Solheim Cup: US wildcard pick Lexi Thompson to face Europe in Virginia

Lexi Thompson says being picked as one of three wildcards for the United States Solheim Cup team to face Europe next month “means the world” to her.

The 29-year-old is retiring from playing full time at the end of the year so will be making her seventh and final appearance in the biennial competition.

US captain Stacy Lewis said the decision to pick Thompson “was probably the easiest to make of these three”.

“She’s somebody who is going to help the team out a lot, on the golf course and also off,” Lewis added.

“With her experience, everybody on the team’s going to be watching what she does to try to learn from her.”

Thompson has won 12½ points from her 23 matches, including three from four in last year’s thrilling 14-14 draw in Spain that saw Europe retain the trophy.

“To be able to represent my country, it’s the highest honour that you can possibly have,” said Thompson, who turned professional at the age of 15 and won her only major four years later.

“To be there again this year, especially stateside, it’s a dream come true.”

Lewis has also selected Jennifer Kupcho and Sarah Schmelzel for the three-day matchplay competition, which is being held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia from 13-15 September.

They join automatic qualifiers Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang, Andrea Lee, Rose Zhang and Alison Lee in a 12-strong team.

Europe finalised its team on Monday, with captain Suzann Pettersen selecting experienced trio Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist and Emily Pedersen, alongside Swiss debutant Albane Valenzuela, as her wildcard picks.

England’s Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit of Germany topped the Ladies European Tour (LET) Solheim Cup points list to confirm their places, while Ireland’s Leona Maguire, France’s Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda of Spain and Swedish trio Maja Stark, Linn Grant and Madelene Sagstrom qualified through their world rankings.

Europe go into the 19th staging of the event looking to retain the trophy they have held since winning at Gleneagles, Scotland in 2019. A second away victory followed in Toledo, Ohio in 2021 before last year’s tied match.