World No. 1 Nelly Korda has been joined on the US Solheim Cup team by Rose Zhang, Megan Khang, Andrea Lee, and Lauren Coughlin. The team’s nine automatic qualifiers were finalized following the AIG Women’s Open, with three more captain’s picks to be named by Stacy Lewis on Tuesday. Many of the players on the team have previous experience, with some returning from the 2023 team. Notable qualifiers included Korda, Coughlin, Khang, and Lee, who secured her spot on the team despite a 22nd place finish at the Women’s Open.
In addition to the automatic qualifiers, the US team also selected the two Americans ranked highest in the Rolex Rankings not already on the team, which were Rose Zhang and Alison Lee. Zhang, who is currently ranked ninth in the world, will make her second Solheim Cup appearance in as many years. Alison Lee, on the other hand, will be making her second appearance at the event after playing in 2015, marking the longest gap between appearances for a player in US Team history.
One of the nine automatic qualifiers for the US Solheim Cup team, Lauren Coughlin, will be the only rookie on the team. The 31-year-old, who won her first LPGA Tour event in July and followed it up with a win at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, has proven to be a late bloomer in the sport. Other American players that captain Stacy Lewis may consider for her three picks include Angel Yin, Cheyenne Knight, Jennifer Kupcho, and Lexi Thompson, who is set to retire from full-time golf at the end of the season.
The Solheim Cup, set to take place from September 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., promises to be an exciting event with a mix of seasoned veterans and up-and-coming stars. With a strong lineup consisting of both experienced players and newcomers, the US team will be looking to reclaim the cup from Europe after last year’s 14-14 tie. The combination of talent and experience on the team bodes well for the Americans as they prepare to take on their European counterparts in this prestigious biennial event.
