One of the greatest golfers in the world, Suzann Pettersen boasts an impressive list of wins including two majors and fifteen victories on the professional American tour. And now it’s official: Pettersen will captain the European team at the Solheim Cup 2023. The legendary women’s championship will be held at Finca Cortesín (Casares, province of Malaga) in September next year.
The Norwegian golfer is a veteran of the Solheim Cup having represented Europe nine times as a player and two times as assistant captain. As part of the European team, she helped secure five wins, including the most recent victories at Gleneagles (Scotland) and the Inverness Club (Ohio, USA).
Fuente: Getty Images
Suzann Pettersen, a legend of women’s golf
Pettersen made her debut as a player in the Solheim Cup at Interlachen Golf and Country Club in Minnesota in 2002 during her first year on the Ladies European Tour. She then went on to play the following seven editions, helping secure European wins in the years 2003, 2011 and 2013, before, in 2019, playing the winning putt which she later said was the best shot of her career.
Suzann Pettersen, who reached number two on the Rolex Ranking (the women’s world golf ranking), has collected 21 professional titles at the LET and LPGA Tour, including the McDonald’s LPGA Championship 2007 and the Evian Championship 2013. The Solheim Cup, however, holds a special place in her heart as she has unforgettable memories of playing alongside her European colleagues.
Fuente: 2015 Getty Images
An epic retirement
Pettersen is known for having one of the most dramatic retirements that a player can ever imagine. After holing the winning putt at the Solheim Cup 2019 for Europe, the golfer announced that she was to retire as nothing could ever top that moment.
However, at last year’s Solheim Cup, Pettersen acted as assistant captain to Matthews. She was named captain of the 2023 edition of the matches as it seemed logical to give the leadership to a name who knows the championship and the players like the back of her hand. Pettersen has said that being captain of the Solheim is a dream come true, adding that she feels at home in the Costa del Sol: “Spain is my second home, I’ve had some great moments here and have always felt supported.”
The countdown to the Solheim Cup 2023
The Solheim Cup will be held from the 18 to the 23 September 2023 on the spectacular course at Finca Cortesín (Casares). For the first time in the history of the tournament, the United States and Europe will face each other in Spain, a landmark event that will put the Costa del Sol on the sporting map. The Spanish government has named the Solheim Cup 2023 an event of exceptional public interest. It is the first ladies golf event to be awarded this distinction, showcasing the competition’s importance on the international stage.
The Costa del Sol has over 70 world-class courses, many of which have been named the best in Europe. The beautiful weather, countless activities to be enjoyed off the course and hotels specialising in golf travel make the destination an unbeatable choice for international tournaments. Discover the Costa del Golf, golfers’ favourite destination in Europe.
