There are many ways to look at the inclusion of Suzann Pettersen in Europe’s Solheim Cup team for next month’s match at Gleneagles.
Some may say that the wild card afforded to the 38-year-old, who has played just twice since 2017 having taken time off to have a baby, is the kind of dicey gamble you used to get in the 101 or more bit during an episode of Bullseye.
Others will suggest that her captain’s pick merely highlights a dearth of alternatives in the European scene while plenty will declare that her experience, reputation and unwavering will to win will be a considerable weapon in Matthew’s armoury.
As for the lightly-raced Pettersen herself? Well, she’s not really bothered what folk think.
“A gamble?,” she pondered. “Well, bring it on, bring it on. I can’t wait to get started. The Solheim Cup is different to any other week. A captain’s pick is a captain’s pick. Catriona’s gone a little bit out of the way to put me on the team and I’ll take that pressure.
“I told her I’ll be prepared, I know what’s going to be asked of my game. If I felt my game wasn’t fit enough I’d have told her straight;‘pick someone else’. But when you feel like your game is there, and she (Matthew) wants you too, then I’m more than happy to take the pick. I feel I was born for this match.”
Pettersen, a two-time major champion, remains as fiery as Prometheus with bad heartburn and this ruthless streak infamously came to a head in the 2015 Solheim Cup tussle in Germany.
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While partnering Charley Hull in a tight fourballs encounter against the US pairing of Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome, Pettersen caused an unedifying international incident when her refusal to concede Lee a short putt, after Lee had actually picked her ball up thinking it had in fact been given, led to tears, tantrums, finger-wagging and shrieking, ill-tempered exchanges.
The sense of injustice felt by the US inspired them and they would eventually win the cup while panto villain Pettersen ended up making a humbling public apology once the dust had settled.
Four years on, and with the new perspective of being a mother, Pettersen can reflect calmly on a heated situation.
“The Solheim is so intense, it is a lot of pressure and you are right there in the heat of the battle,” she said. “I think everyone has learned from what happened in Germany. Everyone has moved on. Hopefully it will not bubble up again.
“I have obviously learned from it. In the heat of the moment, my head wasn’t thinking clear enough to be able to change what happened there and then.
“I don’t want any other players to go through what I ended up having to go through. But, if there was one player who could probably take that load, I was probably the one on the European team. It was tough, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
In the tumult of the team golf arena, Pettersen’s strength of character and mental fortitude remains a major attribute.
This will be her ninth appearance in the biennial bout having been forced into a late withdrawal in 2017 – Matthew replaced her at the 11th hour – with an injury.
Matthew herself has no doubts about the benefits and qualities Pettersen can bring to her team.
“It’s not a gamble, not at all,” insisted Matthew, whose four wild cards also included the fairly obvious trio of Bronte Law, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Celine Boutier. “I am 100 per cent confident in that pick.”
The captain has spoken.
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