GAINESVILLE, Va. — ­­ ­­The U.S. Solheim team received some presidential encouragement Monday ahead of the Solheim Cup. Former President Barack Obama surprised the team during their dinner, wishing them good luck ahead of the matches that begin Friday at nearby Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

The Americans will try to win the Cup for the first time since 2017, when Obama became a member at this year’s host course.

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The golf-enthused past president has spent time with multiple Solheim Cup teams over the years. Early in his first term, Obama hosted the winning 2009 U.S. Solheim team at the White House in 2010. During his second term, Obama was the last president to have a winning American Solheim Cup team visit the White House when the 2015 squad, which included Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee on this year’s roster, celebrated their 14½ to 13½ win in Germany. U.S. captain Stacy Lewis was a player on that team too. It was the last time the U.S. won in Europe.

Obama has remained a D.C. resident since the end of his presidency.

The 44th president spent time Monday with fellow Punahou School alumnus Allisen Corpuz. She and Obama both graduated from the esteemed Hawaiian private prep school. Obama sent a congratulatory tweet when Corpuz won the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.

“Yeah, Barack and Michelle are the two Punahou alum that I get talked to about the most,” Corpuz said after her victory last year. “I mean, he’s done a lot in his career. Yeah, that’s pretty special.”

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com