By: Max Bechtoldt
The United States is looking for anything to give them a boost in the Solheim Cup. The team has failed to capture the cup since 2017 despite having the stronger team on paper. Looking at that team, Lexi Thompson and Angel Yin seem to be the only players likely to make the 2024 event. That leaves the current generation of stars with a lot of losses and no victories in the event.
While the Dow Championship doesn’t directly impact Solheim Cup points, it can impact pairings and captain’s selections. Enter Jennifer Kupcho and Ally Ewing.
Kupcho, who has won the Dow Championship previously alongside Lizette Salas, was previously viewed as most impactful while partnered alongside Salas. Ewing might show a new angle to success for the young major champion.
Lizette Salas is known both as a steadying agent, while also being energetic when it is needed, Ewing shares those same qualities. While Ewing isn’t as strong with her short game as Salas, she does possess a similar temperament that can enhance the game of a personality like Kupcho.
At the Dow Championship in 2024, Ewing and Kupcho shot -6 in the opening round during foursomes, and at the moment have a share of the lead. They made five birdies with only one bogey, and used their combined power to make an eagle on the par 5 third hole.
The United States needs to find chemistry driven pairings for 2024 in order to combat the European strategy. This pairing, as well as Bailey Tardy and Lauren Coughlin (-2) and Rose Zhang and Alexa Pano (-1), are the strongest all-American groups in the event. If these pairings play well, it could have deep Solheim impacts.
Currently, Kupcho feels like someone on the borderline of making the team, while Ewing, with her recent play, is a lock. A win this week could show captain Stacy Lewis how important it is to have this duo in her team room.
