Solheim Cup features fresh faces

PARKER, Colo. -- The Solheim Cup has a new look this year.

Missing from the European team is Laura Davies, who had played in every Solheim Cup since these matches between Europe and the United States began in 1990. Europe now has six rookies on its team, including 17-year-old Charley Hull of England.

Juli Inkster is not playing the Solheim Cup for the first time since 1996. She has a daughter older than two of the American players on this team -- 18-year-old Lexi Thompson and 20-year-old Jessica Korda.

"This is great because you're seeing the present and the future of the Solheim Cup," U.S. captain Meg Mallon said Thursday. "And it's kind of cool having these young players that are going to be a part of this event for a very long time. So I'm excited to see how they respond to this. They're so fired up right now, and I'm not quite sure they know what they're getting into."

The majority of the rookies belong to Europe, which brings a new dynamic in other ways.

For years, the European side consisted mainly of Swedish and British players, with a few other countries sprinkled in. This team is represented by eight countries -- three from Spain, two from England, two from Sweden, and one each from Italy, France, Norway, Germany and Scotland.

At stake this week is chance to win the Solheim Cup for the first time on American soil.

The matches get underway today at Colorado Golf Club, a sprawling golf course south of Denver with the Rockies in the backdrop. American flags were handed out to spectators coming through the gates even for a practice round, though the size of the property and expanse of the fairways will make it difficult at times for spectator viewing.

Both captains are playing only two rookies in the opening session of foursomes.

Stacy Lewis and rookie Lizette Salas are in the opening match against Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall. European captain Liselotte Neumann has rookie Jodi Ewart-Shadoff, paired with Catriona Matthew in the third match against U.S. rookie Jessica Korda and Morgan Pressel.

Another European rookie, Beatriz Recari, will play with Suzann Pettersen against Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford. In the other match, Mallon saved her traditionally toughest team, Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer, in the anchor spot against Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher.

Europe will have no choice but to lean heavily on its rookies, though they bring a fresh look and a spunky attitude.

"I think that these youngsters have enough to bring to the table even for us to kind of sharpen up our game and push each other," said Pettersen, who even at 32 was feeling much older sitting next to Hull and 23-year-old Carlota Ciganda of Spain.

Mallon is curious to see how the rookies will perform -- her four, the six for Europe -- though she is equally concerned about Europe's quest to finally win the cup away from home. Even though Europe won two years ago in Ireland, it rarely is seen as the favorite in these matches.

Hull is the only player who is not an LPGA Tour member. Europe has seven players who have yet to win an LPGA event, and three players -- Hull, Giulia Sergas of Italy and Ewart-Shadoff of England -- who have never even won on the Ladies European Tour.

"The player that doesn't know anything is very scary," Mallon said. "So we have to pay attention to that. We have to be aware that in match play, it's anyone's day. And so that's going to be my job the next couple of days, to make sure that we take care of our business out there and know that they have a really young team. And they have nothing to lose."