2023 Solheim Cup (Sep 22-24)

[Titleist_PT23]

Tour Confidential: Solheim Cup reactions, MVPs, Lexi Thompson and more (msn.com)

 

3. In an afternoon four-ball session on Day 1, Lexi Thompson needed to get up-and-down for birdie from off the green to tie the match (or have her partner, Lilia Vu, make a long birdie putt), but Thompson shanked a chip and made par, as the Europeans won the match 1 up. Afterward, things got awkward when a reporter asked Thompson about it: “I don't need to comment on that,” she said. U.S. captain Stacy Lewis added: “That’s a terrible question.” The internet, and players like Jessica Korda, had lots to stay about this situation. How would you unpack it all?

 

 

Sens: The question wasn't terrible but Thompson's response and the general defensiveness around it were. That's the price that comes with being paid well to play a game for a living. You get asked about your triumphs. And your trials. Some commentators suggested that the question had sexist undertones. But a male player in that same situation would have gotten the same question, and that, too, would have been perfectly fair.

Hirsh: Well said, Sens. Our colleague James Colgan eloquently summed up the situation here too. To Thompson's credit, she didn't have to speak to the media at all and that would have been fine and understandable. But the fact she decided to talk meant she would have had to figure she was getting asked the question. To echo Sens, it's a perfectly fair question and should have been answered if she was going to be there. 

Bastable: Stacy Lewis is a pro, but the "terrible question" jab was amateur hour. What would have been terrible is not asking the question. When a world-class athlete's skill caves under intense pressure, fans want to know what went wrong. As Colgan pointed out, Thompson and Lewis' edgy response made the whole episode a bigger deal than it would have been or should have been.  

[JungleJimbo]

 

https://www.lpga.com/news/2023/captains-picks-prove-perfect-for-pettersen

 

[ChronicSlicer]

15 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

Hypothetically... if they reconfigured the Solheim Cup to be "Americas vs Europe"

... other than Brooke Henderson, who else has a decent chance to make the team? 

Gaby Lopez

[bcjim]

59 minutes ago, OrangeGravy said:

This will make Ciganda especially and her teammates legends in their respective home countries beyond just hardcore golf fans. If you flip the results, the US players would be temporary heroes to a small subset of golf fans. In my opinion,  this disparity in passion from the outside is reflected in each side's mindset in these events. It's obviously not the sole variable,  but all things being equal talent wise, it shows

Not totally disagreeing but I think you're overstating some of that. I don't ladies golf moves needles anywhere besides places like this forum. 

[bcjim]

1 minute ago, ChronicSlicer said:

Gaby Lopez

I'd take Lorena as the first Captain's pick. Even if she hasn't picked up a club in years. 

[jimecherry]

4 minutes ago, bcjim said:

Not totally disagreeing but I think you're overstating some of that. I don't ladies golf moves needles anywhere besides places like this forum. 

it may not but winning moves needles often more so than the sport in question in europe

[ChronicSlicer]

12 minutes ago, freddi22cl said:

 

 yeah Anne aint no Linn Grant..won by 9 a yr ago and has 6 tour wins (LPGA/Euro)......at 24...

You are correct, Anne had 5 LET Wins by the time she was 23, and she won by 8 when she was 22.

[freddi22cl]

3 in a row for Europe , Maguire and Grant play all 5 matches in a few years again

 

they aint criticizing Suzann anymore 🙂

[ChronicSlicer]

13 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

https://www.lpga.com/news/2023/captains-picks-prove-perfect-for-pettersen

 

As I mentioned long ago, it was obvious why she picked EKP and Caroline, experience. Clearly it worked pretty well, but that doesn't mean I personally agree with those picks when a handful of others were in way better form at the moment. I believe in giving the deserved players a chance to prove themselves.

[ChronicSlicer]

2 minutes ago, freddi22cl said:

they aint criticizing Suzann anymore 🙂

I am and will again if need be. 

[Titleist_PT23]

2 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

As I mentioned long ago, it was obvious why she picked EKP and Caroline, experience. Clearly it worked pretty well, but that doesn't mean I personally agree with those picks when a handful of others were in way better form at the moment. I believe in giving the deserved players a chance to prove themselves.

By that sense, the same could be said about the criticism directed at Lexi pre-tournament (but is now being mocked)?  No doubt she qualified, but Lewis could have played other people more (the ones with better form at the moment, irrespective of experience)?  Similar to above, it worked pretty well, so it looks OK.

 

I don't want to argue, just saying (we all have our notions of what is correct or not).

[Rapidcat]

1 hour ago, wobgon said:

I say it every Solheim cup and every Ryder cup so I might as well say it again.....Not sure why anyone gets to excited about a team made up of 12 countries playing a single country. Before all the comments about how large the US is, consider how all these smaller countries compete against the US in all the other sports without teaming up.

 

It’s not an artificial situation though, it’s not the cobbling together of a bunch of un-associated countries’ players to create a closer contest vs the USA.

 

Think of it this way – many Europeans, particularly those say under 35 yo, identify either as Europeans first and their country second or at the very least identify equally with Europe and their country.

 

A young German may state that they are a European from Germany just as an American may state they are an American from say Texas.

 

Younger Europeans can even get quite angry if they feel someone is being too nationalistic.

 

Older Europeans are often more traditional in their country-first thinking.

 

There is a real European identity, for instance a European flag that has been in existence from 1955.

 

It’s why the Solheim and Ryder cups work as far as commitment and passion from the European players.

 

[freddi22cl]

1 minute ago, ChronicSlicer said:

I am and will again if need be. 

great pick with Hedwall, what a bulldog!!!!

 

and most importantly, retain the Cup 🙂

[Titleist_PT23]

Anyways, few things in life are always perfect (decision or performance).  And regardless of which players were there (or not there), it was a good competition with meaningful matches late in the afternoon on Sunday.  I guess that makes it a win for the fans.

 

Time to move on (hears many applauding)...

[ThinkingPlus]

1 minute ago, Rapidcat said:

 

It’s not an artificial situation though, it’s not the cobbling together of a bunch of un-associated countries’ players to create a closer contest vs the USA.

 

Think of it this way – many Europeans, particularly those say under 35 yo, identify either as Europeans first and their country second or at the very least identify equally with Europe and their country.

 

A young German may state that they are a European from Germany just as an American may state they are an American from say Texas.

 

Younger Europeans can even get quite angry if they feel someone is being too nationalistic.

 

Older Europeans are often more traditional in their country-first thinking.

 

There is a real European identity, for instance a European flag that has been in existence from 1955.

 

It’s why the Solheim and Ryder cups work as far as commitment and passion from the European players.

 

Don't be silly. Folks from Texas are always Texans first then Americans. 😉

[Rapidcat]

Just now, ThinkingPlus said:

Don't be silly. Folks from Texas are always Texans first then Americans. 😉

 

I was fishing for a reaction like that and thought you'd likely be the one to jump in

[ThinkingPlus]

1 minute ago, Rapidcat said:

 

I was fishing for a reaction like that and thought you'd likely be the one to jump in

I like to be predictably entertaining.

[Rapidcat]

17 minutes ago, freddi22cl said:

3 in a row for Europe , Maguire and Grant play all 5 matches in a few years again

 

they aint criticizing Suzann anymore 🙂

 

I am, she made numerous mistakes.

 

Remember also it was 14/14, Europe didn't win but did retain the trophy as holders.

[ChronicSlicer]

1 minute ago, Titleist_PT23 said:

By that sense, the same could be said about the criticism directed at Lexi pre-tournament (but is now being mocked)?  No doubt she qualified, but Lewis could have played other people more (the ones with better form at the moment, irrespective of experience)?  Similar to above, it worked pretty well, so it looks OK.

 

I don't want to argue, just saying (we all have our notions of what is correct or not).

Of course, I just gave my two cents on how I would have done the picking. I also thought it kinda rude to pick Caroline, and literally tell her your gonna sit the first 3 matches because we need our A team right now. She was good enough to be picked, but not played.

[ChronicSlicer]

14 minutes ago, ThinkingPlus said:

Don't be silly. Folks from Texas are always Texans first then Americans. 😉

I usually refer to Texas as it's own country. In a good way of course.

[ThinkingPlus]

5 minutes ago, ChronicSlicer said:

I usually refer to Texas as it's own country. In a good way of course.

Even though it was ~175 years ago, it feels like it was just yesterday...

[Donovan84]

NT

Edited September 25, 2023 by Donovan84

[Donovan84]

11 hours ago, pjc said:

We won't see LT in one of these ever again....at least we got that.

Is LT referring to Lexi? If so, this is ridiculous. The silver lining of the Solheim Cup was watching Lexi playing well after all the hate she got at the start of the event.

 

Speaking of Lexi, in case you were curious about her tattoos, came across this article today:

https://golf.com/news/lexi-thompson-tattoos-reveal-important-things/

Edited September 25, 2023 by Donovan84

[Goldenhawk]

I read somewhere that the players on both sides don’t get paid any money.  Same is true for the Ryder.  No money for the winning players.  Perhaps the attitudes of the players would change if they could win prize money that would count towards their annual total (money list).

Edited September 25, 2023 by Goldenhawk

[JungleJimbo]

15 minutes ago, Goldenhawk said:

I read somewhere that the players on both sides don’t get paid any money.  Same is true for the Ryder.  No money for the winning players.  Perhaps the attitudes of the players would change if they could win prize money that would count towards their annual total (money list).

 

The Solheim Cup (and Ryder Cup) are often described by players as their favourite event/ target for the year (e.g. refer to the Link shared by @Donovan84 above: https://golf.com/news/lexi-thompson-tattoos-reveal-important-things/ )

... i.e. i doubt prize money would motivate them further (but wasn't there some change in recent years e.g. some agreement w.r.t. Ryder Cup organisers to donate an amount of money to charities chosen by the players?) 

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/golf/66879544 

Edited September 25, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[bcjim]

I thought the RC changed that after some complaining by the players? Don't know about SC.

 

I've been firmly opposed to the Nordic nepotism policy this week but I just went and looked at the Euro list...eh, other than the Czech player possibly...  I don't have any further complaints.  Lots of girls just nickel and dimed their way up there by playing huge numbers of events. 

 

 

[Rapidcat]

 

 

And a quote from Leona after her victory over Rose in the singles:

 

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Rapidcat

[AWinfortheAges]

1 hour ago, Rapidcat said:

 

 

And a quote from Leona after her victory over Rose in the singles:

 

 

Jessica should have known better than to give Leona bulletin board material, because she'd definitely find it and use it. She made up material in '21.

[ColinKelvin]

6 hours ago, wobgon said:

I say it every Solheim cup and every Ryder cup so I might as well say it again.....Not sure why anyone gets to excited about a team made up of 12 countries playing a single country. Before all the comments about how large the US is, consider how all these smaller countries compete against the US in all the other sports without teaming up.

Have a read of this, it may help to explain the European team identity:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/25/the-whole-of-europe-is-behind-you-ryder-cup-players-on-unique-identity

 

The European ("DP World") tour is a lowly feeder tour now, but from the 80s through to the 00s it had a super-strong identity which fed into the Ryder Cup team, and vice versa.  The players on the team feel "European" and are usually the RC underdogs - which helps make every contest against almost always super-strong US teams fiery and engrossing.  That's why millions of people find it exciting.

[Port and Starboard]

I don't understand Lexi dodging the shank question from the reporter either.  The question didn't seem malicious to me, and every knowledgeable viewer on the planet could see how nasty that lie was.    Feet 6" above the ball which was lying in a fried egg bermuda with the grass/roots leaning into the leading edge of the club?   That lie could have made Spieth, Mickelson, or Tiger look pretty average.

 

She could have just answered the guy by smiling, maybe adding a shoulder shrug, and explaining that the  toe of the club got caught up in the bermuda roots.

 

She could have laid to rest any controversy right there at the presser. 

 

Her response reeked of insecurity and only gave her distractors more fuel to torch her with going forward.