Time is running out for players to qualify for the Solheim Cup, but who needs to impress at the AIG Women’s Open to feature for Team Europe in this year’s contest?
The biennial event takes place at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club from September 13-15, live on Sky Sports, where Team Europe will aim to retain the trophy they have held since a dramatic victory at Gleneagles in 2019.
They followed it up with a historic success on away soil in Ohio in 2021, before Suzann Pettersen led them to retaining the trophy last September in Spain after the first 14-14 draw with the United States in the tournament’s history.
Pettersen retains her role as captain for this year’s contest, with the AIG Women’s Open the last remaining event for players to earn qualification points or try and force their way into Team Europe’s squad.
The qualifying period for the 2024 Solheim Cup began at the Aramco Team Series – New York event in 2022 and will end this week on the iconic Old Course at St Andrews.
Who will star for Europe at the Solheim Cup as they look to regain the trophy? Watch live from September 13-15 on Sky Sports Golf
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 already eligible, with Pettersen then naming four captain’s picks the day after the AIG Women’s Open – live on Monday from 4pm on Sky Sports Golf.
Charley Hull – who has featured in every Solheim Cup since 2013 – currently leads the European Solheim Cup Team points list, having posted seven top-threes during the qualification campaign, with Esther Henseleit moving into the other automatic spot after runner-up finishes at the Olympics and the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.
Swedish duo Linn Grant and Maja Stark are Henseleit’s closest challengers, while Alexandra Forsterling – a four-time winner over the past year – and Solheim Cup stalwart Carlota Ciganda are also close behind.
Carlota Ciganda produced some scintillating golf to beat Nelly Korda in the singles and gain the crucial point needed to retain the Solheim Cup for Europe last September
Former Solheim Cup winner Bronte Law currently tops the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and is inside the top 10 in the standings, along with last year’s Evian Championship winner Celine Boutier.
Boutier and Hull are both inside the world’s top 10 and will be guaranteed a Team Europe return via the world rankings, with Stark (world No 24), Grant (world No 26), Leona Maguire (world No 32) and Ciganda also set for Solheim Cup returns.
Highlights from the final day of the Aramco Team Series London from the Centurion Club
Madelene Sagstrom currently occupies the last automatic spot as world No 35, with former AIG Women’s Open champions Georgia Hall (world No 40) and Anna Nordqvist (world No 66) the closest two and both likely captain’s picks should they fail to qualify automatically, with the latter having been part of every Solheim Cup team since 2009.
Albane Valenzuela (world No 68), Forsterling (world No 74) and Perrine Delacour (world No 80) are the next three highest-ranked European players in the world rankings, with Gemma Dryburgh and Emily Kristine Pedersen – both captain’s picks for last year’s team – also sitting inside the top 100.
Suzann Pettersen was presented with the Solheim Cup after Europe retained and began joyous celebrations with her team
Sweden’s Linnea Strom – the only current European winner on the LPGA Tour this season – and Morgane Metraux, who held a share of the lead after three rounds of the Olympics before fading on the final day, will be among those looking for a big finish to the qualification campaign.
Team USA’s qualification campaign also ends at the AIG Women’s Open, with the top seven players in the US Solheim Cup points list and the top two other players in the world rankings then joined by three captain’s picks from Stacy Lewis.
We take a look back at World No 1 Nelly Korda’s incredible season so far – can she win more events before the end of the year?
World No 1 Nelly Korda, two-time major winner Lilia Vu and Ally Ewing are already guaranteed their spots via the points list, with Lauren Coughlin also in automatically after winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open on Sunday.
Allisen Corpuz sits in fifth spot and is also guaranteed qualification after her tied-15th finish in Scotland, with seven players still in the running to claim the final two automatic spots in Lewis’ side.
Megan Khang is all-but safe in sixth and Andrea Lee holds the last of the seven automatic qualification spots, although 450 qualification points on offer means Rose Zhang, Alison Lee, Sarah Schmelzel, Jennifer Kupcho and Angel Yin can all still move into the top seven with a strong week.
Zhang (world No 9) and Alison Lee (world No 25) would currently be the two Rolex Rankings qualifiers if they do not secure their spots from the other standings, with Angel Yin (world No 34) and Lexi Thompson (world No 43) the next closest two via the world rankings.
Who will qualify for the Solheim Cup? Watch the AIG Women’s Open live this week on Sky Sports. Watch all four rounds live this week on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage each day from midday! Stream the women’s majors and more sport with NOW.
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