Laura Davies urged to prove her worth ahead of Solheim Cup
Wednesday 22 July 2015 13:46, UK
European captain Carin Koch has challenged veteran Laura Davies to prove over the next month that she deserves a place in the side that will defend the Solheim Cup against the United States in September.
Davies, who turns 52 in October, is doubly determined to qualify for the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup after missing out on victory in Colorado two years ago.
The former world No 1 is currently outside the automatic qualifying spots but if she can get inside the top eight by August 23, or gain one of Koch's four wildcard places, she will become the oldest competitor in the history of the event.
"It's all going to come down to this last month," Swede Koch said.
"Laura in good form is always a great player so we'll see how she does this coming month but obviously she's like everybody else, she's had almost two years to get points.
"She's closing in on the top eight so for her, and for some of the other players too, it'll be interesting to see the next few weeks and how it pans out."
Davies has had a remarkable career, winning 80 tournaments worldwide, and if she gets back in the team she will break the record held by Koch's captaincy rival Juli Inkster who was aged 51 and two months when she featured in the Solheim Cup in 2011.
Koch refused to say whether the veteran would be part of her plans when Europe attempt to win the trophy for a third straight edition, a feat they have never achieved before, in Germany from September 18-20.
She did, however, indicate that a player's form on the greens would play a part in her thinking when it came to choosing her wildcards.
"Holing putts is an important part of the Solheim Cup, of matchplay golf," said Koch. "I'll see Laura at the Scottish Open this week and then at the Ricoh British Women's Open the week after.
"I'll watch all the players and look at all the stats, and probably learn more from that than anything else. Laura is an inspiration and always nice to have around but we'll just have to see."
English great Davies has never previously missed the biennial team event since it was launched 25 years ago.
