Europe and the United States have confirmed their teams for the 2017 Solheim Cup, which takes place at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iowa from August 18-20.
After the final qualification event, the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns, European captain Sörenstam named Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Masson, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Madelene Sagstrom as her four captain’s selections.
They joined four players who qualified from the Ladies European Tour points list: Georgia Hall, Florentyna Parker, Mel Reid and Jodi Ewart Shadoff; as well as four players who qualified through the world golf rankings: Carlota Ciganda, Suzann Pettersen, Charley Hull and Karine Icher.
US counterpart Juli Inkster, who led America to victory in Germany in 2015, also announced her team, which features just two captain’s picks – Austin Ernst and Angel Yin. The surprise absentee was Paula Creamer, the 2010 US Women’s Open champion, who has suffered a slump in form this season.
The European team has four rookies and eight previously capped players who have a combined total of 23 Solheim Cup appearances between them. There are five English players in the team.
Sörenstam said: “The past 18 months has been an incredible journey. We have put in a lot of preparation and now that the team is finalised, we can focus on the event. I am excited about our team. We have a nice mix of veterans and fresh young talent and look forward to the challenge ahead and the memories we will build together.”
Speaking about the reasons for her picks, Sörenstam said of Nordqvist, who will make her fifth appearance in the matches: “She is Europe’s highest ranked player, but due to a recent bout of illness, she wasn’t able to play the Scottish Open, which she needed in order to have the minimum six events to qualify via the rankings. However, with her skills and record, she is a no-brainer pick.”
Outlining her reasons for selecting Masson, who will make a third appearance for Europe, she commented: “She won last year and is coming into good form. She played well the last two weeks, and is a two-time Solheim Cup participant and part of Europe’s winning team in Colorado in 2013.”
On Sagstrom, who will also be a rookie on the European team, she commented: “Another upcoming talent. She had a lot of success on the Symetra Tour last year, earning a battlefield promotion to the LPGA. She has had several top-10 finishes on the LPGA this year. A lot of players want to play with her. She will be a great addition to the team.”
Commenting on Pedersen, who will be a rookie on the European team, she said: “She is a young upcoming Scandinavian player from Denmark. I know she missed the cut this week, but her recent performances on the LPGA have been impressive. She is an aggressive long hitter, but has also shown a lot of consistency this year. I think she is ready and she will do well on the team.”
European: Georgia Hall (Eng); Florentyna Parker (Eng); Mel Reid (Eng); Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Eng); Carlota Ciganda (Spain); Suzann Pettersen (Norway); Charley Hull (Eng); Karine Icher (France); Anna Nordqvist (Sweden); Caroline Masson (Germany); Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark); Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden).
USA: Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, Gerina Piller, Cristie Kerr, Jessica Korda, Danielle Kang, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome, Lizette Salas. Captain’s Picks: Austin Ernst, Angel Yin.