Team England walked up to the first news conference of the International Crown with only two players and without personalised jerseys. Alice Hewson and Liz Young, added to the team this week, scrambled to San Francisco early on Monday after the LPGA’s announcement that Charley Hull and Georgia Hill had withdrawn.
The top two players from England in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings did not reach out to their remaining teammates, Bronte Law and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, leading to a palpable hot temperature during their first interview.
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“I think anyone with some level of decency would send their teammates a message that they weren’t coming, not find out from other players on tour who have heard things from them saying things at the tournament last week,” Law said. “I don’t think that that’s a lot to ask for.”
Neither Ewart Shadoff nor Law hesitated to explain their frustration with their countrywomen, with whom they teamed in the 2018 version of this event in South Korea.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing, especially to come so late,” Ewart Shadoff said. “I’m sure it’s disappointing mainly for Hanwha [title sponsor of the event]. I think what they’ve done for the tournament and to bring it back, we’re all just really grateful to be here.”
Ewart Shadoff, the 2022 Mediheal Championship winner, explained that she built the early part of her schedule around this event, an eight-team matchplay competition held for the fourth time. Even though the 35-year-old has been in the United States for most of her playing career, she still feels immense pride representing England.
Neither she nor Law had heard from Hull or Hall until Hull reached out to apologise to Law on Tuesday. Hall, according to Law, still hasn’t contacted either of her former Solheim Cup teammates.
The news trickled over to England at the crack of dawn to Hewson and Young, who had to scurry to get to TPC Harding Park. Both were at home in England – Young found at 6am and Hewson got a marginal head start because she read her message at 2am.
“I read it and I was like, Really?” Young said. “Then I woke my husband up, and I was like, ‘Read that. What does that say?’ Just to make sure.”
Both arrived late on Monday and played TPC Harding Park for the first time as the team sorted through how to approach the week given the team’s challenges. This week is both Hewson and Young’s first stateside LPGA event.
“I’m going to just give everything I’ve got to play for England and give myself as many opportunities as I possibly can out there,” Hewson said.
A final patriotic roar concluded Law’s answers, speaking with pride to be on the team with her three compatriots.
“It’s more important to have teammates that feel that way and want to be here than anything else,” Law said, “and that’s why having them here is going to be the best thing for Team England this week.”
