Nicholas gets another shot at United States

SOLHEIM CUP 2011:AS ALISON Nicholas glanced out of the patio windows at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Co Meath, yesterday to see the winds whipping the fescue grasses into a wild frenzy and the waves rippling across the lakes, you could almost sense her pursing her lips in anticipation of the ordeal that will await the United States in defence of the Solheim Cup against a European team captained, for a second time, by the Englishwoman.

In her prime playing days, Nicholas was known as something of a terrier; a player who refused to back down, as demonstrated in her US Women’s Open triumph in 1997 over no less a legend than Nancy Lopez. Now, Nicholas has been given a chance to gain revenge for the Solheim Cup defeat to the USA at Rich Harvest Farms in August with yesterday’s confirmation of her reappointment as Europe’s captain for the match over the Jack Nicklaus-designed Killeen Castle course on 23rd-25th September, 2011.

When the Ladies European Tour asked Nicholas to retain the captaincy, there was no hesitation in accepting the role again. “I’m a fighter, I wanted another go at them,” said Nicholas, who has Solheim Cup experience as a player (six times, including the inaugural match at Lake Nona in 1990), vice-captain (twice) and captain (once).

For the match in just under two years’ time, Nicholas will have an extra “wild card” to play with after the LET changed the qualifying criteria with four players earning automatic places off the European points list, a further four off the world points list and four (up from three) earning a captain’s pick.

“I have had a lot of experience behind the scenes, which helped me at Rich Harvest Farms (where the USA won 16-12),” remarked Nicholas, “but you have to think on the job really, (it) will stand me in good stead for 2011. I learned quite a few things about myself and dealing with different personalities and players. There are a few things I would like to do better, I can’t highlight them to you . . . things in preparation I’d like to get a little bit better. On the whole I learned some huge lessons about myself.”

Europe’s defeat to the USA last autumn was the third straight set-back and the series, the women’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup, has the Americans ahead by 8-3 in the overall results. Nicholas believes it is time the Europeans started to hit back. In making the comparison between the Americans and the Europeans, Nicholas observed that self-belief was crucial. “That’s all we lack, it’s the belief, sometimes. But I think we have the talent . . . Ana Nordquist has just won the last event (on the LPGA) so hopefully she will be on my team.”

The USA will, almost certainly, include Michelle Wie. The teenager made her debut in the most recent Solheim Cup and has since gone on to secure a maiden win on the LPGA Tour. Nicholas hopes Wie’s presence will inspire her players rather than intimidate.

“What a great player she is, she’s gone from strength to strength after all the trouble she had on the men’s tour and all the criticism she got. Michelle Wie is great for ladies golf because she is young and athletic and inspires other young girls to take up the game . . . but we have some good players ourselves emerging, some young players who have just turned pro that a lot of people don’t know about. So hopefully I can get some young players to match the other young players on the US team.”

At present, Ireland’s leading professional player, Rebecca Coakley, is 12th in the European team rankings and Nicholas remarked it would be “tremendous” to have a home player in the team but that it wouldn’t be absolutely vital. Coakley, for her part, said she hoped to play her way into the team rather than rely on the possibility of a “wild card” pick from the captain.

Killeen Castle will also play host to next year’s Ladies Irish Open on August 6th-8th, a prime date in the international schedule a week after the Ricoh Women’s British Open and a free week on the LPGA Tour. It is hoped a number of the American players, as well as the majority of potential European team members, will take in the Irish Open and the opportunity to play competitively on the course ahead of the Solheim Cup. “I’ll certainly be encouraging all of my players to include the Irish Open in their schedules,” said Nicholas.

Next year’s Irish Open will be the only time that players from the respective teams will get the chance to play a tournament on the course, as the event is unlikely to be staged in Killeen Castle in 2011 due to the proximity of the Solheim Cup.