Stacy Lewis was on the wrong side of arguably the most dramatic finish in Solheim Cup history.
Six weeks removed from Europe rallying to tie the United States 14-14 in Spain and retain the Cup, Lewis still doesn’t want to see the event institute a playoff to determine the champion.
“There is history to it. I think it would almost be kind of weird to change it,” she said Wednesday. “I also think that’s a lot on one or two players to go make them go play some golf and decide this thing.
“Yes, it would be unbelievable TV, but I think now you got to stick with history.”
Lewis said she was exhausted following the 2023 Solheim Cup, but that she also learned a lot as a first-time captain and that she expects it to be a bit easier as she prepares for her second stint ahead of the September 2024 event in Gainesville, Va.
“I thought it was hard as a player, but it is exhausting as a captain,” she said. “Things are definitely easier now doing it for the second time. Not as many calls, not as much planning, because most of that is already in place.”
Lewis is in Belleair, Fla., where she will compete in this week’s The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Currently 83rd in the Race to the CME Globe standings, she will need a very strong week to move on to next week’s season-ending tour championship, where only the top 60 players will qualify.
Lewis has missed five consecutive cuts, which she chalks largely up to the time and strain of Solheim Cup captaincy. After the season is over, she plans to return home for December, when she’ll embark on some planning for next September.
Come January, Lewis will begin a playing schedule focused on tournaments in the United States so she can spend more time with her family and focus on Cup planning. While she envisions a few changes to her roster next year, that won’t include Lewis attempting to become a playing captain.
“No,” she said with a laugh. After experiencing Spain, I really don’t think you can captain and play.
“There was one day of the entire week that I actually sat down and had lunch. There is definitely no way to captain and play.”
–Field Level Media
