Stacy Lewis, the captain of the American team for the Solheim Cup, has announced her picks for the tournament to be held next month from September 13th to 15th in Virginia.
If yesterday it was the European captain, Suzann Pettersen, who made her four picks public, this Tuesday it was Lewis’s turn, who in her case had three invitations. Two names of the finally selected appeared in all the pools: Lexi Thompson and Jennifer Kupcho. The third, although a surprise, has been brewing in the last: Sarah Schmelzel will play her first Solheim Cup. The ones who have finally been affected are the current number 32 in the world, Angel Yin and the Texan Cheyenne Knight.
Lewis already has the complete team: Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, the debutant Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang and Andrea Lee had qualified from the American Solheim 2024 list, while Rose Zhang and Alison Lee have been the two best placed in the world ranking that were not in the points classification. These nine are joined by the three golfers that Stacy has chosen. Nine of the twelve golfers who were close to winning a year ago in Spain remain.
Although she was the last to be announced, the choice of Lexi Thompson was the most evident. The Major champion announced a few months ago that she was retiring and could not miss her appointment with an event in which she has played up to six previous occasions (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023) and in which she has already added 13 points. In fact, at Finca Cortesín she was one of the best of the American team with three victories in four matches. The reality is that the current number 46 in the world would have been called up even if she had not retired this season.
Jennifer Kupcho, currently 53rd in the world ranking, will play her third Solheim at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The Colorado player has not won this season, but has three top tens on the American circuit. Kupcho did not have a great performance at Finca Cortesín adding just half a point for her team, but she has Lewis’s total confidence.
The last choice, as we said, has not caught by surprise because in recent weeks it was becoming a bigger clamor, but the captain leaves out Angel Yin, the first who had been left out by the world ranking list and includes a debutant in her place: Sarah Schmelzel. The Arizona player has had a great season with six top tens and reaching the 61st position in the world ranking. Her best position ever. At thirty years old she is having her best year as a professional and Lewis wants to take advantage of it. Unlike Yin, Sarah is a very solid player and the captain has opted for her.
Just like Europe will have two debutants, Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela, the American team will also have Lauren Coughlin, one of the most in-form players of the moment and Sarah Schmelzel herself.
With this team, the United States will seek to end the European streak of three consecutive victories and avoid a second consecutive defeat at home. The stars and stripes team is very strong as it has the two best players in the world, Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu and with five top twenties. However, everyone knows the ability of the European team to fight, struggle and bring out their best golf in this competition. From September 13th, we will have the answer.
