Leona Maguire will make her third successive Solheim Cup appearance next month after being confirmed as one of Europe’s eight automatic picks to face the USA in Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Maguire put on a record breaking display from a rookie in Ohio in 2021 and has amassed a total 7.5 points from the 10 matches she has played in.
England’s Charley Hull topped the LET Solheim Cup Points list with 203.50 points after recording seven top-five finishes on the LET in 2023 and 2024.
Hull, who made her Solheim Cup debut back in 2013, will be making her seventh appearance in the prestigious event and has won 13.5 points from her 22 matches.
The second spot from the standings was clinched by Germany’s Esther Henseleit, who becomes the sixth different German player to represent Europe and will be making her debut in the competition.
Henseleit accumulated 179.82 points in the qualifying period and catapulted herself into the automatic qualifying spot after her second-place finish at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open.
“I am so excited to be part of the European Solheim Cup Team this year,” said Henseleit. “It’s been a dream of mine to play in the Solheim Cup since I was a little girl and to be able to qualify for the team is a dream come true.
“I am so excited. It’s been a great summer for me, and I can’t wait to play in European colours at the Solheim Cup in September.”
Six players have qualified to Team Europe via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings with France’s Celine Boutier leading the way.
This will be Boutier’s fourth consecutive Solheim Cup, having made her debut in 2019 at Gleneagles.
Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant will both be making their second appearance in the competition having made their debuts at Finca Cortesin in 2023.
Stark commented: “I’m very excited about the Solheim Cup, it’s my first one in America. I’m looking forward to seeing how different it is and seeing some few but mighty European fans who are very loud hopefully. It’s a great course as well, so it’s going to be fun.”
“I’m very proud and it will be very fun,” said Grant. “I look forward to playing in the U.S.; it will be very different.
“A bigger stage with more people – I expect a lot of booing, but it will be fun! I hope I will thrive, I see it as a challenge for sure. I look forward to having some nice team moments and having a fun week.”
Meanwhile, it will be a seventh consecutive appearance for Spain’s Carlota Ciganda who rolled in the putt in 2023 that retained the cup for Europe.
The final player to qualify via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings is Sweden’s Madelene Sagström.
It will also be a fourth appearance for Sagström, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2017, and her third appearance on American soil.
“It means a lot to play in the Solheim Cup and being trusted with that role again is always a huge honour,” said Sagström.
“I have played on American soil a few times now, it’s always a challenge but it’s a lot of fun. A lot of people very passionate for the game. We were able to see the golf course earlier this year and it was absolutely beautiful. I think it will fit a lot of our games.
“It’s a huge honour representing Europe. I feel very good about my game and that I have played very well this year and I’m happy to have one of the spots.”
Speaking about her team captain Suzann Pettersen said: “The European team is looking great right now for the 2024 Solheim Cup. 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.”
Pettersen will finalise her team and name her four captain’s picks on Monday 26 August at 4pm (BST) live on Sky Sports News and streamed on the LET website here.
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