2019 Solheim Cup Betting Preview: Is Team USA Overvalued in Scotland?

American dominance has reigned supreme in recent editions of the highly anticipated Solheim Cup, the women’s golf equivalent to the Ryder Cup, which tees off Friday at Gleneagles in Scotland.

The United States, led by stars Lexi Thompson, Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas, have utterly ruled affairs against their rival Europeans at the event that occurs every two years, winning six of the last eight Solheim Cup showdowns.

Two years ago, the U.S. earned a 16.5-11.5 victory in Des Moines, Iowa, to repeat as champion and pick up the country’s sixth Solheim Cup win in the last eight meetings with Europe.

A major issue for American team captain Juli Inkster could be the fact her side boasts six players making their Solheim Cup debuts. However, Inkster hopes her newbies can duplicate what happened the last time this many new faces competed at the Solheim Cup.

Six years ago, an inexperienced pack of Europeans took it to the U.S. team and went a combined 12-5-3 to help the visitors earn their first win on American soil in an 18-10 rout in Colorado.

Charley Hull, Carlota Ciganda, Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff we’re part of that victorious 2013 crew and return as part of the veteran leaders for Europe.

On the American side, Nelly Korda highlights the debutant list. Korda, whose older sister, Jessica, is on the team as well, is the highest-ranked rookie in the group at No. 10 in the latest Rolex world rankings.

Oddsmakers have made the American side their consensus favorite, with the majority settling on -175 for the number. Europe is hovering around +165, although you can shop around and perhaps find a better number.

For me, laying almost 2-to-1 odds on American team chasing a three-peat featuring a lineup where half its players have never competed in a Solheim Cup is downright ridiculous.

Add in the fact, the U.S. lost the two other times this event was played in Scotland (Dalmahoy in 1992 and Loch Lomond in 2000) and you have an extremely live underdog to not only win the Solheim Cup but to do it in convincing fashion.

Take the Euros with confidence.

Solheim Cup pick: Europe (+165)

Player Props

Top American Points Scorer: Danielle Kang (+650)

Absolutely love this number we are getting on Kang, who is having another stellar season on tour. Kang, who captured her first major championship at the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, has had plenty of Solheim Cup success. She went 3-1 at the 2017 edition of the event, plus won back-to-back U.S. Amateur titles before embarking on her pro career.

I fully expect Kang to anchor the U.S. side on European soil and carry the weight of the team. Kang finding success early in Scotland would generate a huge burst of momentum and could be the difference maker for the Americans.

Top European Points Scorer: Charley Hull (+550)

The English standout isn’t having one of her better campaigns on tour, but I could not have been happier when seeing her sitting at this number.

Hull has been a points machine in her Solheim Cup career, racking up a blistering 7-3-1 record in three appearances for the Europeans. Mediocre tour results aside, Hull will be the leader and carry her team to the home triumph.