LHEIM
SPOTLIGHT
Coughlin Hopes to Help Team USA Regain Solheim Cup by LISA D . MICKEY
USGA
T here will be a sense of urgency when Team USA rolls into Virginia this fall to host the Solheim Cup .
The American side has lost the last three events , with the most recent staging of the Solheim Cup retained by Europe after a 14-14 tie in Spain . Team USA will be looking to change the momentum on home soil when the biennial Europe vs . United States team match-play event is staged Sept . 13-15 , at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville .
Certainly , the Americans hope to do that by tapping into their team leader , Nelly Korda , who has enjoyed a stellar season that — as of the time this article was written — has produced seven top-10 finishes with one major championship , including six wins in 12 tournaments . That streak also included a record-setting five consecutive wins and six victories in seven consecutive starts .
“ It ’ s been an amazing time ,” said Korda , 25 , earlier this summer , before heading into the Paris Olympics as the defending gold medalist in the women ’ s golf competition .
That ’ s an understatement for a 14-time LPGA Tour winner who has made impressive comebacks from various injuries in recent years . These include back ailments in 2020 , surgery in 2022 to remove a blood clot from her left arm , and a dog bite earlier this season that briefly sidelined the eight-year LPGA Tour veteran . Despite these challenges , she has already earned over $ 3 million in prize money for 2024 .
Korda ’ s big year has elicited praise from many , including the PGA TOUR ’ s Scottie Scheffler , who called her record winning streak “ extremely impressive .” Even beyond golf , Korda turned heads at the annual Met Gala in May at New York ’ s Metropolitan Museum of Art , where she shined in an Oscar de la Renta dress and strolled the red carpet alongside the top names in fashion , sports , and entertainment .
Korda ’ s 2024 highlights have also translated into commercial endorsements — her most recent with T-Mobile in a TV advertisement , in which she shatters a mirror with one of her trademark well-struck golf shots as she smiles at her own image .
But while the start of her season showcased unmatched confidence and competency , Korda also heads into the Solheim Cup hoping to change her wobbly play in recent summer events . She missed the two-day tournament cut in May at the U . S . Women ’ s Open , where she carded an uncharacteristic score of 10 on the tricky par-3 twelfth hole at Lancaster Country Club .
She also missed the cut in her next two tournaments , including the KPMG Women ’ s PGA Championship — a major that she won in 2021 . At her next major , the Amundi Evian Championship , Korda finished tied for 26th .
And while Korda hopes to get back to top form by the Solheim Cup this fall , other capable teammates may have to assume even greater roles . The team ’ s roster will be finalized on Aug . 25 , with 2024 season winner Lilia Vu right behind Korda in the U . S . Team points standings , followed by Ally Ewing in the No . 3 spot .
COUGHLIN ’ S RISE
Perhaps Team USA ’ s best secret weapon is Virginia native Lauren Coughlin , , who climbed to No . 4 in the U . S . team rankings by early August on the strength of seven top-10 finishes , including her first LPGA tournament win at the CPKC
Women ’ s Open . Prior to that victory , Coughlin ’ s best 2024 performances had come at major championships , with a tie for third at the Chevron Championship and a solo fourth at the Amundi Evian Championship .
Coughlin ’ s season has featured steady improvement that has been devoid of fanfare . She set goals . She worked on specific shots in her game . She found a veteran caddie to guide her , and she largely vsga . org S EPTEMBER / O CTOBER 2024 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
23