Lopez hopes Solheim's 'Big Girls' inspire her 'Little Girls'

Some of the best female golfers in the world will be in the Chicago area next week to play in the Solheim Cup.

Or, as golf legend Nancy Lopez fondly refers to them: the "Big Girls."

And compared to her girls, that's exactly what they are.

Lopez is playing an important role in the "Little Girls" version of the Solheim Cup. She is captain (i.e. coach) of the U.S. junior team that will take on Europe in the coordinating PING Junior Solheim Cup Monday through Wednesday at Aurora Country Club.

The U.S. team will be trying to win back the Cup it lost two years ago to Europe when the Junior Solheim Cup was played in Sweden.

Meanwhile, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, the "Big Girls" will be gearing up for the main event.

They'll spend the early part of next week practicing and interacting with fans. Then, on Friday, they'll start their own tournament, the Solheim Cup.

"This is an experience they'll never forget," Lopez said of her 12 players, who range in age from 14 to 18. "After we compete ourselves, we get to go (to Rich Harvest Farms) and see the "Big Girls" play - some of the best players in the whole world.

"It's going to inspire them," she said. "They're going to get to see people who have games that other people just dream about."

The U.S. "Big Girls" Solheim Cup team includes stars such as Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, Juli Inkster and Michelle Wie.

Interestingly, Creamer, Pressel and Lincicome were all once junior Solheim Cup players themselves.

"I think you could say (the junior Solheim Cup players) definitely will be (the stars of tomorrow)," said the 52-year-old Lopez, who won 48 LPGA Tour events, including three LPGA Championships, over her career before she cut back on golf significantly in 2003 to care for her three daughters. "I have some great little players on this team.

"I went out and watched them play (recently) and they hit the ball wonderfully. Long. Very long. I don't remember hitting the ball that long at age 14."

Lopez probably could have held her own, though. She was known as a power hitter who could drive balls 225 to 230 yards at age 12.

But she says the players of today are even further along physically, and, without question, mentally.

"These girls have got a maturity level I didn't have," Lopez said. "They've played so much golf already. I was walking around like a deer in headlights when I was their age."

Lopez, who played in the 1990 Solheim Cup and was captain of the 2005 "Big Girls" Solheim Cup team, says that she's been particularly impressed with Alexis Thompson, Jessica Korda, Tiffany Lua and Jennifer Johnson, but that all 12 of her players bring something important to the table.

Her job is to advise them when she can but to also make sure that they stay relaxed and have fun.

"I'd like to teach these girls the things my dad taught me as a junior player," said Lopez, who was named the LPGA Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in 1978. "He taught me to have fun and to enjoy golf. He always told me I'd only be good at it if I enjoyed it. He never put the pressure on me to perform perfectly all the time. He knew I wasn't going to do that.

"I'm not going to do that to these girls. I'll let them know I expect the best from them, but if they don't play great one day or if they don't win a match, I'll still have a hug for them."

Lopez, who is hoping to slowly resurrect her own game to the point that she'll be able to play in five to six LPGA events each year, is hoping that at the end of the Junior Solheim there will be plenty of hugs to go around.

"We have a great team," Lopez said. "We want to win this cup back. And I feel that we will."

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

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