Walking up the fairways of the Dundonald Links in the Freed Scottish Women’s Open last summer I distinctly remember asking European Solheim Cup rookies Linn Grant and Gemma Dryburgh what they thought Suzann Pettersen would be like as a captain and how important her role in every aspect of the team result would be. They both shared the same resounding sentiment, that the team captain is the glue that holds everything together.
A great captain gets the team room buzzing with positivity, they keep moral high, they make decisions with diplomacy, ensuring discussions are had with the vice-captains, advisors and players opinions are sought. They are the key organisers and are able to deal with any unexpected issues or situations that arise calmly. They can also handle stress! A great captain brings the fun to the team, putting their heart and soul into the role. It could be argued that the win/lose result essentially rides on their shoulders.
