Solheim Cup Team Europe
With eight of the 12 players now locked in for Team Europe ahead of their Solheim Cup title defence, Suzann Pettersen and her side can now finally turn their attention fully to the challenge ahead as they welcome the American stars to Finca Cortesin in Spain next month.
France’s Celine Boutier, the Amundi Evian and Women’s Scottish open champion, is on fire right now and topped the LET Solheim Cup Points standings with 264.57 points thanks in part to those back-to-back victories.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of Team Europe at the 2023 Solheim Cup,” said the Frenchwoman, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2019, is a two-time winner and has won 5.5 points in her seven matches at the previous two editions.
“It’s going to be such an enjoyable week and it’s always a lot of fun. I’ve had such a great year winning on the LPGA in March and then to get my first major title at Evian and to win in Scotland the week after.
“It’s been unbelievable and I’m so excited to have qualified to play in the Solheim Cup. To be able to share the week with my teammates and be able to compete for Europe on European soil for the first time since 2019 will be amazing.”
Celine Boutier. Stuart Franklin
The newly crowned major champion is joined by Sweden’s Maja Stark, who clinched the second spot with 262.42 points.
Stark, who turned professional in August 2021, has won six times on the LET in the past two years including the 2022 edition of the co-sanctioned ISPS Handa World Invitational which secured her membership of the LPGA Tour.
The 23-year-old was part of the Junior Solheim Cup team in 2017, just six years ago, and will now be teeing it up as a rookie at the 2023 Solheim Cup which takes place between September 22-24.
“It feels like there have been very many gradual steps towards this moment,” Stark said. “I have just been doing my job since turning professional to get to this point. It’s something I have wanted to do for a long time, to represent Team Europe at the Solheim Cup and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be so much fun.”
Charley Hull. Warren Little/R&A
Six players have qualified to Team Europe via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings with England’s Charley Hull leading the way.
This will be Hull’s sixth consecutive Solheim Cup, having made her debut aged 17 and she has been on the winning team on three occasions.
After an outstanding rookie performance in Toledo in 2021 where she earned 4.5 points out of 5, Ireland’s Leona Maguire returns to Team Europe.
Maguire said: “I’m really excited to be part of the European Team at this year’s Solheim Cup. I had an incredible time in Toledo, it was way beyond my expectations, but I can’t wait to be part of Team Europe on European soil and to play in front of home fans. It’s great to be flying the flag for Ireland once again and I hope to have lots of support in Spain.”
Georgia Hall. Getty
England’s Georgia Hall has qualified for her fourth Solheim Cup after making her debut in 2017 and being on the winning team for the past two editions.
There will be another rookie on the team as Linn Grant secured qualification for her first Solheim Cup in September in Spain.
The Swedish star has won five times on the LET in the past two seasons including at the 2022 Scandinavian Mixed where she became the first woman to win a DP World Tour event, and she recently secured her maiden victory on the LPGA Tour.
Grant explained: “I’m very proud. It’s the first Solheim Cup that I can play in and I’m in it which is pretty cool. It has obviously been a dream since I found out about the Solheim Cup. We’re a great team, I love Suzann and all our vice-captains, and I think we will have a really fun week. I’m looking forward to it.”
Spain will have a home hero in the team at Finca Cortesin as Carlota Ciganda will be making her sixth consecutive appearance for the European Team.
“The Solheim Cup is my favourite week of the year and to be able to play at home in Spain is a dream come true,” said Ciganda, who clinched her seventh LET title earlier this season.
“I love playing for the team and I am very excited to be able to play in front of home crowds. Hopefully, we will see a lot of girls come out and watch us play and I hope that we can inspire them for the future and for the next generations to come.”
Anna Nordqvist. Getty Images
While Anna Nordqvist will be a playing vice-captain in Spain after she secured her place in the final automatic qualifying spot via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
The Swede will be making her eighth consecutive appearance in the competition having won 15.5 points from the 27 matches she has played.
“I’m very proud to be taking on vice-captaincy and playing this year,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a secret how much I love the Solheim Cup and it brings out the best in me. It’s always my biggest goal every two years to make the team and try to help Europe win. There’s no feeling like stepping up on the first tee box.”
Speaking about her team captain Suzann Pettersen said: “I’m very happy with my team right now for the 2023 Solheim Cup. Congratulations to the eight players who have automatically qualified, we have so much experience in the team and it’s great to have our rookies Maja and Linn representing Europe for the first time. We have never had such a strong group of players in terms of world ranking. The European players have been playing well this year and putting in strong performances across the board.”
Pettersen will finalise her team and name her four captain’s picks this evening as Europe look to win their third Solheim Cup in a row.
