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(DAYTONA
BEACH, FL) - One of the most popular players in the history
of the Solheim Cup is switching sides. Not from America to
Europe…from player to captain.
Rosie Jones will trade in her
putter for a radio, plug in her earpiece and lead her
charges into battle at the
2011 Solheim Cup in Ireland, slated for September
23-25 at Killeen Castle.
“I
was totally shocked,” says Jones, a seven-time
Solheim Cup
standout. “I thought I had a good chance of being named, but
hadn’t heard from the LPGA, the selection committee or
anything leading me to believe I would be chosen,” she adds.
“I am happy, honored and flattered to be picked.”
She deserves it.
Rewind about 20 years to
Jones’ first Solheim Cup. Sure, she lost to Laura Davies in
the singles 3&2, but she also set an all time record with
Patty Sheehan in foursomes, defeating Dale Reid and Helen
Alfredsson 6&5. That remains the largest margin of victory
in foursomes to date. Jones teamed up with Pat Hurst in 1998
to earn the same distinction in four-ball, trouncing Hackney
and Gustafson 7&5. “Pat and I really put the hurt on Lisa
and Sophie that year,” recalls Jones, citing Hurst as one of
her best playing partners.
Study Jones’ Solheim Cup
stats more closely and you will see she’s played in more
four-ball matches (10) than any other U.S. player and only
trails Davies (16) and Annika Sorenstam (14) overall. She’s
won over 54% of the time and carries a career match record
of 11-9-2. Few U.S. players have experienced more head to
head international match play competition than Jones. In
fact, only Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster have
played in more Solheim Cup events.
“The Solheim Cup is the
ultimate test in women’s golf,” explains Jones. “The
intensity and stress of being on the team, the standard of
play that is showcased in the event, and the enthusiasm of
each team and their fans is unlike any experience in women’s
golf.” Having been there time and time again, Jones is more
than ready to take the helm and lead the U.S. Team to what
could be their ninth victory in 12 attempts. The U.S. has
won the last three meetings, including Jones’ final
appearance as a player in 2005 when she was paired with Meg
Mallon and won 1 ½ points for America.
“When Meg and I paired up
in 2005, we picked up points against some heavy hitters,”
smiles Jones. “I love to beat those long hitters. It really
gets to them.” Mallon and Jones defeated Maria Hjorth and
Iben Tinning, 3&2, proving that length can mean little in
match play. Often times it’s the putting that makes all the
difference. “I remember making many long crucial putts,”
says Jones, “but the best was in Indianapolis in 2005,
Saturday on the 18th hole. I was paired with Meg and we were
all square with Gustafson and Petterson. Meg and I had
similar putts from across the green - 50 feet up and over a
hump to the left side hole. Meg hit a great putt and missed.
I adjusted my line and made it for what we hoped would be a
winning point – a badly needed point,” continues Jones.
“Then, Gustafson made a great 15-footer right on top of me
to tie!”
Such is the way of match
play, but Jones revels in it. “It was a great match,” she
enthuses, “To have all the gallery and both teams there
watching the action unfold will be something I will never
forget.” And something she could easily experience again,
just from a slightly different perspective now that she has
the reins.
“I learned a lot from
Patty Sheehan that first year I played in the Solheim Cup –
how to stay collected, how to manage your game and how to
‘play’ match play,” says Jones. “But being captain of the
team adds a whole new dimension to my Solheim experience.”
For the past four years
and across two Solheim Cup competitions, Jones has served as
a television commentator on The Golf Channel. She’s
followed the action from the sidelines but not necessarily
felt sidelined. Something inside her said she would be back
in the thick of things before too long and that day has
arrived. Jones has been named to an elite group of Tour
professionals; only eight others have held the title of U.S.
Team Captain in Solheim Cup history: Kathy Whitworth, JoAnne
Carner, Judy Rankin, Pat Bradley, Patty Sheehan, Nancy
Lopez, Betsy King and Beth Daniel. All of these women have
dominated the LPGA Tour with their talent and personality
for decades. Jones has been right there with them.
With over 25 years on the
LPGA Tour and her vast Solheim Cup experience, Jones is a
great match for Europe’s repeat Captain and LET star, Alison
Nicholas. The two have met previously in Solheim Cup action.
Jones, paired with Becky Iverson, came out on top in Loch
Lomond in 2000, defeating Nicholas and Davies, but Europe
won the Cup. Jones and Nicholas have also teed it up for the
U.S. and World, respectively, in the
Handa Cup, an
international match play competition featured on
The Legends
Tour, official senior tour of the LPGA. The U.S. has won all
four Handa Cup tournaments.
As a player, Jones is a
fierce competitor, pretty much fearless with a club in her
hand. Take the club away, give her the bullhorn and what
have you got?
“I think the team will
see a lot of the same things they saw in me as a player -
ready to work harder than the next to make our team the
best,” says Jones. “I plan to rely on the same attributes,
core fundamentals, and principles that I followed in my
career to help me lead this team: dedication, hard work,
confidence, honesty and balance.”
Jones plans to visit the
course – a fairly new Jack Nicklaus design gracing Co Meath
– later this year to prepare. The Solheim Cup, played for
the first time in Ireland, will be Killeen Castle’s
inaugural professional golf test. “I am really looking
forward to the challenges of my new role,” says Jones, “and
to leading our U.S. Team to victory in Ireland!”
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