 Davies has played in three European teams that have beaten the US |
England's Laura Davies claimed her 11th straight Solheim Cup cap after final qualifying in the Women's British Open. The 45-year-old, who has represented Europe in every match since its inception in 1990, tied 46th at Royal Lytham to qualify by right. Scot Janice Moodie, Wales's Becky Brewerton and Swede Anna Nordqvist were named as Europe's wildcards. Michelle Wie, 19, will make her debut for the US after she was handed one of captain Beth Daniel's wildcards. Daniel also picked the veteran Juli Inkster to make up her 12-strong team alongside the 10 automatic qualifiers. The 49-year-old, a seven-time major winner, has played in eight previous Solheim Cups, the biennial matchplay contest between Europe and the United States.  | To be representing my country is such a thrill for me |
Wie, who has yet to win a professional tournament, was given the news after finishing 11th at Royal Lytham. The Hawaiian teenager first shot to stardom when she played on the men's US Tour at 14 and missed the halfway cut by only one shot. She signed contracts worth millions of dollars on turning professional at 16, but then suffered a wrist injury and a dramatic loss of form. This season, however, she has had a runners-up finish and two third places and came 16th in the Solheim Cup rankings. "I am so honoured that Beth picked me and I will do my best not to let her down," said Wie. "To be representing my country is such a thrill for me." The top five on the European points list - Gwladys Nocera, Tania Elosegui, Diana Luna, Davies and Sophie Gustafson - and four more from a special rankings list - Suzann Pettersen, Helen Alfredsson, Catriona Matthew and Maria Hjorth - made the team by right. Davies would have been left needing a wildcard if two Europeans had gone past her on the points table at Lytham. But Maria Hjorth and Gustafson, Norway's Marianne Skarpnord and German Martina Eberl did not do enough. Alfredsson makes a playing return to the side after captaining Europe to defeat at Halmstad in Sweden two years ago. "I think we have strong team and a good balance of youth and experience," said Nicholas. Both teams have three rookies, Wie, Brittany Lang and Kristy McPherson on the US side, and Nordqvist, Elosegui and Luna for Europe. Luna is the first player from Italy to make the team. Europe will be looking to prevent the US from completing a hat-trick of victories, following wins at Crooked Stick, Indiana in 2005 and Halmstad in 2007. The US have won the trophy seven times to Europe's three. This year's Solheim Cup will take place at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois from 17-23 August.
Europe: Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Tania Elosegui (Spa), Diana Luna (Ita), Laura Davies (Eng), Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Helen Alfredsson (Swe), Catriona Matthew (Sco), Maria Hjorth (Swe). Wildcards: Becky Brewerton (Wal), Janice Moodie (Sco), Anna Nordqvist (Swe). Non-playing captain: Alison Nicholas United States: Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Christina Kim, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis. Wildcards: Juli Inkster, Michelle Wie. Non-playing captain: Beth Daniel.
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