News

11th June 2004

Responses from Team Captains over announcement of Saturday Foursomes Line up

USA Captain - Martha Kirouac

Very tough decisions I had to make.

Q.  You left out Liz Janangelo, the No 1 ranked college player, was the toughest decision?

Martha: Oh, absolutely.  I've had eight players who are all playing very well.  It was a gut-wrenching decision.  I talked to each of the players to be sure that they were okay (about the foursomes line-up for Saturday) and understood what the game plan was and where we go from here.

And I've got nothing less than 150 per cent support.  I've got three more tough decisions to make before it's all done.  But we're in good shape as a team.  Everybody's positive and ready to go tomorrow morning.

Q.  Were you thinking about the foursomes alone or keeping in mind that you wanted players fresh for the singles?

Martha:  You have to look a little bit at the total package but my main focus was on the opening foursomes.  We'll take care of tomorrow afternoon after the foursomes are done.

GB & I Captain - Ada O'Sullivan

Ada: It was difficult telling the two players (Fame More and Anna Highgate) that I've left out but they both accepted it. We're all here for the same purpose and that is to win ... to get as many points on the board as we can.  Yes, they took it very well.  They know that they are going to be in action in the singles tomorrow afternoon.  It's not a case that they'll have to wait until Sunday. 

Everybody's in a very positive frame of mind.  From my own experience of international golf, I know that it's very important that all your squad players get out into the action as quickly as possible.  They're all playing well enough to be out there.

Q.  Did Martha surprise you by putting Michelle Wie in the third pairing?

Ada: No, it is exactly where I thought she would put Michelle.  I would have put her there as well.  I've no doubt that Michelle will be a very good "back" player ... she's used to coping with pressure.  But I drew up my own third pairing in the expectation that Michelle Wie would be in the last match.

Anne Laing: I'm definitely not going to lose any sleep over playing Michelle Wie on Saturday morning.  Everybody in our team wants to Michelle Wie.  I'm lucky enough, along with Claire (Coughlan) to be in that position on the first morning.