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US captain Stacy Lewis expressed her admiration for Lexi Thompson as the United States prepare to reclaim the Solheim Cup from Europe for the first time since 2017. Thompson, one of Lewis’ three wildcard picks, is set to make her seventh and final appearance in the prestigious competition at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, starting Friday.
Thompson, a stalwart of the US team since her debut in 2013, has announced her retirement from full-time golf, but Lewis believes her presence will be missed in future competitions. “Her legacy is her and the Solheim Cup,” Lewis said. “She plays better golf here and gets more excited to play golf here. She’s going to do whatever it takes to win, and I wish I had 12 of her.”
With 15 career wins, including the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship, Thompson has been a key figure for the US, amassing 12½ points from her 23 Solheim Cup matches. “She’s one of those you could literally pair with anybody,” Lewis added, stressing the impact Thompson has had on the team.
Though Thompson is stepping away from full-time competition, she expressed interest in staying involved as an assistant captain in the future. “I’d love to be still a part of it in any way just because I know how special it’s been for me,” she said.
As the US prepares to host Europe, who are chasing a fourth consecutive Solheim Cup win, Lewis downplayed any pressure on her team, saying, “This team is hungry, and they want to have fun doing it. I don’t think they feel pressure.” With world number one Nelly Korda and number two Lilia Vu on her team, the US are strong favorites on home soil.
Additionally, Lewis called for the Presidents Cup to become a mixed event, blending both Tours and allowing for greater international competition. “It’s the perfect way to blend the two Tours, and the international team will get better very quickly,” she said, suggesting it would enhance the competitive landscape of the sport.
