[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5905-S5906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Solheim Cup

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud the American 
women competing for the Solheim Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club 
in Gainesville, VA, this week. The Solheim Cup is the world's leading 
match play competition for women professional golfers and pits Team 
U.S.A. against Team Europe.
  Today, here in the Senate, we are excited to display the coveted 
prize these teams are playing for as we gear up to cheer on America's 
premier female golfers.
  This tradition is held every 2 years and features some of the best 
athletes among the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the Ladies 
European Tour. It serves as a platform to highlight women's golf and 
helps inspire future generations to take up the sport.
  As a golf fan, I appreciate the immense talent and skill that it 
showcases. I am looking forward to supporting Team U.S.A. in its 
pursuit of another Solheim Cup victory.
  As an Arkansan, I am proud to recognize Team U.S.A.'s captain, Stacy 
Lewis, a former four-time All-American at the University of Arkansas 
and four-time Solheim Cup player. She is serving as the captain for the 
second time and will bring the knowledge and experience she gained 
helming that team to help Americans come out on top this year.
  While the United States leads Europe in the overall Solheim Cup 
matchups, Lewis is hopeful this team will ``settle the score'' after 
the last competition ended in a tie that allowed the Europeans to 
retain the title and the trophy.
  I know I join so many of my colleagues in congratulating Team 
U.S.A.'s members for representing our country, and we wish them the 
best of luck as they seek a dominant performance this week to reclaim 
the cup and the bragging rights for America.
  I yield to my colleague, Senator Hoeven.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. HOEVEN. I rise to support my colleague, the senior Senator from 
Arkansas, and golf enthusiasts everywhere in cheering on Team U.S.A. in 
the Solheim Cup.
  North Dakotans love their sports, and when it comes to golf, that is 
certainly no exception. You may be surprised to know that in North 
Dakota, we have many golf courses and actually rank very high in number 
of golf courses per capita. And for competitive golfers in the State, 
we have many different tournament opportunities for both men and women 
alike and, of course, people young and old. That is the great thing 
about golf. It is a game you can play all your life. Senator Boozman, 
even when you are old like you and me, you can get out there on the 
links and hit it and have a great time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Most of the time.
  Mr. HOEVEN. Most of the time, right.
  But even if you are not playing well, it is a great place to take a 
walk. There is nothing better. North Dakota has produced top-notch 
golfers, including, right now, PGA tour winner Tom Hoge from Fargo, and 
although she just retired, a tremendous women's golfer, Amy Anderson, 
from Oxbow, and many others as well. Even growing up, a fellow by the 
name of Mike Morley, who is a fellow I knew--I always looked up to him. 
He was a little older when I was out there caddying on the golf course. 
He went on to become a touring pro as well.
  We have great golfers, and obviously they are world-class athletes. 
In the case of Amy Anderson, she retired from professional golf this 
year, but when she was at North Dakota State University, she won 20 
collegiate events, an NCAA record for Division 1 wins.
  Again, for those traveling to the great State of North Dakota, I 
certainly encourage you to bring your clubs--Senator Boozman--
particularly in the summertime.
  The Solheim Cup was actually created by PING founder, Karsten 
Solheim, in 1990. Like the Ryder Cup for men, it meets every 2 years to 
put the top women golfers in the United States against the top golfers 
in Europe. I have got to tell you, Karsten Solheim--he and his family--
he had his sons in the business with him, too, which was primarily 
based out of Phoenix. But we have this incredible Norwegian festival in 
North Dakota every year. It is the largest Norwegian festival outside 
the country of Norway. The Solheim family used to come up to that great 
celebration celebrating their Norwegian heritage. He is the founder of 
this great tournament and, of course, pits the U.S. top women golfers 
in the United States against the top women golfers in all of Europe. So 
we are taking on all of Europe, right? It is pretty cool.
  This competition reflects the best in sports, with players not 
playing for money but playing for their country, playing for their 
teammates, and for so many young women who watch and of course are 
hoping one day to be in their shoes.
  I have to tell one quick story because I know the senior Senator from 
Arkansas will enjoy it very much. I actually

[[Page S5906]]

played in an LPGA event. I actually played in an LPGA event. Now, you 
might think that sounds funny, but, of course, golf aficionados know 
that they have a member, you know, guest day the first day, and I was 
fortunate enough to get to play in an event, and it was just great, 
great fun. It is just amazing to see these incredible women golfers and 
just how great they are at the game.
  Senator Boozman, yes, they hit it a lot farther than you do off the 
tee--no question about it--and me too, of course.
  This year's competition in nearby Gainesville, VA, will be a great 
match, with the previous competition, as Senator Boozman said, in 2023 
resulting in a 14-14 tie, which means Europe got to retain the cup. So 
we need to get it back. It looks so good here in America, we need to 
keep it here in America. I know that our women athletes will rise to 
the challenge. I like our chances this year.
  To Captain Stacy Lewis and the 12 players on Team USA, we wish you 
the very best of luck as you compete here, and we look forward to an 
exciting weekend of skill and sportsmanship.
  I already have talked to somebody on this very floor who knows some 
of the golfers and is going to go watch the tournament. Of course, the 
rest of us will get the opportunity to watch it on television.
  With that, I yield back to my very good friend and colleague, the 
senior Senator from Arkansas--who, by the way, was an incredible 
athlete himself, although I don't think it was on the golf course. I 
think it might have been on the gridiron, although you do have the 
svelte physique of a golfer. I think it might have been as a Razorback.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. I think with that, I yield the floor.