Anna Nordqvist has praised Charley Hull’s performances at the Solheim Cup after deciding to send the Brit out in match one of the Sunday singles.
Much was expected of Hull heading into this week at Bernardus. The 30-year-old was the second highest ranked player on the European side following a season in which she finished inside the top-10 at three of the five majors.
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However, Hull has, so far, had a week to forget in the Netherlands.
Anna Nordqvist reacts to Charley Hull’s performance at the Solheim Cup
Anna Nordqvist has sent Charley Hull out with Lottie Woad in all four sessions over the first two days of the Solheim Cup. And yet, they have only managed to deliver half a point for the European side.
It was not entirely surprising to see Hull’s name put out for match one of the Sunday singles. She will face Megan Khang with the cup perfectly poised heading into the final 12 matches.
Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Despite Hull’s struggles, Nordqvist insisted she had been happy with how the world number eight has been playing this week as she explained why she was being sent out first.
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“Yeah, I mean, Charley started us out in Washington,” she said. “Charley’s been great, playing great for the last two days. She really hasn’t holed any putts. I watched her match today, this afternoon, for quite a few holes, and I mean, she’s right there where she needs to be. But it’s just that little bit of momentum that we all know is so important in the matches.
“So I have full confidence in her going out tomorrow, and I don’t think she really has anything to prove because we know all of what a great player she is.”
Nordqvist suggests whether Hull and Lottie Woad need to improve any aspects of their games
It has been a shock to see Hull and Woad struggle so much over the first two days. Neither player has been able to build any sort of momentum.
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A lot of the longer putts holed have seemingly been to tie holes, or not ended up mattering at all, because of the needless mistakes both players have made.
And when asked what Hull and Woad need to improve upon on Sunday, Nordqvist suggested that they are playing much better than many realise.
“I think a lot of it is just for them to keep doing what they have been doing. Lottie’s been hitting it great. I think she was six or seven-under par in the best ball yesterday afternoon and they got beat. I mean, this morning the Americans played great, I think they were seven-under after 11 holes,” she said.
“We’re playing the best players in the world from both teams, so it’s going to be some tough matches, going to be a lot of good golf not being rewarded. That’s just golf. We see in match play it’s such a fine line by making a putt when you need it the most, getting the momentum, getting a good bounce.
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“So I think they’re doing everything they can, or, everything right, but they just haven’t really holed those momentum putts this week. So I have full trust and confidence in them and they have both been playing really solid this week, so I’m looking forward to see them play tomorrow.”
Nordqvist will not need anyone to tell her what criticism she will face if Europe go on to lose the Solheim Cup by a narrow margin.
Asking Hull and Woad to play all four matches together over the first two days was a huge gamble, particularly when it became clear on Saturday morning that they were still not firing on all cylinders.
With Mimi Rhodes and Esther Henseleit both winning their two matches across the first three sessions, there are many European fans who would have found a way to get them both out again on Saturday afternoon.
It is now the Americans who seem to have the momentum with one session to go.
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