Lauren Coughlin is likely one of the oldest members of Group USA. She’s additionally a rookie.
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GAINESVILLE, Va. — Lauren Coughlin has by no means performed on a nationwide staff earlier than. Not in junior golf. Not in novice golf. And never in her eight-year profession as a professional.
That modifications this week.
When Coughlin steps on the primary tee Friday morning at Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership, she’ll be making her Solheim Cup debut — and she or he’ll be doing so in her house state.
“[It’s] simply an hour and 10 minutes from my home,” Coughlin stated. “You go to that mild and switch left and go about 65 miles, and there’s my home. In order that’s fairly superior.”
Coughlin was born in Minneapolis however grew up in Chesapeake, Va., about 200 miles south of this week’s Solheim Cup outdoors Washington D.C. She starred on the College of Virginia golf staff from 2011 to 2016, successful the ACC particular person title in her ultimate yr of eligibility and changing into an All-American within the course of. Now, almost a decade later, she’s again competing in her house state carrying the crimson, white and blue.
Being the native favourite comes with its perks, but it surely additionally makes for a busy schedule. There are family and friends to greet, followers to signal autographs for and media to talk with. These weeks are all the time busy, and Coughlin’s native celeb solely provides to that.
“I assumed I used to be fairly ready for it, however I wasn’t,” Coughlin stated. “It’s been superior, and I’m simply excited to get Friday going.”
Even 12 months in the past, the considered Coughlin enjoying on the Solheim Cup staff in her house state was virtually inconceivable. When the Individuals and Euros battled it out final September at Finca Cortesin, Coughlin was ranked 119th on this planet. Her lone win as knowledgeable to that time was on the Symetra Tour in 2018. If you happen to have been compiling an inventory of favorites to make this yr’s roster, Coughlin’s title definitely wasn’t close to the highest.
However regardless of these lengthy odds, there Coughlin was Wednesday morning at RTJ Golf Membership, enjoying a follow spherical with Allisen Corpuz and Ally Ewing alongside the shore of Lake Manasas. Her caddie, Terry McNamara, joined her, as did her husband, John Pond. Amongst these within the gallery was her greatest good friend.
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“Quite a lot of my associates simply purchased tickets; didn’t even ask me,” Coughlin stated. “I’ve had lots of people attain out saying that they have been going to be right here in a single kind or one other.”
After the yr Coughlin has put collectively, the hype is comprehensible. In April, she earned her first main prime 10 with a third-place end on the Chevron Championship. Later in the summertime she nabbed her first LPGA win on the Canadian Open, which got here only a week after her second main prime 10 with a fourth-place on the Evian. She continued the recent streak a couple of weeks later when she received once more, this time working away from the sphere on the Scottish Open.
“It’s been sort of a whirlwind,” Coughlin stated. “However in one of the simplest ways. It’s been tremendous enjoyable and I’ve loved each minute of it.”
Not solely did her play benefit Solheim Cup consideration, it clinched her a spot on the staff outright. She completed third within the standings behind main winners Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu. Coughlin might enter this week as a rookie, but when the Individuals hope to finish their winless drought, Coughlin shall be a key piece of the puzzle.
However first, she’ll have to overcome her first-tee nerves. Jitters earlier than a gap tee shot are all the time current — even for the professionals — however at a staff occasion like this, these emotions attain a fever pitch. Add within the butterflies of being the native favourite and it’s certain to make for probably the most memorable tee photographs of her life.
“It’s one thing that I’ve been fascinated about and getting ready for,” Coughlin stated. “All I can do is management myself and my course of, and that’s all I’m going to give attention to.”
After years of getting ready, Coughlin’s wait to symbolize her nation is nearly over. Friday can’t come quickly sufficient.
