Golf Central

Pop down the garage and get some flowers won't you?

The finest golfers from both sides of the Atlantic head to Sweden this weekend for the Solheim Cup. Nathalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer will feature alongside a host of Swedish beauties but don’t expect a calendar anytime soon... 

1. The Solheim Cup was founded by Karsten and Louise Solheim, makers of Ping Golf equipment – wonder why they didn’t call it the Ping Cup?

 2. The first Solheim Cup was held at Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida in 1990. Not actually IN the lake you understand, but on the golf course nearby. It was won by the USA 11.5-4.5.

3. Laura Davies of England is the only woman to play in every Solheim Cup.

4. In 1990, Trish Johnson expressed her overwhelming relief when she found out she was up against old-timer Pat Bradley, who subsequently heard the reaction and stuffed the former English champion, 8&7.

5. The matches were moved to odd-numbered years to stay opposite the Ryder Cup, which was switched to even-numbered years because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

6. Catrin Nilsmark posted a scouting report on the U.S. team on a Swedish Web site, which the LPGA Tour translated and passed out in the locker room. Nilsmark reportedly said Michele Redman had "absolutely no talent." She referred to Cristie Kerr as a "brat" and suggested Meg Mallon was over the hill. 

7. On the 18th green of the 1998 Cup at Muirfield, just as Marie Laure de Lorenzi was about to make a crucial chip, Dottie Pepper chose to incite the Americans in the crowd and whip them up into a patriotic fervour. Laura Davies was reportedly so angry, that she took out her frustrations on a blow-up doll which she had labelled 'Dottie Pepper'. No not in THAT way.

8. In 2000, the Americans were called bad sports for making Annika Sorenstam replay her chip-in for birdie because she played out of turn (and American’s never act out of turn), a scene that intensified when U.S. captain Pat Bradley charged onto the green at Loch Lomond and left Sorenstam in tears.

9. Catriona Matthew further cleared the Loch Lomond toilets of Kleenex; fleeing in tears after playing no more than a practice round in 2000 following her public spat with captain, Dale Reid. Matthew said Reid had never contacted her before leaving her out of the team.

10. Paula Creamer raised a few eyebrows and made a few headlines in 2005 for talking dirty when she announced “all I can say is they’d better get ready, because they’re going to get beat.” Luckily she followed through on her promise, or the words she would have been forced to eat may have led to her putting on a few unsightly pounds.