Norway’s Suzann Pettersen has been named captain of the European team of the 2023 Solheim Cup during the official baton ceremony at Finca Cortesin (Andalusia, Costa del Sol), where the next women’s golf showdown between the European and American teams will take place from September 18 to 24, 2023. At the ceremony, Alexandra Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour, and Liz Moore, president of the Ladies European Tour Joint Venture and representative of the LPGA and US Solheim Cup, handed over the cup to the main supporters of the Spanish edition of this competition, Vicente Rubio, general manager of Finca Cortesín, Manuel Muñoz, general secretary for Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía, and Francisco Salado, president of the Diputación de Málaga, in the presence of representatives of all the institutions and entities that support it.
Pettersen, winner of two majors, is a Solheim Cup icon having represented Europe nine times as a player and twice as vice-captain. In the ranks of the European team she has participated in five victories, including the last two victories at Gleneagles, Scotland, and the Inverness Club in Ohio.
In the photo, from left to right, Vicente Rubio, managing director of Finca Cortesín, Francisco Salado, president of the Diputación de Málaga, Manuel Muñoz, general secretary for Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía, Liz Moore, president of the Ladies European Tour Joint Venture and representative of the LPGA and US Solheim Cup, and Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour.
At the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, after being on maternity leave for 18 months, she was picked by Catriona Matthew and the defining moment of the competition came when Pettersen faced a birdie from just over six feet on the final hole on Sunday. With all the pressure on, she holed it to bring the trophy back to Europe for the first time since 2013. The 14.5 to 13.5 victory equaled the narrowest margin in Solheim Cup history, and the Norwegian player announced shortly afterward that she was withdrawing from the competition, saying “that was impossible to better.”
In September this year, after the birth of her second child, Pettersen returned to serve as vice-captain under Matthew in Europe’s 15-13 victory over the U.S., her second away from home. Her first experience in that role was at the 2017 Solheim Cup held at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa, assisting Annika Sorenstam. On that occasion Pettersen was scheduled to play, but an injury caused him to swap roles with Matthew before the competition began.
As a player, Pettersen made her Solheim Cup debut at Interlachen Golf and Country Club in Minnesota in 2002, in her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour. She then played in the next seven editions, assisting in European victories in 2003, 2011 and 2013, before playing a starring role in 2019 by holing the winning putt, which she considers the best of her entire career.
The player, who reached as high as number two in the Rolex Ranking -women’s world ranking-, has accumulated 21 professional titles on the LET and LPGA Tour, including the 2007 McDonald’s LPGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship, two majors, but her fondest memories have been forged by playing with passion and pride with her Solheim Cup friends.
“I’m thrilled to be named Solheim Cup captain. It’s the biggest honor of my career,” Pettersen said. “My best golf memories are from the Solheim Cup. You’re with your teammates, with your friends, and you have one goal. You fight for your teammates and share unforgettable moments.”
“I’ve played with many wonderful captains, and I’ve also been under them, since I made my debut in the competition 19 years ago. Every Solheim Cup has been special in its own way. You make lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories are forged.”
“Every captain is different and offers unique qualities. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and working hard over the next 22 months to defend the Cup on Spanish soil,” the Norwegian player concluded.
During the press conference, Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, said: “We are delighted that Suzann has accepted the position of captain for the 2023 Solheim Cup. She has been the heart and soul of Europe for almost 20 years and with 21 points from nine appearances, her record speaks for itself. With her passion for the Solheim Cup, her love of golf and her competitiveness, she will inspire the team and fans around the world.”
Once the baton was handed over and after the appointment of the captain, the representatives of the Junta de Andalucía and Turismo Costa del Sol, essential pillars of the Solheim Cup 2023, highlighted the importance of the competition to take the image of this community and this region around the world, and even more by having such a recognizable figure at the helm of the European team.
“Today is a historic day for Andalusia, for the community and for the golf industry nationally,” said Manuel Muñoz, secretary general for Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía. “We are one step closer to the Solheim Cup, a milestone that, as we saw in the 1997 Ryder Cup, will mark a before and after for golf in Andalusia and Spain.”
“Sport is pure emotion, and even more so in a format like the Solheim Cup match-play. In Andalucia we give everything to share emotions, experiences and happiness, so we are delighted to welcome Suzann Pettersen as the perfect captain for the 2023 Solheim Cup.”
For his part, the president of the Diputación de Málaga and Turismo Costa del Sol, Francisco Salado, said: “Finally we can say that the dream of the Solheim Cup has been fulfilled. Although we could not be in Ohio because of travel restrictions, today we are here, with our new captain, in the field where the Solheim Cup 2023 will be played.
“From Turismo Costa del Sol we are convinced of the importance of continuing to promote women’s golf, which is especially interesting for our destination because women golfers spend more and enjoy a wider complementary offer.
“The dream of hosting the Solheim Cup on the Costa del Sol is getting closer and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate it with us in two years,” concluded Francisco Salado.
“It is an honor and a pride to host the Solheim Cup 2023 and this handover of the baton of the competition, which has also served to meet the next European captain. Finca Cortesín’s vocation has always been to be a benchmark in the luxury resort segment and the Solheim Cup provides us with an ideal platform to continue fulfilling this objective,” explained Vicente Rubio, general manager of Finca Cortesín.
“The 2023 Solheim Cup is the most important women’s golf event in the world and the culmination of a journey that we started hosting other competitions of the highest level. In it we will demonstrate our commitment to excellence, which will undoubtedly be enjoyed by those who visit us from September 18 to 24, 2023,” concluded Vicente Rubio.
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