Solheim Cup 2021: European player profiles

Leona Maguire will become the first Irish golfer to play in the biennial tournament

Europe celebrate winning the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019. Photograph:  Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Europe celebrate winning the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Automatic qualifiers

Emily Pedersen in action during her Solheim Cup debut  at Dies Moines Golf and Country Club in 2017. Photograph:  Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Emily Pedersen in action during her Solheim Cup debut at Dies Moines Golf and Country Club in 2017. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark)

Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen in action during the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Chris Trotman/Getty Images
Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen in action during the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Age: 25
Caps: 1 (2017)
Record: Won 0 Lost 3 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. Won the 2020 Race to Costal del Sol with more than three times the number of points of her nearest challenger.

Georgia Hall talks to Anna Nordqvist during the 2017 Solheim Cup. Photograph:  Harry How/Getty Images
Georgia Hall talks to Anna Nordqvist during the 2017 Solheim Cup. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Georgia Hall (England)

Age: 25
Caps: 2 (2017, 2019)
Record: Won 6 Lost 3 Halved 0
Compiled a 100 per cent record from four matches at Gleneagles last time out, partnering Celine Boutier to three wins and then beating Lexi Thompson in the singles. Won the Women's British Open in 2018 and tied for second in the same event at Carnoustie after also finishing sixth in the Evian Championship in July.

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist poses with the trophy after her victory in the Women’s British Open. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images
Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist poses with the trophy after her victory in the Women’s British Open. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)

Age: 34
Caps: 6 (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Record: Won 12 Lost 9 Halved 2
Qualified for her seventh consecutive appearance in style by winning her third major title at the British Women's Open, the final qualifying event. Won just one of her three matches at Gleneagles in 2019, but it was a crucial victory over Morgan Pressel in the last singles.

Sophia Popov worked for German TV at the Solheim Cup before her brilliant win at the 2020 Women’s British Open. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Sophia Popov worked for German TV at the Solheim Cup before her brilliant win at the 2020 Women’s British Open. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Sophia Popov (Germany)

Age: 28
Caps: 0
Worked for German television during the 2015 Solheim Cup but now part of the team following her shock victory in the 2020 British Women's Open at Royal Troon when ranked 304th in the world.

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Charley Hull  and Azahara Munoz line up putts during the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz line up putts during the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Charley Hull (England)

Age: 25
Caps: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Record: Won 9 Lost 3 Halved 3
Made her debut in the contest as a 17-year-old wild card and was unbeaten at Gleneagles with two wins and two halved matches. Qualified as one of the top four players on the world rankings.

Carlota Ciganda  celebrates on the 18th green at Gleneagles. Photograph:  Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Carlota Ciganda celebrates on the 18th green at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Carlota Ciganda (Spain)

Age: 31
Caps: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Record: Won 6 Lost 6 Halved 4
One of just two Europeans to play all five matches at Gleneagles, where her only victory came in the opening singles against Danielle Kang.

Wild cards

Leona Maguire will make history when she makes her Solheim Cup debut as the first Irish golfer to play in the tournament. Photograph:  Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Leona Maguire will make history when she makes her Solheim Cup debut as the first Irish golfer to play in the tournament. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Leona Maguire (Ireland)

Age: 26
Caps: 0
The first Irish player to contest the Solheim Cup after being rewarded for a superbly consistent season with a wild card. Recorded nine top-15 finishes and closed with a 61 in the Evian Championship to match the lowest score ever shot in a Major.

Mel Reid (right)  celebrates with Carlota Ciganda during the 2017 Solheim Cup in Des Moines. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Mel Reid (right) celebrates with Carlota Ciganda during the 2017 Solheim Cup in Des Moines. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Mel Reid (England)

Age: 33
Caps: 3 (2011, 2015, 2017)
Record: Won 4 Lost 6 Halved 2
Failed to make the team in 2019 but replaced Suzann Pettersen as an assistant captain when Pettersen was given a wild card. Won her first LPGA Tour title in October 2020 and represented Britain in the Tokyo Olympics.

Celine Boutier (right) and Georgia Hall celebrate  at Gleneagles in 2019. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Celine Boutier (right) and Georgia Hall celebrate at Gleneagles in 2019. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Celine Boutier (France)

Age: 27
Caps: 1 (2019)
Record: Won 4 Lost 0 Halved 0
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. Has enjoyed a consistent season on the LPGA Tour with one of three consecutive top-10 finishes coming in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

Matilda Castren became the first Finnish player to win on the LPGA Tour with victory in the Mediheal Championship. Photograph:  Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Matilda Castren became the first Finnish player to win on the LPGA Tour with victory in the Mediheal Championship. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Matilda Castren (Finland)

Age: 26
Caps: 0
Became the first Finnish player to win on the LPGA Tour with victory in the Mediheal Championship in June and then won the Gant Ladies Open on home soil the following month, a victory which made her an LET member and eligible for the Solheim Cup.

Madelene Sagstrom beat Austin Ernst in the singles on her debut in 2017 in Iowa. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images
Madelene Sagstrom beat Austin Ernst in the singles on her debut in 2017 in Iowa. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden)

Age: 28
Caps: 1 (2017)
Record: Won 1 Lost 2 Halved 0
Birdied the 17th hole in the final round of the British Women's Open to move into a share of the lead, only to bogey the last and finish a shot behind compatriot Nordqvist. Defeated Austin Ernst in the singles on her debut in 2017.

Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen in action during the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Chris Trotman/Getty Images
Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen in action during the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Denmark)

Age: 26
Caps: 0
Double-bogeyed the 72nd hole at Carnoustie when tied for the lead with playing partner and eventual champion Nordqvist, shanking a bunker shot from an awkward lie. Finished tied third in the ANA Inspiration and 15th in the Women's PGA Championship.