Anna Nordqvist will captain the European Solheim Cup group within the Netherlands subsequent 12 months, and hopes to avenge the loss her facet took on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership this previous fall.
The U.S. received 15.5 to 12.5, successful the competitors for the primary time since 2017. That week, Nordqvist served as a enjoying vice-captain and posted a 2-2 file. With 18.5 profession factors, she is the fifth-winningest participant in European Solheim Cup historical past, trailing solely Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam, Catriona Matthew, and Suzann Pettersen.
Pettersen, who hails from Norway, tabbed her good pal Nordqvist to function a enjoying vice-captain on the 2023 Solheim Cup as properly. Nordqvist received just one match that week, although, but it was an essential one: she defeated Jennifer Kupcho in Sunday Singles 2 & 1. The Europeans and the People subsequently tied 14 apiece, however as a result of Europe received in 2021, they retained the cup in Finca Cortesin.
“Whether or not we had been successful or shedding, the Solheim Cup has performed such an enormous half in my profession ever since I made my debut in 2009 in Chicago,” Nordqvist mentioned.
“The friendships I’ve made and the recollections created throughout the 9 matches I’ve performed make it so extremely particular to be given the chance to be European captain at my tenth Solheim Cup.”
The 37-year-old Swede has had a tricky few years main as much as this chance.
In an interview with the Swedish information company TT, Nordquist opened up about her high-stress ranges and the way she produces abnormally excessive ranges of cortisol.
“It has knocked out my total system on the golf course; at occasions, I may really feel reasonably unconscious,” Nordqvist mentioned.
“There are a number of tournaments I don’t even keep in mind having performed. The Solheim Cup in Spain is certainly one of them. I keep in mind just a few holes right here and there.”
She has additionally skilled great loss in her private life.
In an interview with Golfweek, Nordqvist opened up about how she and her husband, Kevin McAlpine, an LPGA caddie, had been going by a divorce. Then, McAlpine all of the sudden unexpectedly handed away on the age of 39 — Nordqvist described it as watching her life ‘shatter right into a thousand items.’
“I feel to have the ability to cope with it, to deal with it, to recover from it and like all the sensible stuff that she’s needed to cope with within the aftermath. I feel you do change by nature, the way you take a look at life, the way you take a look at relationships, the way you take a look at, I don’t know, the sport of golf means nothing, proper?” Pettersen mentioned of Nordqvist.
“What’s the significance of one other shot or one other event or one other, I don’t know, an one other victory? I actually simply suppose it places life in perspective while you undergo a sort of severeness like that, and I actually hope I don’t have to see some other associates should undergo what she’s been by as a result of I do know it’s been robust as hell to be sincere, actually. I don’t suppose there’s one other phrase for it.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.
