England’s Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Mel Reid are all in Europe’s team for their defence of the Solheim Cup against the United States in September.
Hall and Hull qualified automatically, while Reid is one of six captain’s picks made by Catriona Matthew.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire makes her debut after also being picked by Matthew.
“Leona has had a fantastic year and has a real grittiness. She’s a good match player and will be solid, one of those never give-up players,” said Matthew.
Maguire, a former world amateur number one, is the first Irishwoman to make the Solheim Cup team. The 26-year-old finished joint 13th at last week’s Women’s Open.
Madelene Sagstrom, Matilda Castren, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier are Matthew’s other captain’s picks.
Europe’s four other automatic qualifiers are Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist – who will make her seventh consecutive appearance – and last year’s winner, Germany’s Sophia Popov, who will play in her first Solheim Cup.
Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen, who was last year’s leading points scorer on the Ladies European Tour, and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda are also in.
Hall, 25, was runner-up at this year’s Women’s Open and will be making her third appearance, while Hull, like Ciganda, will be playing in the event for the fifth time.
World number one Nelly Korda leads the US challenge in the biennial event which will be held at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio from 4-6 September.
The 23-year-old is the emerging star of the women’s game after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA in June and backing that up with gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
She will be joined by her sister Jessica, Danielle Kang, Ally Ewing, Austin Ernst, Lexi Thompson, Megan Khang, Lizette Salas and Jennifer Kupcho.
US captain Pat Hurst will name her three picks at 15:00 BST on Monday.
Europe won the 2019 Solheim Cup 14½-13½ at Gleneagles in Scotland, with Suzann Pettersen holing the winning putt on the final green.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
Source link
