This week isn’t just the last major championship of the LPGA Tour season at the AIG Women’s Open, it is also the last chance for European players to qualify for the Solheim Cup. The eight automatic qualifiers get locked in Sunday and captain Anna Nordqvist makes her captain’s selections Monday. These are five of the players that it is essential play well this week to secure a spot on the team:
Dewi Weber – It is pretty simple for Dewi Weber, win this week and she is on the team in her home country of The Netherlands. The flip side to that is, she has to win to even be eligible for a captain’s pick. Weber is the only European player really in contention to make the team that doesn’t have LET status, which is required to make this team. The goal is both simple and wildly difficult for the week, but she’s the only player that without question needs a win.
Helen Briem – Helen Briem is an interesting case because she is right on the edge of qualifying through European Tour Solheim Cup points, but sits just one point back of Chiara Tamburlini. Briem may have a bit of wiggle room though going off pure potential. If she didn’t make it, she would be a strong pick for the future of this team at only 20-years-old and bursting with talent and power.
Chiara Tamburlini – Tamburlini has little wiggle room on the LET list and while she is still relatively young at 26, she doesn’t quite have that feel of Helen Briem who could be on the next six teams in theory. Tamburlini does have a strong resumé though of winning on the LET and playing well in major championships. That kind of experience for a European Team that is in flux could be a good tie breaker. Still, a solid finish this week should make her spot comfortable.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen – Koerstz Madsen is in good position to get a captain’s selection, and I think Nordqvist is probably intent on taking her no matter what. Still, at 31 there are players like Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mimi Rhodes, Nastasia Nadaud and Ingrid Lindblad who are younger and have more future upside despite lower Rolex Rankings. Building for the future with those players probably seems appealing. Koerstz Madsen should lock up a spot with a top 20 finish or so. Of these five players, she is least in the need of a good week, but it would go a long way to securing her place.
Georgia Hall – Georgia Hall is a huge wildcard in general, having played just a couple times since maternity leave and showing just okay form. Still, she is returning to the site of her major championship victory in 2018 and if she were to place in the top five, it certainly gives Nordqvist something to think about. She is still probably on the outside looking in no matter what, but it is hard to cut a stalwart on the team like Hall, especially when she pairs well with the best player, Charley Hull. To even make this a serious discussion though, Hall needs a great week.
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