U.S. golfers hope to erase Solheim Cup memories

The U.S. women will be seeking revenge when the Solheim Cup tees off at the Colorado Golf Club later this week.

Two years ago, the Americans headed into the final day of the Cup tied 8-8 with Europe but watched their three toughest players -- Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr -- struggle in the wind and rain en route to a 15-13 loss.

“I remember the feeling waking up Monday morning in Ireland and thinking, ‘Man, I’m going to have to listen to the Europeans for two years,”’ said Angela Stanford, another team member. “So we hear it and we seem them every week when we play against them, and so I think that our team has used it as motivation.”

That memorable day at Killeen Castle left Creamer and Kerr in tears. Lewis, the reigning Women’s British Open champion, called it a turning point in her career.

“It changed me as a golfer and as a person,” she said. “I learned so much about myself and how to handle adversity, handle a tough situation on and off the golf course.”

The U.S. holds an 8-4 lead in the biennial, 24-player competition, which begins Friday in Parker, Colo. Europe has never won on U.S. soil.

“I think this is all we want to play for, every two years,” European team member Azahara Munoz said. “So it’s gone by pretty quick, but I think we are all really happy to be back.”

U.S. player Brittany Lincicome said: “We want to get that cup back pretty bad. Obviously being in the States, it’s just going to help give us that little bit of edge that we need to kind of pull it through come Sunday.”

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