U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Beth Daniel spreads the wealth around vs. lopsided Europeans

I know the Europeans are the socialists and all, but American Beth Daniel is the captain who has been spreading the wealth around in the first two days of Solheim Cup competition.

Eurpean Captain Alison Nicholas was quite lopsided with her pairings Day 1 and 2, apparently banking on Suzann Petterson to carry the team by playing each match thus far.

But that’s backfired. Petterson is probably going to have to be carried around the back nine in singles tomorrow the way her body has given out. She’s 1-3-0 and looks gassed.

While Laura Davies’ sidelining was justified after she was romped 5 & 4 on Friday, two Europeans who will be playing with a chip on their shoulder in Sunday singles are two relative unknowns over in America: Diana Luna and Tania Elosequi. Luna sat out Friday and played just one match this morning and halved her fourball match with Catriona Matthew. Elosequi won her only match, paired with Helen Alfredsson in Friday Fourballs.

I’m not sure why these players have only played once, while Maria Hjorth, who has seemed shaky at times, has played three times.

Daniel has been the better captain thus far. Each of her players have played at least twice and everyone has sat at least once. That’s a good way to keep all the players fresh and rallying around each other. You would think that if you have the twelve best players in your country (or continent), there would be no real weakest link and each would deserve to play at least two of the four matches - like Paul Azinger did at the Ryder Cup last year.

Nick Faldo took plenty of heat after his debatable Ryder Cup strategy, and Nicholas should feel some heat from the media - or at least her own players - if things go the way it’s expected to tomorrow.

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