Reid reckons Solheim surprise is on cards

Melissa Reid has backed Europe’s Solheim Cup team to spring a surprise and beat their American counterparts in this weekend’s transatlantic battle.

Europe have not won the biennial contest since 2003 and will again be underdogs over the Killeen Castle course in Ireland, but rookie Reid believes form favours the home team.

The Derby golfer said: “On paper we are probably coming in as slight underdogs, but I think all 12 players are playing really, really well. The last two or three months, everyone’s stepped up and started to play some really good golf.

“We need to take our chances when we get given them. I think there’s a good buzz on the European team, and hopefully we can snatch it from them.”

While Europe’s men dominate the professional game, the same cannot be said for the women, with American and Asian golfers proving the driving force at the majors.

Over the past four years, only two Europeans – Solheim Cup team members Anna Nordqvist and Catriona Matthew – have broken that sequence, a statistic Reid believes can partly be attributed to the lack of opportunities on the LPGA Tour.

The 24-year-old said: “It’s not as easy for us to go out there and play on the LPGA as it is for the guys. So we don’t get to play against the same sort of competition as they do. Maybe that’s the difference. I think definitely we’ve got something to prove, especially somebody like myself who is desperate to try to get on the LPGA.”

Reid qualified for the European team for the first time at the head of the rankings and also finished third over the same course at the Irish Open last month. She added: “I’ve got some good memories here. I think the course is set up really, really well. Obviously winning last week was nice. It gave me a nice boost of confidence coming into this week.”

While Reid prepares for her first Solheim Cup experience, Laura Davies will be making her 12th appearance and is the only golfer to play in every one of the contests.

The 47-year-old said: “I’m obviously very pleased. That means I’ve played at a consistent level for a long time. The ultimate every two years is to qualify for the team and not worry about getting a captain’s pick. I’ve done it 12 times now, which is very satisfying.”

Davies believes the outcome of tomorrow and Saturday’s foursomes and fourballs will be crucial if Europe are to have a chance of victory, and she has called on the home supporters to make themselves heard.

“They’ve proven over the years the singles are their forte,” added Davies of the US side. “I think we need a lead going into the singles. If we don’t have a lead, we’ll be in a little bit of a trouble, but our goal is to get a lead.”