Next Solheim Cup captain

• By Randall Mell
• Aug 25, 2009 7:47 PM ET

Meg Mallon is nearly everyone’s heir apparent as the next American Solheim Cup captain, but don’t tell her that.

“I would like to be a Solheim Cup captain, but I don’t take anything for granted,” Mallon said in the aftermath of the United States’ 16-12 victory against the Europeans.

Mallon, an assistant captain to Beth Daniel this year, has Irish roots, and that bolsters speculation that she’s a logical pick to lead the Americans when the Solheim Cup is played in 2011 at Killeen Castle in Ireland. Mallon said she has never actually been to Ireland. There are reasons she wouldn’t mind being captain when the Solheim Cup returns to the United States in 2013. She has strong ties to the founder of the Colorado Golf Club in Denver, which will host in four years. Mike McGetrick isn’t only the club’s founder, he’s Mallon’s long-time teacher. McGetrick also happens to be long-time teacher to Juli Inkster, the all-time American Solheim Cup points leader.

Whatever order they follow – Mallon, Inkster – Rosie Jones and Kelly Robbins appear in line for the captaincy, with Dottie Pepper also more than deserving to be in the mix. Inkster (18) and Mallon (16 ½) are the only Americans who have scored more Solheim Cup points than Pepper (14). The unknown is how Pepper’s relationship with Solheim Cup power brokers will affect her, given the controversial nature of her “Choking Freaking Dogs” comment about the American team two years ago. With Pepper working as a TV analyst, the comment was accidentally aired during a commercial break.