Brittany Lincicome has belted her way into the hunt for what could be her sixth consecutive berth on Team USA at the 2017 Solheim Cup after her season opening win at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic.
"Making the Solheim Cup team is by far my number-one goal," Lincicome said. "Getting a win is just icing on the cake. To make the Solheim Cup team and play for (Team USA Captain) Juli Inkster again would just be a dream come true.
Known as "Bam Bam" for her monstrous tee shots, Lincicome jumped out to an early lead at the Pure Silk Bahamas while setting a 36-hole course record 129. She finished the final round in a tie with Lexi Thompson at 26 under par. Lincicome won the tournament title with a birdie putt on the first playoff hole. The Jan. 29 win marked her seventh career victory on the LPGA Tour and her first since she won the ANA Inspiration in 2015. The win also catapulted the 31-year-old Floridian to seventh place on the 2017 Solheim Cup point rankings.
Lincicome brings an impressive long game. She's hit drives as long as 369 yards and ranks third on the LPGA this season in average driving distance. She can easily challenge the par 5 holes, which could give her team opportunities to card eagles and birdies at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, site of the 2017 Solheim Cup. She also has improved her short game, showcasing an excellent putting stroke at the Pure Silk Bahamas.
While her early season win is a confidence builder, Lincicome says success in the match play format at the 2017 Solheim Cup will rely heavily on team chemistry. She ought to know, having played for Team USA in every Solheim Cup since 2007, where she has a combined match play record of 5-11-2.
"The Solheim Cup week is a very stressful week. Obviously we want to play well for ourselves, play well for our country and play well for our captain," Lincicome said.
"There's an extra pressure on it than a normal week when you play individually for yourself. Obviously the emotions are very high in the locker room. So I just try to be myself, pump everybody up and encourage everyone as best as I can."
Will Lincicome deliver her long blasts for Team USA? The next six months will tell. Get your tickets now to catch all the action when Team USA faces off against Team Europe at the 2017 Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, in West Des Moines, Iowa, August 14-20.
)
)
)
)
