Stacy Lewis has named three of her captains who will make up her 12-man squad to face Europe in next month’s Solheim Cup.
Lexi Thompson says being selected as one of the three wild cards in the United States Solheim Cup squad to face Europe next month “means the world” to her.
The 29-year-old retires from full-time football at the end of the year, so he will be playing for the seventh and final time in the annual competition.
American captain Stacy Lewis said the decision to pick Thompson was “probably the easiest to make of the three”.
“He’s someone who will help the team a lot, both on and off the golf course,” added Lewis. “With his experience, everyone in the team will be watching what he does to try to learn from him.”
Thompson has 12½ points in 23 games, including three of four in a 14-14 draw in Spain that saw Europe retain the trophy.
“To be able to represent my country, it’s the highest honor you can have,” said Thompson, who turned pro at age 15 and won his title just four years later. “Being there again this year, especially stateside, is a dream come true.”
Lewis also nominated Jennifer Kupcho and Sarah Schmelzel for the three-day playoff tournament, which will be held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia from September 13-15.
They join automatic qualifiers Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allsen Corpuz, Megan Khang, Andrea Lee, Rose Zhang and Alison Lee on the 12-player team.
Europe finalized its squad on Monday, with captain Suzann Pettersen selecting the experienced trio of Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist and Emily Pedersen, as well as debutant Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland, as she selected the wild cards.
Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit topped the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points table to secure their places, while Leona Maguire, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Maja Stark, Linn Grant and Madelene Sagstrom achieved their world rankings.
Europe enters the 19th stage of this event looking to retain the trophy it has held since winning at Gleneagles in 2019. A second road victory followed in Toledo, Ohio in 2021 before last year’s game.
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