Say Solheim Cup and Caroline Hedwall's mouth waters. The prestige battle between Europe and the United States has in many ways defined her career, as it is here that she has achieved some of her most memorable successes.
Like in 2013 when Hedwall made history by winning all five matches when the USA was defeated in Colorado. Like in 2023 when she, who was the last to join the European team, became a great hero by making five birdies on the last six holes to turn her singles match around at Finca Cortesín in Spain.
This week the role is different, as one of Anna Nordqvist's three vice-captains at Bernardus in the Netherlands.
I was really happy when Anna asked me. We have a bit of the same vision of how to create a good team, says Hedwall.
And what does that vision look like?
Above all, it should be really fun. Europe is always the underdog on paper, we can't get away from that. But we want to create an atmosphere where you do everything for the team, where you raise yourself just because you think it's so damn fun.
“Dreamed of”
As a player, Caroline Hedwall experienced five Solheim Cups and only once did Europe lose.
I love this competition, it was the one I dreamed of playing when I was little.
Asian dominance means that only three of the world's 15 highest-ranked players are in this year's Solheim Cup. But that doesn't worry Hedwall.
"It's the history and the prestige that makes it so. It's one of the biggest tournaments on the tours and a fantastic event for women's golf. When I made my debut in Ireland (2011) I thought it was huge already, but now the stands are three times as big. So it feels like Solheim is developing in the right direction," says Hedwall.
Made a comeback
She recently made a comeback on the European tour after an 18-month hiatus. A temporary comeback - or the start of a longer new venture?
Hedwall barely knows herself.
I know I still have a lot of good golf in me, but to get it out I also have to love it. I want to give it a chance now and then I will evaluate whether I want to continue or what to come up with.
Maybe work as a criminologist?
"Yes, I have a degree in criminology, which I took during Covid. I thought it was a fantastically interesting time and I learned a lot, but I don't really know if it will be useful or not," says Hedwall, who at least doesn't have to ponder her immediate future plans.
The Solheim Cup begins on Friday morning.
Facts: Solheim Cup
The women's golf team competition between Europe and the United States has been held every other year since 1990, with the exception of 2023 and 2024 when the competition was held two years in a row.
The United States has won eleven out of 19 times.
The competition is decided over eight foursomes matches, eight best-ball matches and twelve singles matches.
A total of 28 points are at stake, meaning the first team to reach 14.5 points wins. If the final score is 14-14, the reigning champion team retains the trophy. This has happened once, in 2023, when Europe retained the trophy.
This year's competition will be played at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt in the Netherlands from Friday to Sunday. Anna Nordqvist is the captain and has Caroline Hedwall and Englishwoman Mel Reid as vice-captains.
Europe's team: Céline Boutier (France), Carlota Ciganda (Spain), Linn Grant (Sweden), Esther Henseleit (Germany), Charley Hull (England), Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Denmark), Julia López Ramirez (Spain/debutant), Leona Maguire (Ireland), Nastasia Nadaud (France/debutant), Mimi Rhodes (England/debutant), Maja Stark (Sweden), Lottie Woad (England/debutant).
