The 32 players representing the top eight countries in the world at the UL International Crown arrived at Merit Club on Tuesday for picture day and practice rounds in anticipation of Thursday’s start to the second edition of this week’s biennial team match play competition. Five teams also took the stage in the media center on Tuesday for pre- tournament press conferences, while three teams will participate in press conferences between times at the Official UL International Crown Pro-Am on Wednesday.
Players from new and returning teams alike expressed their excitement to participate in the 2016 edition of this first-of-its-kind event that will determine who will be crowned as the world’s best golfing nation.
“I feel so honored to represent my country of Korea with the world’s best players,” said Team Korea’s In Gee Chun. “This is my first time to put the Korean national flag on the professional stage. This time I think I can enjoy the competition.”
Pairings for the eight four-ball matches on Thursday will be announced on Tuesday evening.
TEAM USA BRINGS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
The No. 2 overall seed and top seed in Pool B, Team United States, brings back three players from the inaugural International Crown in 2014, tied for the most two-time players on a team in this year’s event. Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson were on the No. 1 ranked USA team that lost to Team Korea in the Saturday wildcard playoff two years ago.
“I think we were all disappointed,” said Lewis of 2014. “I think the first year, I don’t think we quite understood the format and how it all was going to play out, and I think what I realized is that you can’t really take a match off. You’ve got to go out there and win every point you can get because there’s not a whole lot of opportunities for points the first three days, and so to not make it to the last day being here in the U.S. was pretty disappointing.”
Rolex Rankings No. 15 Gerina Piller is the only American without experience in this particular event, but has experience in team play as a two-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member (2013, 2015). Piller’s eight top-10 finishes in 16 starts on the LPGA Tour this season helped earn her a spot on this year’s squad as well as on the United States Olympic team.
“I think it’s awesome, obviously, playing with these girls, being on the team with them,” said Piller. “This is who the top golfers of our country are, and it’s always an honor for me to be a part of that.”
Kerr (2-1-0 playing with Thompson in 2014) has fond memories at Merit Club, where she finished as the co-runner-up in the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open.
“The golf course is phenomenal,” Kerr said. “I played here in 2000 for the Women’s Open and have some great memories of that, and it’s just a spectacular piece of property. I mean, it’s such a big piece of land, you feel like it’s a really grand space when you’re playing the golf course, and the condition is great. We’re looking forward to it.”
FRESH FACES ON TEAM KOREA
Team Korea will be the team to beat at this year’s UL International Crown as the top seed in this year’s event. All four players are ranked in the top-12 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, yet No. 12 in the world So Yeon Ryu is the only player that returns from the 2014 team that finished tied for third with 10 points.
“To be honest, we were a little disappointed to finish third,” Ryu said. “We were expecting to hold the beautiful crown, but we couldn’t do it. I’m so excited to get back here and have another opportunity to have pretty crowns.”
Ryu will be joined by three players who will all also represent South Korea in the Olympics next month, including a two-time winner in 2016 on the LPGA in Sei Young Kim, 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun and two-time LPGA Tour winner Amy Yang.
Kim, the team’s highest ranked player at No. 5 in the world, hinted who her playing might be this week in the team’s media session on Tuesday.
“She’s a very smart player,” said Kim referring to So Yeon Ryu. “So yeah, we’re both very aggressive players, so yeah, I think we’ll make a good team.”
CHINESE TAIPEI PLAYING THE UNDERDOG ROLE
Team Chinese Taipei will returns three of four players – Teresa Lu, Candie Kung and Yani Tseng – from their squad that finished seventh in the inaugural UL International Crown. The lone newcomer is rookie Ssu-Chia Cheng. Despite the returning experience many are viewing Chinese Taipei as an underdog this week.
“I think it’s better this way,” said Teresa Lu. “We have less pressure and we can go and have fun out there without any stress, so that way we can perform better.”
The squad got off to a fast start in 2014 going 2-0 on day one but sputtered down the stretch, a fact that motivates the team this time around.
“I think it means a lot for me to represent my country, and it’s not about myself, it’s about my country, about my teammates,” Tseng said. “I remember last time on the first tee, I feel like this is for our team. Like it’s nothing for me, and I stayed positive the whole way in the tournament. Very happy with what we did on the first day to beat the U.S. but this time we are not against the U.S. in Pool A. But I think we have a good strategy and I’m just very happy that we’re coming back as a higher ranking last time. Last time I think we were a seven, and this time we are four. That means everybody is improving, and hopefully we have fun this year.”
ENGLAND COULD BE DARK HORSE
England will be participating in this tournament for the first time this week as the #7 seed, but many have them pegged to make some noise as three of the four team members have experience in match play as members of the European Solheim Cup Team.
“We are the dark horses,” said Mel Reid, who plays on the Ladies European Tour. “I wouldn’t say that we weren’t. We are. We understand that. We understand that we’re not favorites, but hopefully we can, like I said before, shock a couple of teams.”
The English team might have the best chemistry in this competition. Laughter filled the interview room on Tuesday as the players talked about how long they’ve known each other and memories of playing four-ball together growing up.
“I get on well with these guys anyway,” Hull said. “I kind of -- sometimes I hang around with one or the other and have a practice round or whatever. It’s good fun, but I feel like our mindsets are pretty similar, so it’s easy to bond."
TEAM CHINA MAKES CROWN DEBUT
Team China was the eighth and final team to qualify for the 2016 UL International Crown and they are also the youngest team (21.75 avg. age) in the field this week. Thanks to a last-minute push from the members of the team, they were able to overcome Team Sweden at the ANA Inspiration for that final spot in the field.
At their pre-tournament press conference at Merit Club on Tuesday, Shanshan Feng was thankful for her three teammates for allowing her to participate in match play for the first time in her career.
“I really need to thank my teammates because I wasn’t the one actually to help our team to get in the Crown. They really moved up a lot to actually help our team to get in. I need to say thanks, and still thanks that she let me have the opportunity to play in this event,” Feng said. “I always dreamed to play in match play events like representing our own country, because as an Asian we don’t have any chance to play in Solheim Cups. I was always dreaming, oh, when can I play in match play? Now here I am, so I’m really happy about it.”
MERIT CLUB SET TO PLAY HOST
Located in Gurnee, Illinois, about 45 miles north of Chicago, the Merit Club was built in 1992 solely for golf and those who enjoy the game. The course envelops 320 acres and is preserved as open space for perpetuity by a conservation easement. Native oak savannahs, prairies and wetlands provide beauty at every turn. The par-72 test is designed to challenge players of all skill levels.
“It’s in amazing shape,” said Team USA’s Gerina Piller. “The fairways are like carpet. The greens are rolling great. I definitely think it’s going to be a good test of golf this weekend.”
Since its opening, the Merit Club has been ranked among the top 100 golf courses in the United States by both Golfweek and Golf Magazine. The suburban Chicago venue also has a major championship pedigree; it hosted the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open, which was won by LPGA Tour Hall of Fame and World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb.
QUOTABLES
“Yeah, I think the sponsor, the LPGA, and then I think all the players, too, they’re putting in a lot of effort the last two years to promote this event, especially for Asian golfers because we didn’t compete in the Solheim Cup. We love to have international things like this, so this is something similar like Olympics, like -- it’s like a Ryder Cup for us, and then really one thing is the LPGA and then the sponsor to make this event so big that it means so much for our Asian countries, and to find that you can represent your country, that you’re not always alone on the golf course. This is time we have our flags on our shirt and everywhere, and just very exciting to see that, and I hope this event will continue forever. Even when I’m retired I hope this event will still be here, and we’re going to give 100 percent to support this event.”- Team Chinese Taipei’s Yani Tseng on the UL International Crown
“It would be pretty awesome really. I’ll be driving with it on my head and people will be down the motorway wondering what the heck is going on.” - Team England’s Holly Clyburn on receiving an actual crown for winning this tournament
“Well, for me, I’ve never had that experience before, but I’m guessing I might be able to hit it 50 yards longer. Maybe if I get real excited. And then maybe they’ll need to take me to drug testing, but it doesn’t matter.” - Team China’s Shanshan Feng on the feeling of hearing China’s national anthem on the first tee
WORLDWIDE COVERAGE
With nearly 20 hours of competition and news coverage this week of the UL International Crown, Golf Channel will be covering every step of the event. Terry Gannon, Judy Rankin, Tom Abbott, Jerry Foltz, Karen Stupples and Nicole Castrale make up the broadcast team. Two hours of the final day on Sunday will be on network TV with NBC coverage leading into the final four hours on Golf Channel.
UL International Crown - Golf Channel/NBC Live Competition Airtimes
Thursday, July 21 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET (Live) - Golf Channel
Friday, July 22 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET (Live) - Golf Channel
Saturday, July 23 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET (Live) - Golf Channel
Sunday, July 24 12:00 p.m. - 2:00p.m. ET (Live)- NBC 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET (Live) - Golf Channel
OF NOTE
- On Tuesday, Merit Club hosted a Women’s Summit in their International Pavilion featuring panels on topics including Women in Business and the Importance of Networking. Notable speakers included NBC Chicago Sports Reporter Peggy Kusinski, LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame Member Nancy Lopez and UL VP & Chief Public Safety Office Barbara Guthrie
- Tomorrow there will be an announcement on the host site of the 2018 UL International Crown
- Team USA is the oldest in this tournament (Avg.: 30.25 yrs.), and Team China is the youngest (Avg.: 21.75 yrs.)
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