American captain Stacy Lewis says she wishes she had 12 players like Lexi Thompson as the United States attempt to win their first Solheim Cup since 2017.
Thompson, one of the biggest names in the women’s game over the past decade has been selected as one of Lewis’ three wildcard picks for the match against Europe at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, which begins on Friday.
The 29-year-old is making her seventh and final appearance in the competition after announcing her retirement from full-time golf, and Lewis, who played alongside Thompson in three previous editions says she has become synonymous with the event.
“Her legacy, is her and the Solheim Cup,” said Lewis.
“The way she is with the crowd and the fans, this event is Lexi to a tee. She plays better golf here and gets more excited to play golf here. She’s going to do whatever it takes to win and I wish I had 12 of her.”
Thompson has won 15 times since turning professional in 2010 and secured her only major title in the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship – now renamed the Chevron Championship.
In the Solheim Cup she has claimed 12½ points from her 23 matches, including three from four in last year’s thrilling 14-14 draw in Spain that saw Europe retain the trophy.
“She’s one of those you could literally pair with anybody,” Lewis added.
“It’s a massive void [losing her]. Whoever is the next captain needs to get her as an assistant, that’s all I can say. Lexi needs to be there in the team room. She needs to be around these girls. She’s just great energy to have around.”
Thompson, who has been a fixture for the US since making her debut in 2013, admitted she would be keen on such a role in the future.
“I’d love to be still a part of it in any way just because I know how special it’s been for me,” she said.
“[I am] learning off the assistants and Stacy of course, and I know there’s a lot that goes into it. I’ll have to make sure I’m ready for that [but] I’m focusing on the golf part of it right now.”
Lewis plays down ‘pressure’ on US to end Europe’s hot streak
A partisan crowd is expected to be firmly behind Lewis’ team when hostilities on the course get under way on Friday morning.
And with world number one Nelly Korda and number two Lilia Vu, also at her disposal the hosts are strong favourites to recapture the cup.
The American side also have the added incentive of trying to prevent Europe from retaining the trophy for a record fourth consecutive occasion.
However, Lewis, who has installed a karaoke machine on the team bus to help lighten the atmosphere says her players will not feel any extra pressure to succeed in Virginia.
“It’s like getting ready for final exams at school. Hopefully there’s a pretty good party on Sunday night,” she added.
“This team is hungry and they want to have fun doing it. I don’t feel any pressure when I’m in that team room or when I’m around the girls. I don’t think they feel pressure.
“If we win, we stop the streak. If we lose, the streak keeps going. I would love to stop it, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t see it as pressure.
“What I’ve seen at Solheim Cups and teams that I’ve been on, the ones that are more relaxed [are more successful].”
Lewis calls for mixed Presidents Cup
The Solheim Cup has returned to being played in alternative years from the Ryder Cup as the golf calendar rights itself after it was affected by Covid.
And while Lewis reiterated her comments from last year about both the Solheim and Ryder Cup not doing enough to promote each other when they shared the spotlight in Spain and Italy last year, she conceded she was “indifferent” about whether it is better to be in the same year or alternate.
However, she did say she would “love to see the Presidents Cup become mixed”.
“It’s the perfect way to blend the two Tours and the international team will get better very quickly,” she added.
The Presidents Cup is a men’s matchplay event that sees the United States take on an international team featuring players from the rest of the world outside Europe.
Four of the first six editions of the contest were held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and it has been a one-sided series with the US leading 12-1, with one tied match.
However, while the top two women in the world rankings are American – Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu – the next six would all be eligible to play for the International team.
The next Presidents Cup takes place in Montreal at the end of September.
