AIG Women's Open this week is one of two remaining events to qualify for Team Europe; Suzann Pettersen to name captain's picks on Tuesday August 22 ahead of the Solheim Cup from September 22-24 in Spain, live on Sky Sports
Thursday 10 August 2023 07:38, UK
Time is running out to qualify for the Solheim Cup, with the AIG Women's Open the penultimate chance for players to force their way into an automatic spot for Team Europe.
Suzann Pettersen will captain Europe at Finca Cortesin in Andalucia from September 22-24, live on Sky Sports, where the hosts will be chasing a third consecutive victory over Team USA in the tournament's history.
A strong core of Europe's winning teams in 2019 and 2021 will return for this year's edition of the biennial contest, while the AIG Women's Open and next week's ISPS Handa World Invitational give players a late chance to guarantee a place in Pettersen's squad.
The top two in the European Solheim Cup standings after those events automatically qualify, alongside the next eligible six in the world rankings, with Pettersen then naming her four captain's picks in a live show on Sky Sports Golf on Tuesday August 22.
Ahead of the final women's major of the year taking place this week at Walton Heath, we take a look at those already set for a Solheim Cup spot and who is looking for a big finish to the qualification campaign…
Maja Stark moved top of the European Points List after her tied-fourth finish at the Women's Scottish Open on Sunday, where Celine Boutier followed her Evian Championship victory the previous week by claiming a second successive title.
Boutier's success saw her become the first player since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 to win a major championship and the following tournament, while the Frenchwoman knocked Sweden's Linn Grant out of the top two for the first time this year.
There's the possibility of Boutier moving to world No 1 should she add to her major tally this week, while her current world ranking means she is already guaranteed a third consecutive Solheim Cup appearance.
Leona Maguire, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull are all comfortably inside the world's top 20 and will qualify for Team Europe via their world ranking, with Grant also set for a Solheim Cup debut as she heads into the final women's major as world No 19.
Carlota Ciganda posted top-20 finishes in three of the four majors this year and will feature for Team Europe on home soil in Spain, while there's plenty of competition for who could get that final automatic place via the world rankings.
The Swedish trio of Stark, 2021 AIG Women's Open champion Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom are the next three in the standings, from 36th to 38th, with Nordqvist ever-present for Team Europe since her debut in 2009 and set to be a playing vice-captain for this year's contest.
Gemma Dryburgh is chasing a maiden Solheim Cup appearance and is the only other European player currently in the world's top 50, with the Scot enjoying a breakthrough LPGA Tour victory last season and recently posting a top-10 finish at the Evian Championship.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Nanna Koerstz Madsen also won on the LPGA Tour in 2022 and could still make a late push to guarantee a spot, while Switzerland's Albane Valenzuela and Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow have both contended in a major this season.
Madelene Sagstrom scored three points in her European debut last time around but is without a worldwide top-10 all year, while Mel Reid - who has played four times and served as a vice-captain in 2019 - has finished no higher than 15th since being part of the winning team in 2021.
Should Pettersen want another Spanish option in her side then Carmen Alonso and Nuria Iturrioz have both won on the Ladies European Tour this season, while Ana Pelaez Trivino is inside the world's top 100 after three runner-up finishes in 2023.
Double qualification points are on offer for Team USA at the AIG Women's Open, with 120 points awarded to the winner, with the team finalised after the completion of the CP Women's Open on August 27.
The top seven players in the US Solheim Cup standings automatically qualify alongside the next top two in the world rankings, with Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Allisen Corpuz already mathematically secure a place in the team.
Megan Khang, Jennifer Kupcho, Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson currently hold the remaining spots on the points list, while Rose Zhang (world No 32) and Angel Yin (world No 34) are the two currently in via the world rankings.
Andrea Lee is Thompson's closest challenger in the US standings, with Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight both well-placed to feature for Stacy Lewis' side, while Jessica Korda has battled fitness and form issues this season and may be relying on a captain's pick.
Who can boost their Solheim Cup hopes at the AIG Women's Open? Watch the final women's major of the year on Sky Sports Golf, with the opening round live on Thursday from 11am. Stream the AIG Women's Open with NOW.
Coverage will also begin from 11am on Friday and midday over the weekend, while there will be a daily one-hour highlights show to look back at the best of the previous rounds' action on Sky Sports Golf.
