Solheim Cup: The 12 players flying the flag for Europe
Published:
Europe are slight favourites in the 2023 Solheim Cup betting odds as they attempt to claim an unprecedented third straight win when they take on the United States at Finca Cortesin in Spain, starting on Friday.
There is very little to choose between the two teams in the betting, though, with Europe 10/11 for victory and the United States 6/5 while the tie is priced at 11/1.
Here we look at the 12 players in Europe captain Suzann Pettersen’s team for the biennial contest.
AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
Celine Boutier (France)
Age: 29
Caps: 2 (2019, 2021)
Record: Won 5 Lost 1 Halved 1
Enjoyed a dream debut at Gleneagles with four wins out of four, beating Annie Park in the singles after partnering Georgia Hall to three victories. Topped the European points list after winning her maiden major title in the Evian Championship and the Scottish Open in consecutive weeks.
Maja Stark (Sweden)
Age: 23
Caps: 0
Turned professional in the month before the 2021 contest and has won six times on the LET in the past two years, including the 2022 ISPS HANDA World Invitational. Was part of the Junior Solheim Cup team in 2017.
Charley Hull (England)
Age: 27
Caps: 5 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Record: Won 11 Lost 5 Halved 3
Made her debut in the contest as a 17-year-old wild card and was unbeaten at Gleneagles in 2019 with two wins and two halved matches. Qualified via the world rankings after a season which included finishing second in both the US Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open.
Leona Maguire (Ireland)
Age: 28
Caps: 1 (2021)
Record: Won 4 Lost 0 Halved 1
The first Irish player to contest the Solheim Cup enjoyed a stunning debut in Toledo, winning four-and-a-half points from five matches as Europe retained the trophy. Won her second LPGA Tour title in June.
Georgia Hall (England)
Age: 27
Caps: 3 (2017, 2019, 2021)
Record: Won 7 Lost 2 Halved 1
Compiled a 100 per cent record from four matches at Gleneagles, partnering Boutier to three wins and then beating Lexi Thompson in the singles. The former AIG Women’s Open winner lost a play-off to Boutier in the LPGA Drive On Championship in March.
Linn Grant (Sweden)
Age: 24
Caps: 0
Five wins on the LET in the past two seasons include the 2022 Scandinavian Mixed, where she became the first woman to win a DP World Tour event. Also won her first LPGA Tour event in July.
Carlota Ciganda (Spain)
Age: 33
Caps: 5 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Record: Won 7 Lost 8 Halved 4
Won her seventh LET title in May and made headlines when getting disqualified from the Evian Championship after refusing to accept a slow-play penalty in the second round.
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)
Age: 36
Caps: 7 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
Record: Won 14 Lost 10 Halved 3
Had already been named a vice-captain before claiming the final automatic qualifying place, sealing an eighth consecutive appearance in the event. Won two-and-a-half points from four matches in Toledo, taking her total to 15.5 from 27 matches.
WILD CARDS
Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden)
Age: 30
Caps: 2 (2017, 2021)
Record: Won 2 Lost 4 Halved 0
Defeated Austin Ernst in the singles to claim the only point on her debut appearance in 2017 and again won one point from three matches in 2021, defeating Ally Ewing 3&2 in the Sunday singles.
Gemma Dryburgh (Scotland)
Age: 30
Caps: 0
Won her first LPGA Tour title in Japan in November 2022 and has steadily risen to a career-high 48th in the world rankings. Was a spectator at Gleneagles in 2019 when team captain Pettersen holed the winning putt as a wild card.
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden)
Age: 34
Caps: 4 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019)
Record: Won 8 Lost 6 Halved 1
Won her seventh LET title at last season’s final event, the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana, and will be back in the region for a fifth Solheim Cup appearance. Affectionately described as a “pitbull” in match play by captain Pettersen.
Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark)
Age: 27
Caps: 2 (2017, 2021)
Record: Won 3 Lost 4 Halved 0
Handed a wild card as a 21-year-old rookie in 2017 but suffered an unhappy debut in Des Moines, losing all three matches in Europe’s defeat. Enjoyed a far better time four years later, winning three points from four matches in Toledo and securing the final point in the 15-13 win.
2023 Solheim Cup betting odds
Europe – Evens
United States – 11/10
Tie – 12/1
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
