Rosie Jones to lead Americans in next year's Solheim Cup

Published on Wednesday 24 February 2010 22:23

ROSIE Jones, a 13-time winner on the LPGA Tour who played on seven different Solheim Cup sides, will captain the American team in next year's match at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland.

"I am honoured and absolutely ecstatic," said Jones, a playing member of the first US Solheim Cup team in 1990 who also sank the putt to clinch the 2002 event. "The Solheim Cup has been a huge part of my career as a player, and now it will be even more exciting as I prepare for what promises to be another great Solheim Cup in Ireland."

There, Alison Nicholas will be her European counterpart, the English golfer having been re- appointed following the 2009 match in Illinois, where the Americans made it 8-3 in the overall series in front of a record crowd of 120,000.

Jones recorded 12 points over seven Solheim Cups, her most recent appearance coming at the 2005 event Crooked Stick, Indiana, where the US won by three points, tying the closest match in the history of the event.

"Rosie Jones is a terrific choice to lead the American team at the 2011 Solheim Cup in Ireland," said John Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO. "As a seven-time participant in the event, including the very first one in 1990, her Solheim Cup experience provides her tremendous insight into team dynamics and what it takes to get the most out of every player."

&#149 World No 1 Lorena Ochoa will have to fend off a strong field if she's to win her first tournament of the year at the $1.3 million HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore starting today. All but one of the top 25 female golfers – world No 8 Paula Creamer is injured – will tee off at the Tanah Merah Country Club, including last year's winner and world No 2, Jiyai Shin of South Korea, and Scotland's Catriona Matthew, the Ricoh Women's British Open champion.