The US Solheim Cup team hope words of encouragement from Barack Obama can inspire them to complete “unfinished business” when facing Europe this weekend.
Obama was a surprise visitor to a Team USA dinner in Washington DC on Monday evening. The 44th president of the US had scope to offer special insight; he has been a member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, where the Solheim Cup is being contested, since 2017. A relaxed Obama posed for pictures with Stacy Lewis and her US squad.
Europe defeated the US in 2019 and 2021. When this event was last staged, in Spain last year, a tie allowed the Europeans to retain the trophy. “We got some unfinished business,” Nelly Korda, the US team’s world No 1, said.
Megan Khang expanded on Korda’s point. “Some people have asked me what one word would be to describe Team USA this year and I’m just going to say ‘hungry’,” she said.
“Nelly and I, being on the same amount of Solheim Cups and not getting the job done kind of leaves not necessarily the best taste in your mouth. Luckily we didn’t have to wait two years. We have this year to get back at it and I can tell you now we’re more hungry than ever.”
Obama made quite the impression. “He knew all of our names,” Korda said. “He congratulated all of us on all of our success as well.” Khang, the world No 21, was even more effusive. “It was just super cool to have a past president show up to team dinner,” she said.
