European Solheim Cup Team Preview
The 2024 Solheim Cup, the professional golf tournament between the best in the women’s game from the United States and Europe, will be played in Gainesville, VA at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The European Team comes in with an 8-10 all-time record but has won the last three against the U.S. They will be led by captain Suzann Pettersen, who also captained the team in 2023. The Europeans will come in as the underdogs, but have won five of the last seven Solheim Cups and should not be underestimated. Meet Team Europe.
Automatically Qualified:
Charley Hull is currently the 12th-ranked player in the world with no wins, four LPGA top 10s, and six LET top 10s in 2024. She was first in Solheim Cup points to automatically qualify and ranked fourth in LET’s Order of Merit. Charley ranks third in strokes gained off the tee, fifth in ball striking, and sixth in greens in regulation. She went 1-2-0 in the 2023 Solheim Cup for one point. This will be Charley Hull’s seventh appearance.
Esther Henseleit is currently the 30th-ranked player in the world with no wins, four LPGA top 10s, and three LET top 10s this year. She finished second in Solheim Cup points to automatically qualify and ranked seventh in LET’s Order of Merit. Esther ranks 11th in putts per greens in regulation, 13th in birdie percentage, and 16th in par three scoring average. This will be Esther Henseleit’s first Solheim Cup appearance.
Celine Boutier is the 10th-ranked player in the world, the highest on team Europe, with one top 10 and no wins on the LPGA tour this year. She finished ninth in Solheim Cup points and automatically qualified due to her Rolex world ranking. Celine ranks 12th in strokes gained on approach shots, 12th in par five scoring average, and fifth in cuts made. She went 0-3-0 in the 2023 Solheim Cup for no points. This will be Celine Boutier’s fourth Solheim Cup appearance.
Maja Stark is currently the 25th-ranked player in the world with three top 10s and no wins on the LPGA tour in 2024. She finished fourth in Solheim Cup points and automatically qualified through her Rolex world ranking. Maja ranks ninth in driving and finished tied at 13th in Rolex Player of the Year points. She went 2-1-1 in the 2023 Solheim Cup for 2.5 points. This will be Maja Stark’s second appearance in the event.
Linn Grant is the 26th-ranked player in the world with no wins and four top 10s on the LPGA tour and one win on the Ladies European Tour this year. She finished third in Solheim Cup points and automatically qualified through her Rolex world ranking. Linn ranks fifth in strokes gained off the tee, 12th in par five scoring average, and 11th in tournament rounds in the 60s. She went 3-2-0 in the 2023 Solheim Cup for three total points. This will be Linn Grant’s second appearance in the Solheim Cup.
Leona Maguire is the 34th-ranked player in the world with no wins and one top 10 on the LPGA tour. Plus, one win and two top 10s on the European Tour this year. She finished 20th in Solheim Cup points and automatically qualified through her Rolex world ranking. Leona ranks 54th in total strokes gained, 55th in scoring average, and 68th in greens in regulation percentage. She went 3-2-0 in the 2023 Solheim Cup for three points. This will be Leona Maguire’s third appearance.
Carlota Ciganda is the 33rd-ranked player in the world with no wins and three top 10s on the LPGA tour and no wins and one top 10 on the European Tour in 2024. She finished sixth in Solheim Cup points and automatically qualified through her Rolex world ranking. Carlota ranks 30th in strokes gained tee to green, 33rd in greens in regulation percentage, and 44th in scoring. She went 4-0-0 in the 2023 Solheim Cup, winning four total points for Europe. This will be Carlota Ciganda’s seventh Solheim Cup appearance.
Madelene Sagstrom is the 40th-ranked player in the world with no wins and three top 10s on the LPGA tour in 2024. She finished 43rd in Solheim Cup points and automatically qualified through her Rolex world ranking. Madelene ranks sixth in strokes gained putting, seventh in birdies or better per round average, and seventh in birdies or better overall percentage. She went 1-1-1 for 1.5 points in the 2023 Solheim Cup. This will be Madelene Sagstrom’s fourth appearance.
Captain’s Picks:
Georgia Hall is the 46th-ranked player in the world with one LPGA top 10 and two LET top 10s this year. She finished 23rd in Solheim Cup points and made the team via Captain’s Pick. Georgia ranked 59th in strokes gained tee to green, 54th in strokes gained around the green, and 46th in greens in regulation percentage. She went 1-2-1 for 1.5 points in the 2023 Solheim Cup. This will be Georgia Hall’s fifth Solheim Cup appearance.
Anna Nordqvist is currently the 73rd-ranked player in the world with no top 10s or wins on either tour. She finished 45th in Solheim Cup points and made the team via Captain’s Pick. Anna ranked 28th in greens in regulation percentage, 55th in ball striking, and 10th in driving accuracy percentage. She went 1-3-0 for one point in the 2023 Solheim Cup. This will be Anna Nordqvist’s ninth appearance in the Solheim Cup.
Emily Kristine Pedersen is currently the 104th-ranked player in the world with no wins and two top 10s on the LPGA tour and three LET top 10s in 2024. She finished 56th in Solheim Cup points and made the team via Captain’s Pick. Emily ranked 60th in greens in regulation percentage, 48th in ball striking, and 13th in average driving distance. She went 2-2-1 in the 2023 Solheim Cup for 2.5 points. This will be Emily Kristine Pedersen’s fourth appearance.
Albane Valenzuela is currently the 62nd-ranked player in the world with no wins and two top 10s on the LPGA tour this year. She finished 48th in Solheim Cup points and made the team via Captain’s Pick. Albane ranked 71st in average driving distance, 37th in greens in regulation percentage, and finished 51st in Rolex Player of the Year points. This will be Albane Valenzuela’s first Solheim Cup appearance.
