2015 Solheim Cup teams finalised

The European Team for this year’s Solheim Cup matches in Germany is complete after Carin Koch selected Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, Karine Icher from France, Germany’s Caroline Masson and Catriona Matthew from Scotland as her captain’s picks.

All four players shared in the record-breaking 18-10 victory at Colorado Golf Club two years ago.

The rest of the European team includes Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz from Spain, Germany’s Sandra Gal, Charley Hull and Melissa Reid from England, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, Gwladys Nocera from France and Suzann Pettersen from Norway.

Koch, who will lead Europe for the first time, is pleased with the final team.

“We’ve got a great mixture of youth and experience which really excites me as captain,” she said.

“Each of our players has a role to play and I have a team of stars. Now that the team is finalised, we can all have full focus for the week in Germany and I can’t wait to see the players together.”

Meanwhile the U.S. Team seeks to avenge two consecutive losses to Team Europe and will be fighting for their first win on European soil since their 16-12 victory in 2007 at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden.

Juli Inkster selected Paula Creamer and Brittany Lang as her captain’s picks alongside five players with at least five previous appearances each to face the European Team at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot near Heidelberg from 18-20 September.

Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Christie Kerr, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford, Lizette Salas, Gerina Pillar and rookie Alison Lee completes the US line-up.

Although the world rankings favour the American players, Inkster believes her side are the underdogs.

“They’re definitely the favourites, according to me, because we’ve lost the last two,” Inkster told Sky Sports News HQ.

“Until we win the cup again, that’s the way I’m treating it. We’ve lost the last two and golf isn’t played on paper, so my team knows we need to step it up a little bit and give a bit more of a challenge.

“We know they come to play with a lot of heart and a lot of fire. Our team needs to match that playing on foreign soil.

“We’ve got to have a better work ethic, go over there and play our golf. It’s going to be hard because the crowds will be pro-European, but we expect that look to make it a quiet crowd.”

PHOTO – European Team; credit LET

Written and released by Lali Stander for the Sunshine Ladies Tour and WPGA.
Quotes courtesy of Ladies European Tour and Sky Sports News HQ.