September 11, 2007–Earlier this year, Las Vegas golf's own Natalie Gulbis, who plays out of the Las Vegas golf courses of Reflection Bay Golf Club, the Falls Golf Club and SouthShore Golf Club, at Lake Las Vegas Resort, won the Evian Masters. It was a big win, but maybe not her most notable, as in 2005 she went 3-1 for the US in Solheim Cup. "Winning the Solheim Cup in 2005 was the most memorable week in my golf career," Gulbis wrote via Blackberry from Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden, site of the 2007 event. "Playing for the USA and in front of 100k fans chanting USA was incredible. I have been working hard for two years to make this team. I am looking forward to a great week.
Gulbis is the leading US Solheim Cup points earner, and also was one of only two LPGA Tour players in 2006 to record top 20 finishes in all four majors. She has also earned more than $3.2 million in her career and finisihed in the top 10 of the money list. She was a member of the victorious 2005 US Solheim Cup team.
The Evian Masters was her first win on the LPGA Tour, and for many it finally proved that she was more substance than style. But for those watching closely, she had proved she could play many times before, maybe most notably with her performance at the 2005 Solheim Cup where she went 3-1, including a win in the singles matches over Swede Maria Hjorth. It was her first appearance in the international competition and she handled the pressure beautifully and looked like a veteran.
"I am very excited to represent the USA again at this year's Solheim Cup," Gulbis wrote. "We are a team of the top 12 American players. It's exciting to travel to Sweden to play for the cup. We won the cup in 2007 at home under captain Nancy Lopez. We are up for the challenge of retaining it on their homefield."
The opening ceremony for the Solheim Cup will be televised live on The Golf Channel on Thursday, September 13 at 8 AM PST. The matches, also on the Golf Channel, begin on Friday at 2 AM due to the time difference.
Gulbis lives on the fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas Resort.