By: Max Bechtoldt
Madelene Sagström has had a very unique Solheim Cup career. In the opening sessions she struggles heavily. Across three Solheim Cups she is 0-1-0 in foursomes and 1-3-1 in four ball. Despite struggling in the partner rounds, she turns it on in Sunday singles. She has a 2-1 record, with her two wins not even reaching hole 17.
The concern with Sagström of course comes with those first two days. Across three Solheim Cups, she has never played more than three rounds. Obviously it is something the captains are aware of, considering twice she has been completely kept out of foursomes.
The positive is, Sagström has played some of the best golf of her career this year, clocking in at No. 39 in the Rolex Rankings and No. 33 in the CME Standings. While her later results have left a lot to be desired, a missed cut at the AIG Women’s Open and a WD at the FM Championship, most of her season has been defined by consistency.
Sagström has three top-10 finishes this year, highlighted by an incredible runner-up finish to Rose Zhang at the Founders Cup, which felt a lot like Solheim Cup match play. She’s missed just two cuts this season, and was floating around the cut line in both.
Sagström has always been a strong driver of the golf ball and one of the best putters on the tour. In previous seasons her approach and chipping has been a bit of her undoing. This year she has improved in both though leading to the strong play.
While she isn’t known to be the best Solheim Cup player in the world, she does play well in the singles round and has been consistent this season, thus giving me a fair amount of confidence for this event.
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