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GAINESVILLE, Va. — Lauren Coughlin has by no means performed on a nationwide workforce 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 he or she’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 exterior Washington D.C. She starred on the College of Virginia golf workforce from 2011 to 2016, profitable the ACC particular person title in her closing 12 months of eligibility and turning into an All-American within the course of. Now, practically 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, however it 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 superstar 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 workforce in her house state was virtually inconceivable. When the People and Euros battled it out final September at Finca Cortesin, Coughlin was ranked 119th on the earth. Her lone win as an expert to that time was on the Symetra Tour in 2018. In the event you had been compiling an inventory of favorites to make this 12 months’s roster, Coughlin’s identify definitely wasn’t close to the highest.
However regardless of these lengthy odds, there Coughlin was Wednesday morning at RTJ Golf Membership, enjoying a observe 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 finest pal.
“Plenty of my mates simply purchased tickets; didn’t even ask me,” Coughlin stated. “I’ve had lots of people attain out saying that they had been going to be right here in a single type or one other.”
After the 12 months Coughlin has put collectively, the hype is comprehensible. In April, she earned her first main high 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 high 10 with a fourth-place on the Evian. She continued the new streak just a few weeks later when she gained once more, this time working away from the sector 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 advantage Solheim Cup consideration, it clinched her a spot on the workforce 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 People hope to finish their winless drought, Coughlin can be a key piece of the puzzle.
However first, she’ll have to beat her first-tee nerves. Jitters earlier than a gap tee shot are all the time current — even for the professionals — however at a workforce occasion like this, these emotions attain a fever pitch. Add within the butterflies of being the native favourite and it’s positive to make for one of the crucial memorable tee pictures of her life.
“It’s one thing that I’ve been enthusiastic 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.