Europe finalizes Solheim Cup team with three rookies as captain’s picks

Europe is bringing in young talent for this Solheim Cup, with three rookies included in Anna Nordqvist’s four captain’s picks.

Spain’s Julia López Ramirez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Mimi Rhodes have got the nod for the September 11-13 tournament at Bernardus Golf, The Netherlands with the Republic of Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who will make a fourth consecutive appearance, joining them.

“Leona has proved herself at the Solheim Cup, she has a huge passion for the European team and her record speaks for itself,” Nordqvist said of Maguire, who has a record of 8 1/2 points from her 12 career matches. “She is a player you want on your team especially in matchplay and I’m thrilled to pick her.

“Julia has really impressed me since turning professional. She has a great personality, and she is a great ball-striker, very passionate and will bring great energy to the European team.

“Nastasia is a great young player who has been getting better and better in the qualifying period. After getting her first win on the LET, she is having a solid rookie season on the LPGA and is deserving of a spot on the team.

“Since turning professional, Mimi has impressed me with her performances, winning three times on the LET last year and has played on the LPGA Tour. She is an experienced matchplay player and is a fierce competitor.”

Nadaud is 21 years old, Ramirez is 23 and Rhodes 24. Lottie Woad, one of the breakout stars on the LPGA, is 22 and has qualified automatically.

Nordqvist’s four selections, announced live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom on Monday, are added to the eight other players who qualified in LET Solheim Cup Points spots.

England’s Charley Hull and Woad, Sweden’s Maja Stark and Linn Grant, France’s Céline Boutier, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen will all feature next month.

They are joined by Germany’s Esther Henseleit, who vaulted into one of the automatic qualification places with her second-place finish in the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Sunday.

Angela Stanford, captain of the United States team, will announce her picks on August 24. Nelly Korda, Angel Yin and Jennifer Kupcho have clinched spots for the Americans.

The U.S. is the holder of the cup, having regained it with a 15.5-12.5 win at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, in 2024.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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