U.S. favored, but players know they're in for a battle

Angela Stanford has had enough.

She has read it, she has heard it, and, doggone it, she has been asked about it ad nauseum this week.

It goes something like this: How can the powerful U.S. team possibly lose to a bunch of no-name Europeans when the 2009 Solheim Cup tees off today, shining the spotlight of the golf world directly on Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove?

"I think we have a very strong opponent this week," Stanford said. "But you know, I think they have a lot more experience, and to be very blunt, I'm sick of hearing that we're the favorites.

"We need to go out and play like we're the underdogs because I think they're going to be ready to play and ready to fight, so we've got to have the mentality that we're the underdogs."

Good luck with that.

The Europeans have been loving every minute of this, quietly going about their business, feeling no pressure whatsoever but prepared to pounce once that first ball is thwacked onto the fairway of Golden Vane, hole No. 1 at Rich Harvest Farms.

They're confident because they know what they've got.

"We do (have a great team), but I also think we're the true underdogs," said Suzann Pettersen, who is the No. 6 player in the Rolex Rankings. "But I still think we have the best team.

"A lot of people over here don't really know all of our players, which I think could be a good thing. And they're actually playing very well - all of them."

In addition to having the edge in experience, the Europeans figure to gain from their overall length playing a Rich Harvest Farms layout that is set up to be the longest course in Solheim Cup history (6,670 yards). Add in a couple of recent drenching rains and -

"I thought it was long today, and I'm one of the longer hitters," U.S. player Brittany Lincicome said after her practice round Thursday. "I had three 4-irons into greens, which is unbelievable.

"If I'm saying it's long, it's a good challenge out there."

And the biennial showdown kicks off with a doozy of a pairing as the top two Americans in the world rankings - Cristie Kerr (third overall) and Paula Creamer (fourth) - take on Pettersen and veteran Sophie Gustafson in front of what promises to be the loudest, wackiest, most melodious bunch of golf fanatics ever assembled in these parts.

"Here, you hit it on the green, and even on a Tuesday they're roaring your name," said Michelle Wie, one of three rookies on the U.S. team, along with Kristy McPherson and Brittany Lang. "Just being on home ground and seeing your country's flag being waved around at all times - it's so fabulous."

Other intriguing morning-round four ball pairings include the oldest player in Cup history - Juli Inkster (49) playing alongside Stanford, and 19-year-old Wie and her roommate this week, Morgan Pressel, partnered in the final group.

It will end an odyssey for course owner and designer Jerry Rich, who a handful of years ago agreed to host the Solheim Cup, exposing to golf fans from around the area - and the world - a course that U.S. captain Beth Daniel termed "a masterpiece."

She's not alone.

"Rich Harvest Farms is an amazing facility," Kerr said. "It's a terrific golf course with some very unique characteristics, which is going to make it pretty exciting for match play."

After a good week of practice, Daniel is looking forward to her squad finally playing for keeps.

"I like what I'm seeing," Daniel said. "They're doing all the right things in the practice rounds. They're approaching it like a normal event, and that's how I want them to approach it."

So then, no pressure in being the team to beat?

"Are we heavily favored?" she said with a smile.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Photo Galleries</h2> <ul class="gallery"> <li><a href="/story/?id=315268">Thursday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=314990">Wednesday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=314617">Tuesday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=314310">Monday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/multimedia/?category=18&type=video&item=3">Solheim Cup Opening </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/multimedia/?category=18&type=video&item=2">Solheim Cup After Sundown party </a></li> </ul> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="/packages/2009/solheimcup/">Complete Daily Herald coverage of the Solheim Cup</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>