**Stacy Lewis Reflects on a Crucial Regret Concerning Nelly Korda from Her Time as Solheim Cup Captain**

Stacy Lewis Reflects on a Crucial Regret Concerning Nelly Korda from Her Time as Solheim Cup Captain

As the dust settles on yet another thrilling Solheim Cup, Stacy Lewis can finally take a deep breath and reflect on her tenure as captain of the USA women’s team. While there are many moments she can look back on with pride, there’s one decision that continues to weigh on her mind, a choice that could have dramatically altered the outcome of the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain. Despite the success she’s achieved, leading Team USA back to victory, Lewis admits there’s a lingering regret concerning her handling of world number one, Nelly Korda, a regret that may have changed everything.

 

### A Year of Redemption for Stacy Lewis

 

Heading into the 2024 Solheim Cup, Lewis had unfinished business. The last edition of the tournament, held at Finca Cortesin in Spain, left her team agonizingly close to victory. After a blistering start that saw the Americans surge to a 4-0 lead, the European team mounted a fierce comeback, clawing their way back into contention and ultimately securing a 14-14 tie that allowed Europe to retain the cup.

 

That result was a bitter pill to swallow for Lewis. She knew her team had the talent and drive to reclaim the trophy, but something hadn’t clicked in those final moments. A year later, she returned to the Solheim Cup with a renewed sense of determination, determined to lead the USA to its first victory since 2017. This time, they would not fall short.

 

In September of this year, her efforts were rewarded. Under Lewis’ leadership, Team USA triumphed at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, halting Europe’s momentum and finally reclaiming the Solheim Cup after years of heartbreak. It was a moment of triumph for Lewis, but even in the aftermath of that historic victory, she couldn’t shake the feeling that one critical decision from her time in Spain continued to haunt her.

 

### The Decision That Could Have Changed Everything

 

Lewis recently opened up about that crucial decision in an interview on the *Inside the LPGA Podcast*, reflecting on the one choice she made as captain that she wished she could go back and change. It all came down to her decision about where to place Nelly Korda in the lineup during the final day’s singles matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup in Spain.

 

For those who followed the tournament closely, the drama of that day was palpable. Heading into Sunday, the USA and Europe were deadlocked at 8-8, with the final singles matches set to decide the fate of the trophy. As the matches unfolded, the tension only mounted, with both sides trading wins and ties in a see-saw battle that left fans on the edge of their seats.

 

The final two matches still on the course would ultimately decide the outcome. Carlota Ciganda faced off against Nelly Korda, while Emily Kristine Pedersen took on Lexi Thompson. For the Americans to have any hope of victory, Thompson needed to hold her two-up lead with two holes to play. But equally crucial to Europe’s chances was Ciganda’s battle with Korda. If Ciganda could pull off a win, Europe would reach the 14 points needed to retain the cup.

 

And pull off a win, she did. Few who watched will forget the remarkable shot Ciganda hit on the 17th hole, sticking her ball to within three feet of the pin and securing her victory over Korda. That shot sealed Europe’s fate – they had earned the 14 points they needed, and once again, the trophy remained in European hands.

 

For Lewis, watching that moment unfold must have been agonizing. And in hindsight, she now wishes she had made a different call. Speaking on the podcast, Lewis revealed that her biggest regret from that day was placing Korda too far down in the singles lineup.

 

“Probably from this Solheim experience, the last two years, my only regret with pairings was that I wish I would’ve played Nelly earlier in Spain in the lineup,” Lewis said. “That’s it. That’s the only thing that I’d go back and do different in the last three years.”

 

In retrospect, it’s easy to see why Lewis would have such regrets. Korda, the current world number one, is one of the most consistent and dominant players in women’s golf. Perhaps, had Korda been placed earlier in the lineup, the USA could have built enough momentum to stave off Europe’s rally and secure the win. But as Lewis pointed out, there’s no way to know for sure if that decision would have changed the outcome.

A New Strategy for 2024

While Lewis may never know if playing Korda earlier would have made the difference in 2023, one thing is clear: she was determined not to repeat that mistake again. When the 2024 Solheim Cup came around, Lewis made a concerted effort to ensure Korda played a prominent role in every session, sending her out first in every match she played.

 

Korda rose to the occasion in Gainesville, Florida, where the event was held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The 26-year-old star fully embraced the pressure of being the first player out for Team USA, delivering time and again in the early rounds. Her performances were nothing short of spectacular, with Korda winning all three of her matches during the first two days of play, putting the Americans in prime position to claim the 14.5 points they needed to reclaim the Solheim Cup.

 

What made Korda’s contributions even more impressive was her robotic consistency, particularly on the par-five holes, where she dominated her opponents across Friday and Saturday. It was a masterclass in precision golf, and it helped propel the USA to a commanding position heading into the final day.

 

Even Korda’s eventual defeat to Charley Hull in the Sunday singles match didn’t dampen the celebrations. By the time Hull bested Korda, the USA was already in control, and Europe’s hopes of another comeback had faded away.

 

### Looking Ahead to 2026

 

For Lewis, the success of this year’s Solheim Cup has provided a sense of closure after the disappointment in Spain. While her regret about Korda’s placement in the lineup will likely linger, she can take solace in the fact that her strategy in 2024 paid off handsomely. Team USA is once again the holder of the Solheim Cup, and Lewis has cemented her legacy as a successful captain.

 

But the story doesn’t end there. Lewis has hinted that she may not be finished just yet. In interviews following the tournament, she has suggested that she would have a hard time turning down the opportunity to captain the team again in 2026, when the Solheim Cup will take place in the Netherlands. Whether or not she stays on, one thing is certain: Nelly Korda will continue to be a cornerstone of the American team, and it would come as no surprise if she leads them out in every session once again.

 

With a new generation of talented players coming up through the ranks, the future of the Solheim Cup looks as bright as ever. But for now, Stacy Lewis can bask in the glow of a job well done, knowing that despite one lingering regret, she guided Team USA back to glory.