CASARES, Spain — Who are the favorites at the 2023 Solheim Cup?
The gambling experts in Las Vegas currently have the host Europeans as the favorites at -115, but it’s a close bet with the Americans at +100. A tie is currently +950.
The Rolex world ranking gives the U.S. side a slight advantage as all 12 Americans are ranked inside the top 50. Nine Euros are inside the top 50, with two outside the top 120.
If you ask United States captain Stacy Lewis, she’ll say Suzann Petersen and her European counterparts have to be favored. After all, Team Europe has claimed the last two Cups and will be playing on home soil.
“And that’s not to doubt my team. I just think Europe is really, really strong. They have got all the momentum in this event right now,” said Lewis last month when she made her captain’s picks for the biennial event that begins on Friday at Finca Cortesin on Spain’s southern coast. “That’s going to be our biggest thing is we are going overseas, and we don’t have the momentum on our side. And so we are going to go try to flip it.”
“We have a lot of new blood that has not experienced the last two years,” Lewis continued. “They don’t know what it’s been like, and I think that’s going to be to our advantage, as well.”
Sure, ignorance can be bliss, but the other side of that coin is a lack of high-pressure experience in a truly unique event. That could be an issue for the U.S., who fields a 12-player team this week that features five rookies.
Not only is Team Europe two-time defending champions, but of the 24 players competing, nine have winning records in the event, and six are European.
Leona Maguire
Age: 28
World Ranking: 17
Solheim Cup appearances: 1 (2021)
Solheim Cup record: 4-0-1
Maguire made the team due to her world ranking, but the Ireland native was sure to be on this team after she led Team Europe to victory in 2021 with 4 ½ points, including a 5-and-4 drubbing of Jennifer Kupcho.
Nelly Korda
Age: 25
World Ranking: 3
Solheim Cup appearances: 2 (2019, 2021)
Solheim Cup record: 5-2-1
Speaking of stellar debuts, Nelly Korda had one herself in 2019 where she went 3-0-1 (as did sister, Jessica) in a losing effort by just one point. In 2021, she lost both foursomes matches but won in singles and fourball.
Charley Hull
Age: 27
World Ranking: 8
Solheim Cup appearances: 5 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Solheim Cup record: 11-5-3
Hull made her debut in 2013 as a 17-year-old and in five appearances has never had a losing record in a Solheim Cup. Her best performance was a 4-1-1 record in 2015, where her only loss came to veteran Cristie Kerr, 3 and 2, in singles.
Angel Yin
Age: 24
World Ranking: 34
Solheim Cup appearances: 2 (2017, 2019)
Solheim Cup record: 3-2-1
Angel Yin was a captain’s pick this year, with Stacy Lewis praising her team room vibe as well as her performances in the last two Cups. Yin has yet to play a foursomes match and is 2-2-0 in fourballs. She halved with Karine Icher in 2017 singles and defeated Azahara Munoz, 2 and 1, in 2019.
Celine Boutier
Age: 29
World Ranking: 5
Solheim Cup appearances: 2 (2019, 2021)
Solheim Cup record: 5-1-1
Stop me if you’ve heard this before but Boutier went a flawless 4-0-0 in her debut in 2019, where none of her matches made it to the 18th hole. Her one loss came in 2021 alongside Sophia Popov in fourball.
Jennifer Kupcho
Age: 26
World Ranking: 29
Solheim Cup appearances: 1 (2021)
Solheim Cup record: 2-1-1
Kupcho didn’t have a blemish-free debut in 2021 but she was a solid player for the Americans as a rookie (her aforementioned singles match aside). She was paired with Lizette Salas for her other three matches, who is not on the team for this year’s event.
Georgia Hall
Age: 27
World Ranking: 16
Solheim Cup appearances: 3 (2017, 2019, 2021)
Solheim Cup record: 7-5-1
Hall has twice had a losing record in 2017 (2-3-0) and 2021 (1-2-1), but once again was perfect in 2019 at 4-0-0. She defeated Lexi Thompson, 2 and 1, that year and paired well with Boutier to win twice in foursomes and once in fourball.
Anna Nordqvist
Age: 33
World Ranking: 39
Solheim Cup appearances: 7 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Solheim Cup record: 14-10-3
Nordqvist was originally slated to be an assistant captain for this year’s squad then ended up qualifying via her world ranking. Making her eighth appearance for the European side, Nordqvist has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Blue and Yellow stars. She’s had just one losing record in 2019 (1-2-0) and has put at least 2 points on the board for her side in the other six events.
Caroline Hedwall
Age: 34
World Ranking: 122
Solheim Cup appearances: 4 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019)
Solheim Cup record: 8-6-1
If you look at Hedwall’s world ranking, you might scratch your head as to why she was picked. Her 8-6-1 record is boosted by her record-setting performance in 2013 where she became the first player (and still only) player in event history to score 5 points.
