The AIG Women's Open concluded the 2024 Solheim Cup qualifying period for both Europe and the U.S., finalizing 17 of the 24 players headed to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club next month. Even with a major offering more points for players attempting to play their way onto either roster, no one took over a spot in the biennial match-play event.
Four U.S. Solheim positions were still available going into the Women's British, two off its points list and two from the world rankings. Megan Khang and Andrea Lee held onto the final slots, as Alison Lee or Rose Zhang could have passed Andrea Lee, but the 2022 Portland Classic winner beat them both with a T-22 at the Old Course.
Still, Zhang and Alison Lee earned automatic qualifying spots by taking the world ranking positions. Zhang, World No. 9 heading into the Women's British, had plenty of breathing room, but Alison Lee as the World No. 25 at the start of the week held on with a T-29 in Scotland in fend off a T-10 push by Angel Yin, who was 34th in the rankings. Lee's return is historic for the Americans, as making for her first Solheim since 2015 is the longest time between appearances in U.S. Solheim history, surpassing Sherri Steinhauer's seven-year gap between 2000 and 2007.
The American roster had a talented quintet of Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing and Allisen Corpuz earn spots before the tournament started at St. Andrews. They amassed a combined 14 LPGA wins and three major titles over the qualifying period, led by Korda's six-win campaign and two by Coughlin over the last four events. The 31-year-old is the only American Solheim rookie from the automatic qualifiers, earning her spot thanks to her breakout campaign that has seen her rise from No. 109 at the start of the year up to 14th in the rankings.
Lewis expressed confidence in her squad, which has been searching for its first Solheim Cup victory since 2017 at De Moines Golf and Country Club.
"I'm just excited to have the team finalized," Lewis said in a release. "Much of this crew is repeating from 2023, so a lot of them have experience. We had five that were qualified coming into the week, and I'm happy to have Megan and Andrea back again. They were big parts of last year's success."
Solheim Cup Team USA: The Automatic Qualifiers
- Nelly Korda
- Lilia Vu
- Lauren Coughlin
- Ally Ewing
- Allisen Corpuz
- Megan Khang
- Andrea Lee
- Rose Zhang
- Alison Lee
Europe saw no change in its two qualifiers off its points list as Charley Hull took the top spot, and will play in her seventh Solheim Cup at only 28 years old. Olympic silver medalist Esther Henseleit remained in the second qualifying position. Henseleit is the only European rookie from the automatic qualifying positions.
Solheim Cup Team Europe: The Automatic Qualifiers
The eight players who have qualified for the European Solheim Cup team through automatic qualification are:
- Charley Hull
- Esther Henseleit
- Celine Boutier
- Maja Stark
- Linn Grant
- Leona Maguire
- Carlota Ciganda
- Madelene Sagstrom
European captain Suzann Pettersen has six Solheim veterans coming off the Rolex Rankings: Celine Boutier, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda and Madelene Sagstrom. They combine for 17 appearances.
"The European team is looking great right now for the 2024 Solheim Cup," Pettersen said in a release. "Congratulations to the eight players who have automatically qualified. We have so much experience on the team but it's also great to have Esther making her Solheim Cup debut this year. The European players have been putting in great performances this year and we're excited for September."
As of the world rankings a week ago, five of Pettersen's eight automatic qualifiers have trickled down the world rankings since tying the contest at Finca Cortesin last September, and none have won on the LPGA in 2024.
Those not automatically qualified must wait two more days to see if they’ll be picked. Pettersen will make her four captain's picks Monday morning, while Lewis will make her three selections on Tuesday morning.
Solheim Cup Captains' Picks: Who Will Fill The Remaining Spots?
The final spots on the Solheim Cup teams will be decided by the captains' picks. This year, Stacy Lewis will have three picks for the U.S. team, while Suzann Pettersen will have four picks for the European team. The picks will be announced on August 26th and August 27th, respectively.
Several strong contenders remain for the U.S. team, including:
- Angel Yin
- Cheyenne Knight
- Jennifer Kupcho
- Lexi Thompson
Europe has a few players who could earn a captain's pick, including:
- Georgia Hall
- Anna Nordqvist
- Emily Kristine Pedersen
- Albane Valenzuela
The captains will be looking for players who have the experience, talent, and mental toughness to help their team succeed in the Solheim Cup. The final picks will be announced soon, and the golf world will be watching to see who gets the nod.
Solheim Cup 2024: A Look Ahead
The 2024 Solheim Cup will be held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, from September 13-15. The event will be a battle between the two best teams in women's golf, and it is sure to be a thrilling competition. The U.S. team will be looking to avenge their loss to the Europeans in 2023, while the Europeans will be looking to extend their winning streak to four consecutive competitions.
With the automatic qualifiers finalized, the focus now shifts to the captain's picks. Who will the captains choose? And who will come out on top in the Solheim Cup battle? Stay tuned to find out!
