If you have used the site before you will no doubt have noticed the bright new livery. Over the coming weeks we will be introducing the new page format throughout the site so would ask that you bear with us while the changes are carried out. England's Alison Nicholas has been named European Solheim Cup captain in succession to Swede Helen Alfredsson.
The 45-year-old played in the contest six times and has also served as a vice-captain or assistant since then.
An obvious choice for the 20
09 contest at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois, she said: "It's a great honour and I'm delighted. I can't wait.
"We face a big challenge, but I don't believe that anything is impossible. I want to enjoy the whole experience."
Nicholas said she intended to inject the fun factor into the team, to "help them to be the best that they can be."
She continued: "Although the Americans have a young side and are playing well, we've got a good core of experienced players and hopefully in the next two years we'll be able to bring in some youngsters who can give the team a good mix.
"If we prepare well, are mentally strong, believe in ourselves and produce a good team spirit, anything is possible."
Europe have lost the last two Solheim Cups and trail 7-3 in the series.
606: DEBATE
Will Alison Nicholas be an inspired European captain?
But those three wins featured Nicholas as a player twice, and once as Catrin Nilsmark's vice-captain, in 2003.
At just 4ft 10in tall, Nicholas is known as "Big Al". Her proudest moment came in 1997 when she won the US Women's Open, beating Nancy Lopez by one shot.
She was born in Gibraltar, but grew up in Sheffield and has lived in Birmingham since 1988, where she teaches at her own Alison Nicholas Golf Academy.
"I will do a lot of communicating over the next two years to try and get everyone together in order to build the right atmosphere that will allow us to bring the cup back to Europe.
"I think our players are just as good as the Americans and all we need to do is just believe that and go forward," Nicholas added.
Karen Lunn, chairman of the Ladies European Tour and the European Solheim Cup Committee, said Nicholas had all the qualities they were looking for in a captain.
"I am not sure that there is anyone that is as passionate about the Solheim Cup as Ali.
"Alison fully understands the difficulty of the task that lies ahead in going onto US soil to get the Solheim Cup back," she commented.
The 45-year-old played in the contest six times and has also served as a vice-captain or assistant since then.
An obvious choice for the 20
09 contest at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois, she said: "It's a great honour and I'm delighted. I can't wait."We face a big challenge, but I don't believe that anything is impossible. I want to enjoy the whole experience."
Nicholas said she intended to inject the fun factor into the team, to "help them to be the best that they can be."
She continued: "Although the Americans have a young side and are playing well, we've got a good core of experienced players and hopefully in the next two years we'll be able to bring in some youngsters who can give the team a good mix.
"If we prepare well, are mentally strong, believe in ourselves and produce a good team spirit, anything is possible."
Europe have lost the last two Solheim Cups and trail 7-3 in the series.
606: DEBATE
Will Alison Nicholas be an inspired European captain?
But those three wins featured Nicholas as a player twice, and once as Catrin Nilsmark's vice-captain, in 2003.
At just 4ft 10in tall, Nicholas is known as "Big Al". Her proudest moment came in 1997 when she won the US Women's Open, beating Nancy Lopez by one shot.
She was born in Gibraltar, but grew up in Sheffield and has lived in Birmingham since 1988, where she teaches at her own Alison Nicholas Golf Academy.
"I will do a lot of communicating over the next two years to try and get everyone together in order to build the right atmosphere that will allow us to bring the cup back to Europe.
"I think our players are just as good as the Americans and all we need to do is just believe that and go forward," Nicholas added.
Karen Lunn, chairman of the Ladies European Tour and the European Solheim Cup Committee, said Nicholas had all the qualities they were looking for in a captain.
"I am not sure that there is anyone that is as passionate about the Solheim Cup as Ali.
"Alison fully understands the difficulty of the task that lies ahead in going onto US soil to get the Solheim Cup back," she commented.
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