Her Solheim pedigree is second to none, but can the Swede get that delicate balance right? JOHN O'SULLIVANReports
AT FACE value describing Annika Sorenstam as being in slightly unfamiliar territory this week at Killeen Castle appears ludicrous given her Solheim Cup pedigree. The retired former world number one is the all-time leading points’ scorer (24) in the history of the tournament, amassing a staggering record of 22 wins and four halves from 37 matches.
This week though she’ll fulfil a role that’s she never previously undertaken as an assistant to European captain Alison Nicholas. In a team that contains five rookies, Sorenstam knows she must tread carefully, dispensing advice judiciously to nurture, while encouraging an independent thought process rather than mollycoddling.
She can’t hit any shots for her charges much as she might like to given her competitive instincts that have been re-fired this week. It’s a delicate balancing act of which she’s well aware. “You’re kind of reading my mind or maybe seen how I have acted out there. I’m extremely competitive.
“You want to be there, support them and you want to help them. But as a player previously, it’s so easy to say, ‘well this is what I would have done’. Not that it really matters to them. But then again you want to help them as much as you can because you know what it takes.
“As a rookie I made a lot of mistakes, and later in my career, I didn’t make them. So you want to share with them, ‘hey, don’t make the same mistakes I did’. I have to admit I have to juggle that back and forth, step away a bit and look at it more from another perspective. It’s a good test for me. It just makes me think about being a mom and my kids playing sport down the road, that I have got to let them do it: support them but not do it for them.”
The phrase team spirit carries a greater resonance in tournaments of this ilk because it provides an X-factor that can transform underdogs into best in show: the best players don’t always make for the best team.
Sorenstam believes that the meshing process begins at the top. “Well, it starts with the captain and just funnels down; her approach, her attitude, the things that she’s bringing into the team. Alison has done a wonderful job as far as collecting information, inspirational videos from other captains, other players (and introducing) fun games in the playroom, mixing players and caddies together; keeping it light and fun.
“Then obviously it’s business when you come here. You can’t force everyone together, give them instructions of what they’re to do for five days and think they’re going to play good golf. You have to let them be individual and prepare the way they normally do so they can feel comfortable.”
On that note, the Swede points out that while a well chosen word here and there can help, the outcome of the matches rests fundamentally in the hands of the players. “One speech directly to a team player could inspire them; it could take some of their doubts out of their minds.
“I do think that it is the whole week that matters. You need to be hitting good shots, making putts. But I think having the right head on the right shoulders and feeling comfortable (is important). When you play any other week, you need to feel good. You need to like the golf course. You need to be swinging well, need to be in a positive frame of mind.
“There is nothing different this week. In the end it’s golf and you’re got to hit it from A to B in as few shots as possible.”
Her reintroduction to the Solheim scene after missing the last encounter two years ago has rekindled some great memories from previous encounters and perhaps germinated a desire to be a European captain at some point in the future. Sorenstam smiled: “we’ll see.”
This week offers more pressing business starting this morning when some nervous players will look for her comforting presence.
