Meg Mallon, captain of the 2011 U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup
Team , was named captain of the 2013 Solheim Cup, the LPGA announced Thursday.
Mallon, who was the first PING Junior Solheim Cup captain, U.S. or European, to
win on foreign soil, will use the experience she gained in Ireland to help
guide her team of pros at the Colorado Golf Club.
“It was exciting to be a part of the future of the Solheim Cup
in Ireland last year,” Mallon said. “It was such an interesting experience
because I didn’t know the players very well going in, but we really bonded well
and it turned out to be such a rewarding week. I really think it will influence
my style in 2013.”
Mallon has extensive experience with the Solheim Cup and has
made nine appearances - eight as a player and one as assistant captain in 2009.
She has scored 16.5 points for the Americans in her eight appearances, and is
second in all-time scoring behind Juli Inkster.
“As an eight-time Solheim Cup participant and an 18-time
winner on the LPGA Tour, Meg Mallon is a wonderful choice to captain the U.S.
Solheim Cup Team in 2013,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO.
“She has always displayed a genuine passion for the Solheim Cup and she is one
of the most respected and well-liked figures in women’s golf. Meg received high
praise as an assistant Solheim Cup captain, and last fall she captained the
U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup Team as they retained the Cup after a final day
comeback in Ireland. I know the U.S. Team will love playing for Meg on home
soil at Colorado Golf Club. She has my congratulations on a position that is
well earned.”
Though the European squad claimed the Cup in 2011, Mallon
will look to bring it back home in 2013.
“It’s an absolute honor to be selected as the 2013 U.S. Solheim
Cup Team Captain,” Mallon said. “I’ve participated in The Solheim Cup on nine
occasions and each has been a proud moment for me, but to represent the United
States as team captain definitely caps off my career. I look forward to working
hard on getting the Cup back in U.S. hands.”