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\nThe United States had already brought one of its most inexperienced teams in Solheim Cup history to Scotland this week when a back injury nagging Stacy Lewis flared up in practice.<\/p>\n
\nOut went one of the Americans’ few seasoned players \u2014 a major champion and a former world No. 1.<\/p>\n
\nIn came another rookie in Ally McDonald, lifting the number of debutants in the 12-woman team to six.<\/p>\n
\nThe chances of a U.S. three-peat just got that bit tougher.<\/p>\n
\nThe Solheim Cup \u2014 women’s golf’s premier team event \u2014 starts on Friday at Gleneagles with U.S. captain Juli Inkster billing it as the veterans vs. the rookies.<\/p>\n
\n“We’ll just have to see how it plays out,” Inkster said. “We could get creamed or we could make a match of it.”<\/p>\n
\nSeeking a record-tying third straight victory over Europe, the U.S. has only four players left over from the win in Iowa in 2017 \u2014 Lexi Thompson, Daniella Kang, Lizette Salas and Angel Yin. Nine of the team are playing in their first away match in the Solheim Cup.<\/p>\n
\nThere are only a combined 14 previous appearances in the whole squad, with Lewis’ withdrawal robbing the team of a four-time Solheim Cupper. There’s no Cristie Kerr (nine appearances), Paula Creamer (seven appearances) or Michelle Wie (five appearances).<\/p>\n
\nThrow in the fact that the Americans have lost both of their previous matches in Scotland \u2014 at Dalmahoy in 1992 and at Loch Lomond in 2000 \u2014 and there’s a lot going the European team’s way.<\/p>\n
\n“I have a question mark on how they are going to respond to playing in Scotland in front of those crowds,” said Inkster, who was captain in 2015 and ’17. “There’s a lot up in the air \u2014 the weather is such a huge factor in everything \u2014 and it depends on how they handle it.”<\/p>\n
\nThe Europeans trail 10-5 overall but four of their five victories have come at home. They might take inspiration from Europe’s win in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014.<\/p>\n
\nLike with Paul McGinley five years ago, Europe has a diligent, calm captain who comes alive in the team room and has the Solheim Cup in her blood.<\/p>\n
\nCatriona Matthew has played in nine matches, most recently in 2017 when she won three points from a possible four to move into third place on the all-time points list on 22.<\/p>\n
\nNow she is captaining the team in her home country.<\/p>\n
\n“If we win, it will be right up there with my best days in golf,” said Matthew, who won the Women’s British Open in 2009.<\/p>\n
\nBy selecting Suzann Pettersen as a wild card, Matthew has brought into the team a player with just three tournaments to her name in the past two years \u2014 she has had injuries and took time off last year to have a baby \u2014 but also the experience of eight previous appearances.<\/p>\n
\nThe last one stands out.<\/p>\n
\nAt the 2015 Solheim Cup at St. Leon-Rot in Germany, Pettersen refused to concede a short putt to Alison Lee on the 17th hole of a tight fourballs match before the singles. There were tears and angry exchanges, and it stoked a fire inside the Americans as they fought back from 10-6 down going into the singles to win 14 1\/2-13 1\/2.<\/p>\n
\nFour years on, the Solheim Cup still burns strongly inside the Norwegian.<\/p>\n
\n“Catriona’s gone a little bit out of the way to put me on the team and I’ll take that pressure,” Pettersen said.<\/p>\n
\n“I feel I was born for this match.”<\/p>\n
\nThere are three rookies in the European team, in Anne Van Dam, Celine Boutier and Bronte Law, but seven players who have featured in at least three Solheim Cups.<\/p>\n
\nThere was a minor alarm this week when the clubs of wild card pick Jodi Ewart Shadoff failed to arrive in Scotland following a trans-Atlantic flight. They turned up two days later.<\/p>\n
\nIn every other respect, Europe appears fully ready for the Americans.<\/p>\n
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\nMore AP golf: https:\/\/apnews.com\/apf-Golf and https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports <\/p>\n
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\nSteve Douglas is www.twitter.com\/sdouglas80 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n