Beth Daniel

Her selection as the Captain of the 2009 US Solheim Cup team comes as no surprise.

DANVILLE, Calif. -- Hall of Famer Beth Daniel will captain the U.S. Solheim Cup team for the 2009 matches at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois.

Daniel, a three-time LPGA player of the year and 33-time winner on the tour, assisted Nancy Lopez and Betsy King in the last two matches against Europe.

"This is pretty exciting," Daniel said Thursday at the Longs Drugs Challenge. "I'm a lot more nervous than I thought I was going to be. I'm sitting back there, I'm like, '33 wins, who is that?'

"I'm really excited about this opportunity. I have either participated as a player, a spectator or as an assistant captain in every Solheim Cup, so I've seen every angle of it. It means a lot to me"

The United States will be seeking its third straight victory in 2009. In 2005, Lopez captained the winning side at Crooked Stick in Indianapolis. Last month, King directed the U.S. team at Halmstad in Sweden.

The Americans lead the series 7-3 and have never lost on home soil.

Daniel was assistant Captain of the 2007 team. With Beth as Captain, I'm betting the past routine of overlooking Asian golfers will continue so far as Captain's selections go. The justifications for past selections haven't made sense one bit, except on the basis of skin color.

So Christina Kim, Michelle Wie, Dorothy Delasin etc, all better plan on making it the old fashioned way. If any of them finishes 11th on the points list, I make a bet they're passed over again. Anyone want to make a wager with me?

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