By: Max Bechtoldt
In the first team USA press conference of 2024, world No. 1 Nelly Korda made a clear statement at the mindset of the group going into the week.
“We got some unfinished business,” Korda said.
Megan Khang quickly elaborated, citing the Europe’s long streak of holding the Solheim Cup dating back to 2019.
“Some people have asked me what one word would be to describe Team USA this year, and I’m just going to say “hungry,” said Khang. “Nelly and I obviously being on the same amount of Solheim Cups and not necessarily getting the job done last year kind of leaves not necessarily the best taste in your mouth.”
Captain Stacy Lewis has been preaching “unfinished business” as the motto of this team for weeks now. At the AIG Women’s Open, she gave the team shirts with the phrase just to drill it in their heads what is at stake.
The term mostly dates back to the controversial ending in Spain, where instead of breaking the 14-14 tie, the Europeans retained the Cup because of their 2021 win.
“The unfinished business just kind of came to me naturally. I just felt like the way things ended in Spain, like it just — like that was it?” said Lewis. “Like that’s it? That’s the way this thing is going to end? It just kind of naturally came to me.”
Despite the business-like messaging and attitude, Lewis still finds it essential to keep her team loose and having fun. She says the most successful Solheim Cup teams she has been apart of had that in common.
“We put a lot of emphasis in what’s going on in the team room, what’s going on in the bus. They asked for a karaoke machine; I’ll get you a karaoke machine. I don’t care” said Lewis. “Just whatever they need to do to help them stay relaxed. We’ve got beds in the cottage there if they need to take a nap. Literally, I’ll get whatever they need to help them play good golf. But the motivation is there. They’re working hard, and they want to win this thing.”
