There are just over 50 days left until the Solheim Cup is contested. It will take place from September 13 to 15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, less than a year after Europe’s sensational victory at Finca Cortesín. We are, therefore, in the final stretch of the qualification for both the European and American teams. There are few tournaments left, few opportunities, and the two squads are starting to be quite defined.
The first question that springs to mind is obvious: will there be many or few changes compared to last year? Is Carlota Ciganda in the team? Will she be accompanied by another Spanish player? Are surprises expected in the captains’ choices?
The first thing to say is that the captains are the same. Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis repeat. It was logical with less than a year ahead to prepare the next edition. They already know that there are two consecutive Solheim due to the change that occurred in the Ryder Cup due to Covid, which forced the men’s competition to move from 2020 to 2021.
We start with Europe. The team, as expected, is going to be very similar to that of Finca Cortesín. Not many changes are expected. In fact, right now, the eight who would be classified were in Casares. To know: by the European list are Charley Hull and Linn Grant and by the world ranking appear Celine Boutier, Maja Stark, Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda, Madelene Sagstrom and Georgia Hall. So the answer to one of the questions we asked is yes, Carlota is currently qualified for the Solheim. And the truth is that she is very well placed to not get out of those top eight.
There are only four tournaments valid for the Solheim qualification. In Europe, and therefore counting for the two lists (European and world ranking), there are just two appointments, however, of great importance: Scottish Open and British Open. While in the United States there are two more: Canada and Portland. Some golfer, if she wishes and has the category to do so, could play the four tournaments, as they do not overlap in the calendar.
The European team will be very similar to that of Finca Cortesín. The eight who are currently classified will be in Virginia yes or yes, either because they maintain their positions or because they are chosen by Pettersen. The opposite would be a big surprise. From here, there are more variables and less certainty. The captain has four finger choices. The players who are currently left out by world ranking are: the German Esther Henseleit, the Swedish Anna Nordqvist, the Swiss Albane Valenzuela, the German Alexandra Forsterling, the French Perrine Delacour, the Scottish Gemma Dryburgh, the English Jodi Ewart and the Danish Emily Pedersen, to count the first seven. Of all of them, it seems evident that Nordqvist will be chosen.
To complete the same team that played at Finca Cortesín, Pettersen should select Dryburgh, Pedersen and Hedwall. The Scotswoman is the weakest of this trio. She has missed five of the last six cuts and her performance last year was not very outstanding. She only played two points and tied them. Pettersen has a lot of faith in Pedersen and Hedwall, we already know that she is the Poulter of the Solheim, she transforms in this competition and was one of the responsible for the Sunday turnaround in favor of Europe.
The players who currently have more options to enter in some gap that is generated, either Dryburgh, Pedersen or Hedwall, one, two or three gaps, would be Henseleit, who is having a great season, Valenzuela or Forsterling, the great revelation of the LET. However, if something has made clear Pettersen is that she only has eyes for the LPGA. If Forsterling wants to get in, she will have to do it by herself. She is not far in the European list.
Regarding the Spanish, Azahara Muñoz is 120 in the world ranking. By this classification she has eleven golfers ahead. She will have options if she does very well in the next four weeks. Meanwhile, Ana Peláez, María Hernández, Marta Martín, Nuria Iturrioz, Fátima Fernández Cano or Carmen Alonso have some remote mathematical option, but it would involve winning the Scottish, the British or both. The Scottish champion takes 60 points and the British will add 100. Very complicated.
As for the United States, right now Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Kkang, Lauren Coughlin and Andrea Lee would be classified, by the LPGA points list, and Rose Zhang and Alison Lee by world ranking. In addition, Lewis would have three finger choices left. The next three in the world ranking are Angel Yin, Lexi Thompson and Jennifer Kupcho and the three in the points classification are Rose Zhang, Alison Lee and Sarah Schmelzel. The three with the most options are Yin, Lexi and Kupcho. In that case, the only two changes compared to Finca Cortesín in the United States would be Alison Lee and Coughlin for Danielle Kang and Cheyenne Knight.
