USA captain Stacy Lewis wants a new playoff format to avoid ties in the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup.
Last year, the Solheim Cup ended in a 14-14 tie, and Europe kept the trophy since they were the defending champions.
Lewis, who was captain last year at Finca Cortesin, cried after the match and now suggests a doubles playoff to ensure there’s always a winner .
She thinks both cups should have this format for consistency. “I would be open to it but I think it would be something that happened at the Solheim Cup as well as the Ryder Cup. I think we have to, not we have to, but I think it would be in our best interests to do it together; that way for the fans and for everybody watching, it’s the same, whether it’s the men’s or the women’s,” she said during this week’s AIG Women’s Open.
Lewis prefers a two-person team for playoffs instead of one player carrying all the pressure alone. She envisions an alternate-shot format starting on holes 14 or 15.
The emotional toll of last year’s tie still lingers for her. She described this year’s upcoming match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia as “unfinished business.” Both she and Suzann Pettersen will return as captains after last year’s tie in Spain.
Fans might find this news exciting because it promises more thrilling finishes.
“Yeah, it was hard,” Lewis admitted about last year’s result. She tried to stay positive for her players despite feeling disappointed herself. On her flight home with her sleeping daughter beside her, she had a moment of tears over how much effort went into ending with just a tie.
‘It’s night and day’
Reflecting on changes over time, Lewis noted how much bigger and better women’s golf has become since she won her second Major title at St Andrews in 2013.
“It’s night and day,” she said about how things have improved since then. The involvement of organizations like R&A has elevated standards significantly by providing better facilities and treating players well.
“The list of courses that we played… it’s night and day better,” Lewis added happily about seeing progress in women’s golf.
What do you think? Should there be playoffs to avoid ties?
