Not again! LPGA star’s clubs go missing while travelling to Solheim Cup
Danielle Kang has hit a bump in the road to the Solheim Cup as her clubs didn’t arrive with her at Malaga airport…
If I had a pound for every time a professional golfer lost their clubs while travelling, I’d be on a private jet to Finca Cortesin for the 2023 Solheim Cup.
I haven’t had this luxury yet, and nor have Danielle Kang’s golf clubs which still remain in transit somewhere.
The 30-year-old posted on her Instagram story on Sunday revealing her clubs didn’t arrive at Malaga airport – but curiously her putter did.
“My clubs didn’t make it but my putter didddddd. And yes they travel separately – Scotty Cameron knows,” she wrote.
There has since been an update on the status of Kang’s golf clubs:
“Just been told that a back-up set of clubs for Danielle Kang is arriving at Finca Cortes in at 9pm tonight,” Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir posted to X.
“They fear her original clubs have been lost entirely, or are certainly irrecoverable by Friday. Currently chipping with spare wedges while rest of US team play the course.”
The former winner of the KPMG Women PGA Championship is set to make her fourth appearance for Team USA at the Solheim Cup, having won the event just once in three starts.
Kang has now provided an update on her Instagram story in which she’s revealed her clubs have now arrived, as well as a spare set.
Has this ever happened before?
In the 12 matches of her United States career, she has won five and lost seven.
Kang suffered a blip in her career in June 2022 when a tumour was discovered on her spine. She returned to competitive golf in August at the CP Women’s Open.
She certainly isn’t the first professional to suffer from travel trouble in recent seasons – it is a fairly common issue experienced by some of the world’s best players.
Viktor Hovland was once left without his clubs at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and his driver was broken when it arrived, while up to 50 players were left without their sticks before a Monday qualifier in Canada in 2022.
Irish golfer Aine Donegan also arrived at the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach earlier this year without her clubs despite embarking on a 30-hour journey to the venue.
What do you make of this Danielle Kang Solheim Cup chaos? How will she play at this week’s event? Tell us on X!
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
