Team Europe’s Solheim Cup captain’s picks announced

LONDON – Rookie Albane Valenzuela was thrilled to be among four golfers selected by captain Suzann Pettersen on Aug 26 to compete for Team Europe against Team USA at the upcoming Solheim Cup.

England’s Georgia Hall, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen were chosen along with Valenzuela, who was born in New York but will become Switzerland’s first-ever representative at the event.

“I’m absolutely speechless, I can’t believe I’m going to play!” said the 26-year-old, per Sky Sports.

“I got to play the Junior Solheim Cup a very long time ago and ever since then it has always been a dream to make it onto the big team. I’m incredibly proud and honoured and am very excited to represent Europe.

“It’s going to be an incredible experience. I was definitely surprised when Suzann told me. It was a very emotional moment and I couldn’t be happier.”

Valenzuela and Pettersen’s three other selections round out the 12-member European squad who will take on the Americans from Sept 13 to 15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

Team Europe have held the trophy at the biennial event for the last five years, winning in 2019 and 2021 before retaining the title in the series’ only tie to date in 2023. The event transitioned to being held in even years to avoid overlapping with the men’s Ryder Cup.

Valenzuela joins the team as a three-time Olympian, her most recent appearance coming at the Paris Games. She joined the LPGA Tour in 2019 and has eight career top-10 finishes.

“It’s fantastic to bring Albane into the team,” Pettersen said after revealing her picks live on Sky Sports.

“She has played some solid golf over the last two years and especially this year has proven she’s worthy of a spot on this team. She is a great ball striker and brings a lot of good energy to the team room.”

Hall, 28, automatically qualified for each of Europe’s last four teams before just missing out this season. She has two career victories since joining the Tour in 2018 and tied for fifth at the Dow Championship in June.

“It’s always a great honour to represent Team Europe and hopefully we can win it again,” she said. “Being a pick is a different experience, but I feel like I’m playing well and I’ve had some good results over the last couple of months.”

Nordqvist will make her ninth straight Solheim Cup appearance since debuting in 2009. The 37-year-old will serve as a vice-captain for Pettersen, who played in nine Cups for Norway.

“It’s a hard feeling to describe because this tournament means so much to me and my family,” she said. “It has been a big goal of mine to make this team and I can’t wait to tee it up in two weeks’ time.”

Pedersen, 28, will compete in her fifth Solheim Cup amid a strong 2024 campaign that has featured two top-10 LPGA Tour finishes.

“Emily is a player that lives and dies for the Solheim Cup,” Pettersen added. “She has a huge passion together with her past experiences, I know what I am getting with Emily. She brings a lot to the team and is a great team player.”

Team Europe’s eight automatic qualifiers include France’s Celine Boutier, Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Swedish representatives Maja Stark, Linn Grant and Madelene Sagstrom, all of whom secured their spots through their Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Charley Hull of England and Esther Henseleit of Germany earned bids via their respective places on the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points list.

Stacy Lewis is also set to reveal her three captain’s picks for Team USA. REUTERS