US Solheim pick 'means the world' to retiring Thompson

Solheim Cup

Dates: 13-15 September Venue: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Virginia, United States

Lexi Thompson says being picked arsenic 1 of 3 wildcards for nan United States Solheim Cup squad to look Europe adjacent period "means nan world" to her.

The 29-year-old is retiring from playing afloat clip astatine nan extremity of nan twelvemonth truthful will beryllium making her seventh and last quality successful nan biennial competition.

US skipper Stacy Lewis said nan determination to prime Thompson "was astir apt nan easiest to make of these three".

"She’s personification who is going to thief nan squad retired a lot, connected nan play people and besides off," Lewis added.

"With her experience, everybody connected nan team's going to beryllium watching what she does to effort to study from her."

Thompson has won 12½ points from her 23 matches, including 3 from 4 successful past year's thrilling 14-14 tie successful Spain that saw Europe clasp nan trophy.

"To beryllium capable to correspond my country, it's nan highest honour that you tin perchance have," said Thompson, who turned master astatine nan property of 15 and won her only awesome 4 years later.

"To beryllium location again this year, particularly stateside, it's a dream travel true."

Lewis has besides selected Jennifer Kupcho and Sarah Schmelzel for nan three-day matchplay competition, which is being held astatine Robert Trent Jones Golf Club successful Virginia from 13-15 September.

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

Europe finalised its squad connected Monday, pinch skipper Suzann Pettersen selecting knowledgeable trio Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist and Emily Pedersen, alongside Swiss debutant Albane Valenzuela, arsenic her wildcard picks.

England's Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit of Germany topped nan Ladies European Tour (LET) Solheim Cup points database to corroborate 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 done their world rankings.

Europe spell into nan 19th staging of nan arena looking to clasp nan trophy they person held since winning astatine Gleneagles, Scotland successful 2019. A 2nd distant triumph followed successful Toledo, Ohio successful 2021 earlier past year's tied match.