Helen Alfredsson in Sweden

What does it mean to you to be Captain in your own country?

Well it’s obviously so close to my home. It’s only an hour away from where I grew up. Being here on one of the best golf courses that we have in Sweden and having played Solheim for quite a few years and having been a part of it from the very start and having seen how it has grown, it’s fantastic.

What do you think makes a good Solheim Cup Captain?

Just staying out of the way! No, just keeping everybody relaxed and not interfering too much. We’re dealing with the best players in the world here. They got into the team because they played well and you just need to support them so that they continue to play well. The only thing that you need to do as Captain really is pick the pairings and its important that you listen to your team and who the individual players want to play with.

A lot of people would say that you are known as an excellent team motivator. How far would you agree?

Well I think I’ve always been known as a crazy, hyper person. I’m getting older now so I don’t know if I’m as hyper but I think I love music and laughter and the things that make you feel more relaxed and feel good. I like to laugh a lot, so hopefully that will work.

The competition is bigger now than ever, do you think that your role will be bigger next time?

Well I think the role may have grown, I don’t know but I just think that you need to seriously stay out of the way and make life easy for the players. You need to make sure they get what they want. I know because I was on the other side. You don’t want them to have to stress about anything and you really have to listen to what they want and their demands with regard to who they want to play with, and just be supportive. I think you have to remain positive, that’s a key and if anything happens that you’re always there to help. I think the Captain’s role is more in the background than the players who are out there performing.

Barsebäck in 2003 was a huge success with Catrin as Captain. Do you think that will be a tough act to follow?

It was obviously an incredible moment. I even cried live on TV that week and it was so much fun. I was very, very proud of the Swedes and how they behaved. Coming home to the States afterwards I was so thrilled to hear that the American team really enjoyed every moment in Sweden even made all the Swedes very proud. I think Halmstad is as nice as Barsebäck and nicer in some ways. It’s a great golf course, and if we can have the same weather then I’m going to make sure that the girls produce the same golf.

Do you think it will be emotional for you?

Well you know I have to follow Nancy Lopez and I think it’s hard to cry any more than she does! She cries every time that she says something! Sure, I’m going to have my emotions as I think it’s such a great honour to be a part of it. The competition has given me so many chills and thrills and just to be a part of it on the other side will be amazing. It would be sad if I didn’t get emotional. You know, you talk about following Catrin’s act, I think its going to be harder to follow Nancy Lopez’s act.

Obviously you were the Captain of the PING Junior Solheim Cup Team. Do you think that we could see any of the players who were in that in the next European Solheim Cup Team?

Of course! You have Minea Blomqvist. I love her spirit and her competitiveness. I love the way she behaves around the golf course. You also have Louise Stahle from Sweden, another great player. There are some great players coming up from France and Spain. I think we’ve been overwhelmed by the Paula Creamer’s and Morgan Pressel’s but I think in Europe we have some great players coming through as well.

What will you be looking for in your team?

Well of course their game is the most important thing. And if they have the passion to be out there and also they have to be great team players. If it came to a choice between two players I would always take the one that is more of a team player, you know, that doesn’t bring the team down or get upset if the team isn’t doing well. This is not just about individual performance. Yes, you have to play well but you can also do a lot by supporting your other players. It helps to have a good sense of humour but obviously the golf is the most important.

Do you think that the American side will be stronger?

Well having gone through the Junior Solheim Cup with the young girls when I had them, I mean we were facing all the Paula Creamers of this generation, all of them were on the American team and my little Spanish girls who were this high and eating cookies and drinking diet coke all week defeated them, so you never know the outcome if you get the team in the right sprit. I know we won in 92 after being absolutely butchered in 1990, so if everybody gets in the right mood and makes enough putts I think anything can happen in match play. Obviously they are going to have a strong team as they have some tough players.

How about the Swedish crowds?

I think its chicken and the egg. Good play brings out a great response and vice versa. But if we play well and if everybody is positive like the guys were when they were over in the States, it could be worth a lot particularly on Sunday.

When you have a good crowd like we did last time, it is going to be a big difference to be at home. It is always going to be a bit different than being away. The way my country was last time was fantastic and if we can bring all those people and some more to Halmstad then I’m sure that Europe will do very well.