‘Feels Like a Win’: Despite a Tragic Ending, Team USA Leader Stacy Lewis Makes an Honest Confession About 2023 Solheim Cup Result

The current season’s Solheim Cup has finally come to an end, with Europe emerging as the three-time trophy winner. The greens in Spain this year witnessed intense competition, neck-and-neck scores, and a lot of on and off-course camaraderie on both sides. As Team Europe celebrates its third win, Team America faces more hurdles to overcome after the tied match score. But absorbing the tough loss gracefully, American captain Stacy Lewis shared her honest thoughts about the tournament and the players.

On the Sunday singles of the 2023 Solheim Cup, Team Europe secured a crucial victory with Carlota Ciganda‘s win over Nelly Korda, where Nelly scored 1 against Carlota Ciganda’s 3. This contributed to the overall score of 14-13 in favor of Europe. The game ended in a tie with an overall score of 14-14 after Lexi Thompson’s victory against Emily Pedersen. However, even though America won the last round, Europe had already retained the Cup.

Stacy Lewis talks about the game from the captain’s perspective

Following the match, in a press conference with the Golf Channel, the players and the captains fielded questions related to the game. American captain Stacy Lewis was asked how the American team was processing the tie score and what emotions the team was experiencing. The question posed was, “Does it feel like a win? Does it feel like a loss?“

In response, the American captain stated, “… the whole week in general feels like a win. I mean, just considering where we were coming from in Toledo to where this team is now, it was a win. And that’s all that matters.” She further elaborated, “I think it’s more about these girls, where they are mentally, how they felt about this… they were crying because it meant something to them, and that’s all I was trying to achieve this week.”

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The composure displayed by the captain in her response, along with her statement about her objectives for the game, reinforces the notion that she adhered to her strict strategy throughout the match.

Lewis’s strategy and tactics for Team USA

In this Solheim Cup, American captain Stacy Lewis seemed to rely on data-driven analytics when making decisions about pairings and strategies. She carefully analyzed player statistics and took into account player personalities and equipment choices. Her choices were backed by data, and she was particularly impressed by Lexi Thompson’s performance, which aligned with the analytics.

In contrast, Lewis kept her pairings flexible and guided by data, while Pettersen took a more structured approach. Pettersen might choose to rest some players on the first day based on her instincts. Both captains understand the importance of balancing statistical analysis with the human element in the world of professional golf.

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