniard Azahara Munoz against Meghan Kang and Annie Park.

US captain Juli Inkster admitted the Korda sisters had requested to play together.

“You know, they actually asked me,” Inkster said. “I wasn’t too keen on it. I don’t know. But the more I thought about it, I thought it would be stupid not to play them.

“I mean, it is not often you get two sisters on one team. They should have the right to play together.

“And Jessica said, ‘why don’t you see how we play in the Dow together, if we kill each other then maybe not put us together’. So that was our kind of thinking.”

European captain Catriona Matthew decided to put rookie Bronte Law out in the first group because she has been champing at the bit to get started ever since the start of the week.

“That was my kind of reason for putting her out early and Celine Boutier in the second group. I just felt the longer they have to hang around and wait, they more nervous they were going to get.

“It’s obviously important to get off to a good start,” the Scot, who has played in nine Solheim Cups, added.

“Being the home side, I think to get off to a good start would really get the crowd into it. So, I think for us, we’re really going to go out there and try and get the crowd in and get some blue on the board early on.

“We actually didn’t ponder the parings too much,” said Matthew.

“We have a couple of ones out there for the afternoon that just kind of fitted nicely, and those were the ones we wanted, to hopefully try and play everyone the first day.

“So, they were just kind of natural pairings, to be honest.”

To follow all the action online click here.

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Europe’s Hannah Darling in practice for the Ping Junior Solheim Cup against the USA, which starts at Gleneagles on Tuesday. Picture by JAMIE SQUIRE / WME

SCOTLAND’S Hannah Darling sees no reason why Team Europe cannot beat the USA for the first time in 12 years in this week’s PING Junior Solheim Cup.

The Americans have won four of the last five editions – 2011 resulted in a 12-12 tie – but the 16-year-old Edinburgh golfer believes home advantage and strong team morale will stand her side in good stead.

“It’s going to be tough but we’re on home soil and we’re all playing well so there’s no reason why we can’t win,” said Darling, who won the Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship in 2017 and 2018.

“Our expectations are to win because I believe we can, but we’re also here to have fun and make memories for life.

“The last few days have been amazing. We’ve bonded loads as a team and had so much fun,” Darling added. “Learning about everyone and seeing how everyone plays has been great.

“We’re making memories. It’s very cool. Suzann Pettersen, Catriona Matthew and a few of the other players were out on the course and came over to say hi. That was pretty cool.

“Just being with the team and knowing you all deserve to be here – it’s almost like a reward for playing well this season. It’s brilliant.”

The PING Junior Solheim Cup is very similar to the senior version with 12 players on each side, and the 10^th edition gets under way on Tuesday morning with six foursomes over Gleneagles’ King’s Course.

There will then be six fourball matches in the afternoon, before the contest concludes with 12 singles matches on Wednesday.

Rachel Heck is on Team USA for a second time after helping America to victory in Des Moines two years ago.

Last year the former World Amateur No. 1 also holed the winning putt for the Americans in the Junior Ryder Cup in Paris.

“Any opportunity like this is so much fun,” said Heck. “Being able to represent the United States with my best friends is awesome.

“The Junior Ryder Cup was an incredible experience and I’m sure this week will be, too.

“It’s such a different atmosphere playing on a team. Looking to the side of the green and seeing your team-mates supporting you is amazing,” said Heck.

“It’s a unique experience for us so I’m excited to see what this week has in store.

“Were such a tight group. We travel together all the time and always competing against each other, so it’s really cool to actually come together this week and play as a team.”

It is Heck’s first time in Scotland and she was effusive in her praise for both the country and the venue.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Rachel said. “It’s cold but it’s so gorgeous. When we’ve been playing the course I can’t help looking around at the views, it’s so stunning.

“The course is beautiful and in incredible shape. It’s so much fun to play. It’s very difficult – it’s perfect for matchplay because it’s so challenging. We’re all just grateful to be here.”

•To follow all the action at the 2019 Solheim Cup click here.

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EUROPEAN Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew named France’s Celine Boutier, English stars Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Bronte Law and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen as her four picks.

The quartet were named at a press conference at Gleneagles this afternoon, which was broadcast live on Sky Sports News and the Golf Channel.

The eight players who automatically qualified for next month’s 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, at the conclusion of Sunday’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open were Carlota Ciganda, Anne Van Dam, Caroline Hedwall, Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Azahara Munoz, Caroline Masson and Anna Nordqvist.

Scotland’s Matthew, who has played in nine Solheim Cups, explained the reasoning behind her four selections, saying “Bronte and Celine’s excellent recent form speaks for itself in terms of why I selected them, and I think they are both going to have fantastic Solheim Cup debuts.

“I chose Jodi and Suzann for their vast experience, their recent good form and because I know exactly what they bring to the European team room.

“With our only other rookie being Anne Van Dam, who has also had an excellent year, I feel the experience of our team will be a great advantage to us along with the home crowd support.”

Three of the captain’s picks were in the room when Matthew announced her final line-up while Yorkshire-born Ewart-Shadoff, who plays her golf on the LPGA, was not able to attend after having a minor procedure last week.

Ewart-Shadoff said: “I am gutted not to be there for team practice today but I will be back hitting balls next week and I am really excited to be part of Catriona’s team.

“I think the team looks incredibly strong, probably the strongest team I’ve been a part of and I’m honoured to have been chose by the captain to be part of it.

“This will be my first Solheim Cup in Europe and just to experience the home crowd will be amazing and a big advantage for us.”

Law, who recorded her maiden LPGA Tour win at the Pure Silk Championshi in May, said: “I couldn’t be happier to be making my Solheim Cup debut here at the beautiful Gleneagles.

“I am so grateful to Catriona and all the vice-captains for picking me and I can’t wait for it to start.

“To be part of this great team with so many Solheim Cup legends is pretty surreal but they have all been very generous in giving me advice ahead of making my debut.”

Boutier said: “I have been dreaming of playing Solheim Cup since I was a little girl and it really is amazing to be here at this press conference and know that my dream will come true in a month’s time!

“Getting out there to practise with the team on the PGA Centenary course where I watched so much of the Ryder Cup was fantastic – and I think this course is going to suit me very well.”

Pettersen said: “Catriona knows that matchplay brings out the absolute best in my game and that I will be ready to deliver points for her come September.

“I honestly believe my best contribution to our Solheim Cup campaign will be on the course and I am very grateful to Catriona for having the confidence to choose me for this year’s team.”

With Pettersen stepping out of her non-playing role, Matthew announced that Mel Reid would now be her final vice-captain, joining Dame Laura Davies and Kathryn Imrie in the team room and on the sidelines.

The final qualifying event for the USA team will end with the CP Women’s Open in Canada, from August 22-26, with many players still fighting to join their team in defending the Solheim Cup in Scotland, from September 9-15.

Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Lisette Salas and Jessica Korda are all safely qualified while past US Solheim Cup team standouts Cristie Kerr and Stacy Lewis, would need to win the CP Women’s Open to claim their place without needing a captain’s pick from Juli Inkster.

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