Inkster named U.S. Solheim Cup captain for record 3rd time

[January 31, 2018]    Juli Inkster was named the United States' Solheim Cup captain for a record third consecutive time Tuesday.

The 31-time winner on the LPGA Tour led the U.S. to Solheim Cup victories in 2015 and 2017. Inkster, who has also won seven major titles and is a member of the LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame, will lead Team USA against Europe on the PGA Centenary Course at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, from Sept. 13-15, 2019.

"This is an unbelievable honor and one I do not take lightly," Inkster said. "I'm so stoked to be able to take the U.S. Team to Scotland, the home of golf, to compete in the 2019 Solheim Cup. We can't wait to get started."

Inskter, 57, will become the first three-time captain for Team USA, which holds a 10-5 all-time record against Team Europe in Solheim Cup history.

"Well, it was to me a no-brainer, I love doing it," Inkster said when asked what motivated her to return for a third stint as captain. "I love being around the girls, I love the camaraderie, it's a lot of work, but it's fun. When you can come together and all of a sudden the week's there and everything comes together the way it should and the ladies are ready to play, it to me was a no-brainer.

"The last two years have been really the best part of my golfing career and I've been pretty lucky to have some nice memories. So it's been fun."

Team Europe will be captained by Catriona Matthew. The two captains played in six of the same Solheim Cups, but split their only two head-to-head meetings, both in opening-day foursomes.

"Congratulations to Juli on this announcement. She's done an amazing job in the last two Solheim Cups, and throughout her Solheim career, and will certainly be a formidable opponent at Gleneagles," Matthew said. "Juli is someone who I have admired very much over the years in all that she has achieved both on and off the golf course, and I am delighted she will be my opposite number for the 2019 match. I've definitely picked up some valuable insights into Juli's captaincy style over the last two matches, so I am excited we are both now in place and are ready to get down to business."

--Field Level Media

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