CASARES (Spain) — Danielle Kang finished the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain with a record of 2-2-0, including a dominating 4-and-2 singles victory against Europe’s Charley Hull.
Over the past four events, the 30-year-old has been a major factor in the success of the U.S. team. She asks the crowd to make noise at the first tee and exudes personality and swag on the course. Her confidence rubs off on the rest of her team.
“I was pretty nervous on the first tee,” said Lee. Andrea Lee, Kang’s foursomes teammate said on Friday that the crowds were the largest she had ever seen. “But I settled in fairly quickly, and Danielle was there — she’s very reliable so I had tons of enjoyment out there. I stayed patient.”
Kang, one of the more experienced, older players on an American team that included five rookies, felt this week was more important. She was proud of her leadership role and wanted to fight for all those who wore the red, blue and white at Finca Cortesin. To do this, she wrote the names of all those involved in Team USA on her shoes.
Danielle Kang, Team USA, wearing her shoes on the 11th hole during the second day of The Solheim Cup on September 23, 2023 at Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Casares (Spain). (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images).
Kang said after the final session on Sunday, “I felt so honored to have been part of this team and to experience all that I did this week.” People kept asking me why I had written everyone’s names on my shoes. No, it wasn’t like that. There was no one I did not want to represent, be it caddies or players, staff, assistant captains, or captains. “I wanted to do my best for them and play something bigger than myself. I played better than I ever have in the past year.
When I am old and gray and look back one day, I will remember the team rooms, where (Megan Khang), (Angel Yin), and all these other girls were hyping up us, and I wish that you guys had a video camera. “I wish everyone could have experienced what I did last night and during this week, because it was incredible,” she added. “We built those moments. I remember (European captain Suzann Petersen) saying, ‘If this was any other match it would be over already, but it’s 10-under or 13-under.’ It’s something I want to keep in mind. “When I retire and am done with my work, I don’t care who won the Cup. It’s all about the moment we created.”
Kang has a record of 7-9-0 in four appearances for the Americans. He is 2-2-0 now in singles, but on Sunday the Americans missed out on the Cup in Spain.
