(Reuters) – The United States team getting set to compete in this week’s Solheim Cup outside Washington were flying high after former President Barack Obama surprised them during a dinner to wish them good luck against Europe in the biennial competition.
Obama met and spoke with the U.S. team at length on Monday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, site of this year’s Solheim Cup and where he is also a member.
“He knew all of our names,” American world number one Nelly Korda told reporters on Tuesday. “And he congratulated all of us on all of our success as well.”
The Ladies Professional Golf Association posted a photo on social media showing a smiling Obama surrounded by the U.S. team who are looking to win their first Solheim Cup since 2017 when the three-day competition begins on Friday.
“Honestly, it was just super cool to have a past president kind of show up to team dinner,” said Megan Khang, who like Korda is making her fourth Solheim Cup appearance this week.
“It’s pretty incredible he took time out of his day to come meet all of us. I know he plays out of here, so just the appreciation for the time he gave up to come see us is incredible.”
Alison Lee, whose nine years between Solheim Cup appearances is the longest in U.S. team history, said Obama’s visit showed the power of golf, something she felt no other sport can offer.
“It just shows how much golf brings people together,” Lee said ahead of her second Solheim Cup appearance.
“To see him there, and we’ve see him on TV in the past, he was our former president, and to see him kind of connect with us and relate to us in a way, I think is really, really cool and something that only golf can bring.”
Europe are looking to retain the Solheim Cup for the fourth time in a row in the biggest team competition in women’s golf.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Ken Ferris)
