[PHOTO: David Cannon]

The European captain’s news conference at the Solheim Cup was emotional. The Americans hit big shots and dropped long putts en route to winning 15½-12½ at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. European captain Suzann Pettersen and her team of assistants were faced with the question of whether this is Pettersen’s last captaincy.

The question, and the potential of this chapter closing caused both Pettersen and assistant Anna Nordqvist to express the perspective the Solheim Cup experience has given them, and their appreciation for it.

Pettersen said that she hasn’t been asked to captain again. “This is kind of the end of my term as far as I know,” she said.

“What I’ve loved the most about doing this, and I really mean that from the bottom of my heart, is even though I haven’t been competitive playing week in, week out, I still feel like I’ve been a part of the player group,” Pettersen said. “As a retired player, you step away, you don’t see everyone every week, you miss seeing your friends on tour. So just feeling kind of a part of that player body has, for me, kind of gotten me up every morning wanting to make this as good of an experience for all of them.”

Nordqvist, who served as an assistant captain and player this year, played against Pettersen for years on the LPGA until Pettersen retired in 2019. After spending the week with Pettersen again, Nordqvist realises her importance to the game.

“Suzann, I’ve loved being able to be around her again,” Nordqvist said, trying to hold back tears. “I miss her on tour. Just being able to be part of her competitive spirit again. Most of the girls haven’t played in Suzann’s heydays and haven’t seen what an amazing athlete and person she is. Just having the honour to be part of that, it’s been quite the honour, and I’m really proud of her work, and being a part of this amazing team. They’ve all put their hearts out there, and that’s all we can ask for, and we gave it a run today.”

While Nordqvist had her own assessment of Pettersen’s contributions to the game, Pettersen similarly gained an understanding of what it means to be a part of a bigger story while at the Solheim Cup. She said that on the first tee on Saturday when she saw former LPGA commissioner Charlie Mechem.

“I couldn’t stop hugging him because it’s like those people, they made such a difference for all of us,” Pettersen said. “All of a sudden I’m standing there kind of relishing moments like back at the Bay Hill when Arnie, him and myself [were] just standing there fooling around. It was just a fantastic face to see, and I was so happy for him to be there. That’s what this game is about.

“At the end of the day, win or lose, I know I’m competitive. I hate to lose. I can’t say anything else. But at the same time, you’ve also got to remember there’s a storyline here. Really proud to share all of this with this team and the players,” Pettersen said, also on the verge of tears.

After losing the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017, the European captains certainly felt the pain of defeat. But in that pain, they also found tenderness, an understanding that while the shots hit in the moment seem like everything, they’re really a piece of something more than the match at hand.

The European captains will surely leave Virginia disappointed in this loss, but with gratitude for being a part of women’s golf history that will probably prove to outshine the hurt.