When it comes to the Solheim Cup, few are better placed to comment than Dame Laura Davies. She holds the record for most playing appearances at 12, the record for most points won at 25, and the four-time major winner is having her fourth stint in vice-captaincy capacity this week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
She made her debut in the inaugural staging at Lake Nona in 1990 and has been part of four winning European sides, and she’s witnessed firsthand the incredible growth of the event; growth that has rendered the modern Solheim Cup almost unrecognizable from those in the early years.
“From Lake Nona in 1990 and Scotland 1992 and beyond, there’s no comparison to what it is now,” she said as she joined captain Suzann Pettersen and fellow vice-captains Mel Reid and Caroline Martens on stage for a pre-tournament press conference. “The infrastructure, the support the teams get now, it’s a world-class sporting event. I think it’s probably the best women’s world event in sports.
“The drama of the last four or five Cups has been incredible, and it’s on the world stage now. People want to watch it. People want to come. We’ve heard the numbers that are coming this week.
“Back in 1990, there were probably 30, 40 people watching, and you had some of the best golfers in LPGA history, Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley. It just didn’t have this gravitas that it has now.
“But it had to start somewhere. The foresight of the Solheim Family, how they thought of it. It was an obvious fit with the Ryder Cup getting stronger and stronger, but they were the ones that stepped up. They’ve created a monster, and it’s great fun to be involved in it.”
Despite her high profile, Davies is happy to operate in the shadows and knows that this week is all about the 12 players representing Team Europe and her job is to facilitate them and to provide assistance for both the players and the captain.
“Well, just supporting the captain, making sure the players have got what they want, get them where they need to be, watching them play, encouraging them. It’s just a role that it’s really good fun, to be honest with you,” she replied when asked what her specific role would be.
“To call it a job is not accurate. It’s great to be involved with these young players; they’re so good. Such a nice group of girls as well, which is fun for me to be around them because don’t play anymore.
“The whole week so far has been great. The facilities that they’ve given us are out of this world. It’s one of the best. We’ve been to some great venues, but this is getting close to the top of the list, especially if we win.” – IrishGolfer
