Golf-Defending champions Europe take underdog mentality into Solheim Cup

(Reuters) – Europe’s run of success at the Solheim Cup in recent years will be outweighed by the Americans’ advantage of playing on home soil and the visitors see themselves as underdogs going into the competition, European captain Suzann Pettersen said on Tuesday.

Under returning captain Pettersen’s leadership, Europe are looking for a historic four-peat against the United States in the biggest team competition in women’s golf, which will be held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

“Playing away, you’re always an underdog,” Pettersen told reporters.

“That’s how we’ve always looked at it. If you look at the previous three Solheims, we’ve come out on the high side, and we’re going to try and keep that going for sure.

“At the same time, being away, I’m very happy to kind of leave the pressure to the Americans to say they are the home favourites.”

The veteran European team enters the competition after retaining the trophy with a thrilling 14-14 tie in Spain last year.

Ten returning European players will be joined by two newcomers – Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela – and Pettersen said she likes the team’s mix of youth and experience.

“It’s great to have new blood coming in,” she said.

“Like we can easily stir the pot quite nicely from the past with the players. We have a lot of players who have already played a lot of Solheims. So we have a lot of experience.

“That being said, with the new players coming in, it kind of creates a new energy and atmosphere.”

The three-day competition kicks off on Friday with a morning session of four foursomes matches followed by an afternoon session of four four-ball matches, a format that repeats on Saturday.

Sunday will feature 12 singles matches where Europe will look to extend its winning streak while the U.S. will try to end a drought at the bi-annual event that stretches back to 2017.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Chris Reese)