The Next Solheim Cup Captains

by Mulligan Stu on Sep 16, 2007 12:11 PM EDT

I haven't yet read anything today about the American team's reaction to Dottie Pepper's "chokin' freakin' dogs" comment. The Solheim Cup seems to bring out the best and the worst in Pepper. I wonder, given her controversial past as a player in the competition, and the choking comment, whether she's damaged her chances of being a Solheim Cup captain. She's an absolute lock based on her playing record.

Here are my picks for captains over the next five competitions:

2009
2011
2013
2015
2017

U.S.
Beth Daniel
Meg Mallon
Juli Inkster
Dottie Pepper
Pat Hurst

Europe
Alison Nicholas
Liselotte Neumann
Trish Johnson
Laura Davies
Annika Sorenstam

Other candidates include Rosie Jones, Sherri Steinhauer and Laura Diaz on the U.S. side, and Catriona Matthew, Carin Koch and Iben Tinning on the European side. Jones is the strongest of those candidates I've passed over, Diaz the weakest. Tinning will only be in her mid-40s in 10 years, so still would be in the running after 2017.

I hope the Europeans haven't forgotten about Nicholas, who outdueled Nancy Lopez down the stretch to win the 1997 U.S. Women's Open and was a stalwart on the first half-dozen or so Euro Solheim Cup teams.

Update: I'm starting to think that Dottie Pepper did serious damage to her chances to captain the U.S. Solheim Cup team when she blurted out "chokin' freakin' dogs" in reference to the U.S. team during Saturday's Golf Channel telecast.

From an AP article on Sunday:

"It was hurtful, very, very hurtful to all of us on the team," said assistant captain Beth Daniel. "Dottie's been there. She knows what it's like. Even if she said it off the air, it was ill-spirited."

Back on the air Sunday, Pepper said she stood by the comments. The Americans insisted they had let the whole thing go by the time they went to bed Saturday night and were just concentrating on winning.

If Pepper doesn't have the support - when the time comes for consideration of a Dottie captaincy - of Daniel, Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, Meg Mallon, Juli Inkster, she won't get the job.

Later Update: Betsy King on Pepper's comment:

"... I am retired (like Pepper), and usually you retire when you can't play any more.

"That's why you are commentating - because you are past your prime. It's that old thing - the older you get the better you used to be.

"I don't know. I am getting myself in trouble."

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Comments

I don't know...

It might be interesting to see Dottie Pepper as captain. One of our girls throws out one of those fine LPGA putts, Dottie might get bark out "DROP AND GIVE ME 20 !!"

Come on Stu - let's market the captaincy a little better. Natalie Gulbis, Laura Diaz, Taylor Leon down the road...let's see...who else is on the Golf Babe page ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 17, 2007 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

By the way...

...people don't really want to hear whiny, PC comments from Beth Daniel, complaining that what Pepper said was "hurtful". Toughen up a bit.

If you're going to be pissed off, ACT like you're pissed off. Either agree with her that the team was gagging a bit, or tell Dottie to take a flying leap, but knock off the whining.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Sep 17, 2007 1:09 PM EDT reply actions