PARKER — On the final day of the rain-plagued U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, the LPGA brought some sunny news to the Front Range.
Colorado Golf Club in Parker will host the biennial Solheim Cup in August 2013.
The Solheim Cup, which debuted in 1990, is three days of match-play competition between the top professional players in women’s golf from the United States and Europe.
Some players call the event “the Olympics of golf” because of its enthusiastic crowds and team format.
“There’s nothing like putting your golf clubs in a golf bag that says ‘United States of America’ on it,” said Morgan Pressel, a member of two victorious U.S. teams in Solheim Cup competition.
Team USA leads Europe 8-3 overall.
Pressel, 2011 Team USA captain Rosie Jones, assistant captain Juli Inkster, Vicky Hurst and Kristy McPherson spoke Monday at Colorado Golf Club.
The golfers managed to joke about the rough weather and daily delays at the 66th U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor. Laughs aside, Jones said the tournament was perfect preparation for the Solheim Cup competition.
“With the delays that were going on, they were planning to play more than 18 holes per day,” she said. “They were adjusting their food regimen. They were tired. They were stopping and getting stiff and having to go out and play at 8 o’clock at night. They have to be ready for that.”
There is no purse available at the Solheim Cup, only pride and a Waterford crystal cup.
At the 2009 Solheim Cup in Sugar Grove, Ill., near Chicago, almost 120,000 fans cheered on the teams and tournament officials estimated the event generated nearly $20 million for the local economy.
Doug Eibling, director of the 2013 Solheim Cup, said he hopes to increase both of those figures in two years.
The 12-member U.S. team will have the 10 Americans with the most points for wins and top-20 finishes over the past two years, plus two players of the captain’s choice. Members of Team USA have included Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie.
Inkster, one of this year’s U.S. assistant coaches, must choose between coaching and playing because she might have enough points to make the 2011 team. The U.S. team will be announced Aug. 21 after the Safeway Classic.
“If I make it by points, I will play,” Inkster said Monday to loud applause.
Sarah Kuta: 303-954-1033 or skuta@denverpost.com
