Less than a day after eight of the European Solheim Cup team were confirmed via automatic qualifying, captain Suzann Pettersen has named the remaining four players who will be heading to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club to defend the trophy against Stacy Lewis’ Team USA.
Georgia Hall narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, and so it comes as no surprise that Pettersen has named the experienced English star as her first wildcard. The confirmation of Hall’s inclusion on the 12-player team means she will be making her fifth appearance at the match, where she has an overall record of 8-7-2.
She said: “I love being part of Team Europe. This will be my fifth Solheim Cup and it’s always great to be able to represent Europe. Winning the last three and being part of that, you always want to do it again.”
Pettersen has also turned to another vastly experienced player in Swedish veteran Anna Nordqvist.
Nordqvist has been an ever-present in the European Solheim Cup team since 2009, and will be making her ninth appearance. The three-time Major winner heads into the match with an overall Solheim Cup record of 15-3-13 and will combine her role with that of vice-captain for the second successive contest.
“There is no bigger honour than to represent Europe in the Solheim Cup, so I am very excited to have been picked to play in my ninth Solheim Cup,” said Nordqvist. “This is beyond my wildest childhood dreams.”
Emily Kristine Pedersen is the third wildcard. The Dane played in all five sessions in the 2023 match at Finca Cortesin in Spain, finishing with a 2-2-1 record as the Europeans clinched a dramatic 14-14 tie with the US to retain the trophy.
The match will be Pedersen’s fourth Solheim Cup appearance, having made her debut in 2017, when the US won. Her overall record stands at 5-6-1.
She said: “I’m very excited to be picked again. I love Solheim, I love team golf and I’m proud to be playing for Europe again. I’ve always looked up to Suzann and I’m excited to be able to play in the Solheim Cup on American soil once again.”
Swiss player Albane Valenzuela completes the 12-player team….
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