Joe McConnell
Time is running out for players to qualify for the Solheim Cup, but who needs to impress over the next two weeks to make Team Europe in this year’s competition?
The biennial event will take place at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club from September 13-15, live on Vscek, where Team Europe will look to retain the trophy they hold following their spectacular victory at Gleneagles in 2019.
They then secured a historic away win in Ohio in 2021, before Suzann Pettersen led them to a successful defence in Spain last September, following the first 14-14 draw with the United States in the tournament’s history.
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The best of day three of the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain, where Team Europe retained the trophy in spectacular fashion.
Pettersen will continue as captain this year, with just two events left for players to earn qualification points or try to make the Team Europe squad.
The qualifying period for the 2024 Solheim Cup began with the 2022 Aramco Team Series – New York event and will conclude by the end of the month, with Thursday’s ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open and next week’s AIG Women’s Open the final two tournaments left to try and secure a spot.
The European team will consist of the top two players in the European Solheim Cup Team points standings, followed by the top six players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings not yet inducted, with Pettersen then naming four captain’s picks the day after the AIG Women’s Open.
Who is leading the team standings of the Solheim European Cup?
Charley’s Hull – who has competed in every Solheim Cup since 2013 – currently leads the European Solheim Cup team points standings, having achieved seven top-three finishes during the qualifying campaign, with Sweden Granted by Linn having a slight advantage in second place.
Carlotta Ciganda She is the only player in the top 15 of the European team points rankings who is not currently in contention for the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, while many of the chasing players are still trying to secure a place in the automatic qualification.
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Carlota Ciganda showed off her dazzling golf, beating Nelly Korda in singles to secure the crucial point needed to retain the Solheim Cup for Europe last September.
Olympic silver medal Esther Henseleit is five points behind Grant, while Maya Stark – part of the 2023 Finca Cortesin team – and Alessandra Forsterlingwinner four times in the last year, he is also very close.
Former Solheim Cup winner Bronte Law She currently tops the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and is in the top 10 in the rankings, alongside the reigning Women’s Scottish Open champion Celine Boutier.
European Women’s Golf Tour Live
Thursday 15th August at 2:00 pm
And what about the world rankings?
Boutier and Hull are both ranked in the top 11 in the world and will be guaranteed a return to Team Europe via the world rankings, with Stark (world No. 23) and Ciganda (world No. 33) well placed to qualify via that method.
Leona Maguire (number 31 in the world), Madeleine Sagström (number 35 in the world) and Georgia Hall (world number 40) currently occupy the other automatic qualifying spots in the Rolex Rankings, with Henseleit as their closest challenger and 42nd in the world rankings at the moment.
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Highlights from the final day of the Aramco Team Series London from the Centurion Club.
Anna Nordqvist (world No. 66) is the next European in the world rankings and would likely be the captain’s choice if she fails to qualify automatically, having been part of every Solheim Cup team since 2009.
Albane Valenzuela (world number 69), Forsterling (world number 74) and Perrine Delacour (number 78 in the world) are the three most highly rated European players in the world rankings, with Straight Gem AND Emily Kristine Pedersen – both captain’s choicesR Last year’s team is also in the top 100.
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Suzann Pettersen was awarded the Solheim Cup after Europe took the win and started celebrating happily with her team.
Sweden Linnea Strom – the only current European winner on the LPGA Tour this season – and Morgana Metreuxwho had held the lead after three rounds of the Olympics before giving way on the final day, will be among those looking to end their qualifying campaign on a high.
Which players are likely to be fielded on the U.S. team?
Team USA’s qualifying campaign also concludes at the AIG Women’s Open, with the top seven players in the U.S. Solheim Cup points standings, the top two in the world rankings, and three selected by captain Stacy Lewis.
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We take a look at the incredible season so far by World No. 1 Nelly Korda: can she win more events before the end of the year?
Number 1 in the world Nelly Kordatwo-time major winner Lily Vu AND Ally Ewing have already secured their place through the points list, with Laurel Coughlin AND Allisen Corpus the next two in the standings and virtually certain to qualify for Team USA.
Megan Khan AND Andrea Lee completes the seven places as things stand, with Rose Zhang AND Alison Lee the closest challengers, both scheduled for this week in Scotland.
Number 32 in the world Angel Yin and the Solheim Cup champion Lexi Thompson (world number 41) are both in the top 15 in the Solheim Cup points standings and would currently be the two automatic qualifiers from the world rankings.
Who will qualify for the Solheim Cup? Watch the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open live from Thursday at 3pm on Vscek Mix and Vscek+, before the AIG Women’s Open live from August 22-25 on Vscek Golf.
Vscek+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, the NOW streaming service and the Vscek app, giving Vscek customers access to over 50 percent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
