The Solheim Cup 2024 Preview

If the Solheim Cup was played on paper it is fair to say that Europe need not bother turning up in Virginia this week.

Their American opponents boast the top two players in the world rankings, one of whom has won six times this year, and Europe’s highest-ranked player has had a season to forget.

But this is the Solheim Cup and Suzann Pettersen’s team head to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club as holders after a thrilling 14-14 tie 12 months ago. And, incredibly, they will be looking to hold the trophy for a fourth successive time.

• Meet Team USA
• Meet Team Europe

When American captain Stacy Lewis gave one of her wild-card picks to Lexi Thompson there was a feeling among many that Thompson, who retires from full-time golf at the end of the season, is destined to hole the putt that wins the trophy for her team. 

I am of the opinion that Lewis has made a mistake and that Europe can only benefit from the inclusion of fan favourite Thompson. She has been a stellar performer and this will be her seventh appearance but her form in 2024 has been poor, to say the least. Yes, she loves the Solheim Cup and has a good record in the event but I simply do not believe that it is possible to turn up and flick a switch that will transform her game.

Nelly Korda tore up the record books at the start of the year, winning six times, and is rightly ranked world number one. But the reality is that the second half of the year has been hugely disappointing. And she will still be smarting from her poor finish at the Women’s Open at St Andrews. The tournament was hers to win but, when it mattered most, she made crucial mistakes. 

Lillia Vu is a different kettle of fish. I guarantee that no European would choose to face her over the course of the three days.

Celine Boutier is Europe’s top-ranked player. She swept all before her in 2023, winning her first major and enjoying success on both the LPGA Tour and LET. But her form has largely deserted her this season and that will surely be a concern for her captain.

However, there are many reasons for Pettersen to believe that her team can produce another upset.

In Maja Stark and Anna Nordqvist she has two golfers who would die for the cause. 

Nordqvist was meant to be a vice-captain but she has a huge presence and Pettersen said that she could not imagine a European team without her. Incredibly, this will be her ninth appearance. Stark is part of the next generation and is one of the most exciting talents in the women’s game. She knows only one way to play the game - and that is to attack every flag. Her teammates will be queueing up to partner her in the fourballs. And no American will want to face her in the singles.

Charley Hull is another European who lives for the Solheim Cup. She is a hugely gifted golfer but there are many within the game who believe she should have achieved more. And I include myself in that number. Like Stark, she refuses to ever hold back, and it has cost her dearly. She quite clearly had the game to win at St Andrews but paid the price for going at almost every tee shot flat out. In a week when the wind was howling she would surely have been better served by adopting a more strategic approach. But that is simply not her style and never will be.

It came as no surprise to see Pettersen handing a wild-card pick to former Open champion Georgia Hall. She is one of the steadiest players in the game, has a wonderful temperament and finds a lot of fairways. In other words, she is a perfect partner in both foursomes and fourballs.

I also expect to see a big contribution from Sweden’s Linn Grant, who has been a winning machine since turning professional. She has some pretty impressive notices on her belt, none more so than her successive victories at the Scandinavian Mixed, where she beat many of Europe’s best male golfers in 2023 and again this year. She is fearless and has a wonderful short game. My money is on Grant finishing the week as Europe’s top points scorer.

If you are looking for players who could emerge as stars in Virginia then watch out for 21-year-old Rose Zhang and Germany’s Esther Henseleit.

Zhang is a superstar in the making. All you need to know about this remarkable young woman is that she was the world’s top ranked amateur and that she won on her LPGA Tour debut. It is impossible to underestimate the scale of that remarkable achievement.

You may not be familiar with Henseleit but I believe she could be a key player for Europe. She performed superbly at the Scottish Open and played quite brilliantly at the Women’s Open. She qualified automatically and the good news for her captain is that she will arrive in America in form and with her confidence sky high.

I am sure that you will not be surprised to learn that I fully expect Europe to inflict yet more misery on America and achieve that fourth successive success.

Team USA

Allisen Corpuz

Hometown: Kapolei, Hawaii

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 2-1-1

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 1

Major Championship Victories: 1 (2023 U.S. Women’s Open)

Lauren Coughlin

Hometown: Charlottesville, Virginia

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: Rookie

Career Solheim Cup Record: N/A

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 2

Major Championship Victories: 0

Ally Ewing

Hometown: Fulton, Mississippi

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2019, 2021, 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 3-8-1

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 3

Major Championship Victories: 0

Megan Khang

Hometown: Rockland, Massachusetts

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2019, 2021, 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 4-3-3

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 1

Major Championship Victories: 0

Nelly Korda

Hometown: Bradenton, Florida

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2019, 2021, 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 7-4-1

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 14

Major Championship Victories: 2 

Jennifer Kupcho

Hometown: Westminster, Colorado 

Qualified: Captain’s Pick

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2021, 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 2-3-2

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 3

Major Championship Victories: 1

Alison Lee

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Qualified: Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2015

Career Solheim Cup Record: 1-3-0

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 0

Major Championship Victories: 0

Andrea Lee

Hometown: Hermosa Beach, California

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 1-2-1

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 1

Major Championship Victories: 0

Sarah Schmelzel

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Qualified: Captain’s Pick

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 0

Career Solheim Cup Record: Debut

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 0

Major Championship Victories: 0

Lexi Thompson

Hometown: Delray Beach, Florida

Qualified: Captain’s Pick

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2013, 2015 (winners), 2017 (winners), 2019, 2021, 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 9-7-7

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 11

Major Championship Victories: 1 

Lilia Vu

Hometown: Fountain Valley, California

Qualified: U.S. Solheim Cup Points

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 1-3-0

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 5

Major Championship Victories: 2 

Rose Zhang

Hometown: Irvine, California

Qualified: Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings

Previous Solheim Cup Appearances: 2023

Career Solheim Cup Record: 0-2-1

Career LPGA Tour Victories: 2

Major Championship Victories: 0

Team Europe

Charley Hull (England)

Age: 28

World Ranking: 10

LPGA Tour Wins: 2

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 6 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 12-7-3

Foursomes: 5-2-1

Fourballs: 5-2-1

Singles: 2-3-1

Qualified: Points List

Esther Henseleit (Germany)

Age: 25

World Ranking: 29

LPGA Tour Wins: 0

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: Debut

Solheim Cup Record: N/A

Qualified: Points List

Celine Boutier (France)

Age: 30

World Ranking: 8

LPGA Tour Wins: 6

Majors: 1

Solheim Cup Appearances: 3 (2019, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 5-4-1

Foursomes: 2-2-1

Fourballs: 1-1-0

Singles: 2-1-0

Qualified: World Rankings

Maja Stark (Sweden)

Age: 24

World Ranking: 24

LPGA Tour Wins: 1

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 1 (2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 2-1-1

Foursomes: 1-1-0

Fourballs: 0-0-1

Singles: 1-0-0

Qualified: World Rankings

Linn Grant (Sweden)

Age: 25

World Ranking: 26

LPGA Tour Wins: 1

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 1 (2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 3-2-0

Foursomes: 1-1-0

Fourballs: 2-0-0

Singles: 0-1-0

Qualified: World Rankings

Leona Maguire (Ireland)

Age: 29

World Ranking: 32

LPGA Tour Wins: 2

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 2 (2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 7-2-1

Foursomes: 2-2-0

Fourballs: 3-0-1

Singles: 2-0-0

Qualified: World Rankings

Carlota Ciganda (Spain)

Age: 34

World Ranking: 33

LPGA Tour Wins: 2

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 6 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 11-8-4

Foursomes: 2-2-1

Fourballs: 5-5-2

Singles: 4-1-1

Qualified: World Rankings

Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden)

Age: 31

World Ranking: 35

LPGA Tour Wins: 1

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 3 (2017, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 3-5-1

Foursomes: 0-1-0

Fourballs: 1-3-1

Singles: 2-1-0

Qualified: World Rankings

Georgia Hall (England)

Age: 28

World Ranking: 40

LPGA Tour Wins: 2

Majors: 1

Solheim Cup Appearances: 4 (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 8-7-2

Foursomes: 4-3-1

Fourballs: 3-2-0

Singles: 1-2-1

Qualified: Captain's Pick

Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)

Age: 37

World Ranking: 66

LPGA Tour Wins: 9

Majors: 3

Solheim Cup Appearances: 8 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 15-13-3

Foursomes: 7-8-0

Fourballs: 5-3-0

Singles: 3-2-3

Qualified: Captain's Pick

Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark)

Age: 28

World Ranking: 97

LPGA Tour Wins: 0

Majors: 0 

Solheim Cup Appearances: 3 (2017, 2021, 2023)

Solheim Cup Record: 5-6-1

Foursomes: 2-3-0

Fourballs: 2-1-1

Singles: 1-2-0

Qualified: Captain's Pick

Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland)

Age: 26

World Ranking: 62

LPGA Tour Wins: 0

Majors: 0

Solheim Cup Appearances: 0

Solheim Cup Record: N/A

Qualified: Captain's Pick