GOLF SOLHEIM CUP:WHO KNOWS if an Irish player will yet find the form to gatecrash a way on to the team for next year's Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Dunsany, Co Meath, but European captain Alison Nicholas has urged the Irish public to become the 15th club in the bag in her side's efforts to reclaim the famous crystal trophy from American hands.
On a site visit yesterday to the Jack Nicklaus-designed course which will play host to biennial tournament on 23rd-25th September 2011, Nicholas – who will have four ‘wild cards’ to pick for the match, but believes it necessary to pick the in-form players rather than selecting an Irish player as a token – said: “I’d like to stress to everyone here to really get behind the European team because it is massively important . . . it’s like any sport, everyone wants people to support them. It’s like a football or a rugby match, you’ll want your home fans to get you through and shout for you and support you. I hope we get that from everyone over here.”
Nicholas, a former US Open champion, added: “There may well be an Irish player in there. I know Rebecca Coakley has been working very hard on her game. You don’t know what’s going to happen in the next year and a half. There’s still as long time to qualify on the team so let’s hope that’s possible.”
However, Nicholas made it clear – as you’d expect – that she wouldn’t be inclined to go down the qualifying table overlooking form players just to ensure an Irish presence on the playing team. “I’ve got four picks. It depends who is playing well. It’s a competitive environment and if four or five players are playing better than that particular person (down the table), obviously performance is important.”
Ironically, Irish women’s golf is on the cusp of a hugely exciting period with the arrival on the scene of the 15-year-old Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, and also reigning British Ladies Amateur champion Danielle McVeigh who have all been selected on the Britain and Ireland team for the Curtis Cup and, undoubtedly, the Solheim Cup will be targets down the line when professional careers are pursued. Unfortunately, this one has come too soon for this talented trio.
Nicholas is hugely impressed with the upward career curve of the Maguire twins and offered words of advice: “It’s fabulous what they’ve achieved . . . if they work hard and progress as they should, you’ll probably see great things from them (but) to also develop other areas of your life is important. It can’t be just golf, golf, golf. They have to think about other things, (have) other interest and social life. Otherwise, they’ll burn out and you don’t want to do that too young,” she said.
