SOLHEIM CUP

September 13, 2024

Suzann Pettersen

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club

Team Europe

TV

Q. Suzann, your team now through two sessions trails the U.S. 6-2 heading into Saturday. How would you assess your team's performance today?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, I guess we have a massive job ahead of us. We faced quite a big challenge last year. We've done it before. We can do it again.

It's going to take a massive effort, but I know we can do it.

Today's play, it's kind of all history now. So all I would say, I think we gave it a good effort. I think the Americans played great. They really did. I feel like they kind of had all the putts rolling their way.

I just don't feel like we've had any momentum, but it's not to blame. The Americans played great. We have a massive job to do ahead of us.

Everything's possible. Last year was kind of a good example of it. It took a lot out of us to get the job done from where we started, but I'm definitely -- I mean, there's so many points left to play for.

So, yeah, it would be nice to have a few more points on the board. But at the same time, it is what it is. That's what we've got to face. Come back tomorrow morning ready to fight again.

Q. Knowing the task you have ahead, as you mentioned, you've been in this position before, how will this influence how you put together your pairings for the Saturday morning session?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: We have no option, do we? But I feel like we have a lot of players playing good. I don't feel like we're playing poorly. So that's a good thing, I guess.

But to find the right combo, I guess the right opponent to kind of get that flow going, I didn't get any luck with that today.

It might be different tomorrow. I don't know yet. We're going to go look at that now and see what the girls feel like.

Q. How do you pick the team up after this day?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: We picked ourselves up nicely after last year, which took a lot. We have a big task ahead of us.

I think -- well, today's play is already history. We can't really go back and kind of change anything, but the Americans played really good golf all day. They've been making putts, kind of hitting it good, hitting it close, kind of hitting the right shots at the right moment.

I feel like we've played decent; haven't made any putts. Maybe had a couple of semi poor decisions kind of along the way. It's just part of the game. But we've got to put that behind us and try to kind of really roll up our sleeves and see what we can create of finding the extra kind of power in you.

Because this has got to come from the players themselves. It doesn't matter what I feel, what I want. They will have to kind of -- I need to go to bed tonight feeling that they want revenge, and I feel like we have a lot of players that actually played really solid. I feel like Emily has played fantastic all day. For her to get only 1 point for that game, it also shows you're playing really, really solid golfers.

Probably get a few words in tonight. First get the pairings right, and then I've got to dig deep to find the right words to kind of get them going, I think, to get them really motivated, but I will. Don't worry.

Q. As you allude to there, the Solheim Cup Friday team you took last year is now famous. Is it going to take something similar?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: We'll see. We'll see what the car ride back, how it drives me, if I knew which direction.

Today we made a good effort. I feel like in the morning we had a lot of matches going; around 12th, 13th, 14th it all kind of slipped away from us. I also thought it was good to kind of get everyone going.

Albane and Esther, the two rookies, great experience for them. They're probably going to feel a lot more confident and comfortable overall tomorrow. So, yeah, we'll see.

Q. As you say, it felt like a lot of matches were in the balance up to the turn. You got off to a lot of good starts. But on the back nine, they started to pull away.

SUZANN PETTERSEN: That's what it's all about, especially in foursome. It really proves over and over. Greens in reg really matter in the foursome. For the most part, pars will do almost the job unless you kind of get really going.

So we'll see. We'll just have to tighten up the game plan, be even sharper, and come out hungry as ever.

Q. You must be so happy for Madelene and in particular for Anna.

SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, they came out hungry. They were fired up. They proved themselves that they are that good.

It's super nice to see Anna going out there with all the confidence and kind of the belief she has in herself now after all that she's been through.

There are a lot of small victories here along the way, so we can't forget that. We also can't forget all the points that are left to be played for.