Solheim Cup: Annika Sorenstam rules out returning as Europe captain
Monday 21 August 2017 00:31, UK
Annika Sorenstam admitted she will not continue as captain of the Europe team after they lost the Solheim Cup to Team USA.
The hosts retained the biennial tournament in convincing fashion with a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 victory at Des Moines but finished short of a record win.
Team USA took control of the event with a clean sweep of Friday afternoon's fourballs action, and despite a rally from Europe in the singles, were deserving victors - and Sorenstam has no ambitions to return at Gleneagles in a bid to regain the trophy.
"I said this was a one-time thing for me," the Swede told Sky Sports. "It is time to move the torch to the next person.
"I am very honoured (to be captain). We had a great leadership team and players to work with and I couldn't have asked for anymore."
Lizette Salas secured victory for the United States with a one-up victory over Jodi Ewart Shadoff but Sorenstam was "extremely proud" with the fight her side showed in the singles.
"It has been a great week for women's golf," Sorenstam, who accepted her side were "outplayed", added. "If you have watched the last week, then it has been some of the better golf you will have seen in a long time. It has been great to be part of it.
"We fought so hard. It wasn't easy today, we decided to give it all we had and fight to the end - and we did that.
"We did everything we could. The team was extremely helpful and co-operative. Sometimes you are outplayed and that is what happened this week. I want to congratulate the US team, they played awesome golf."
