The AIG Women's Open has concluded the 2024 Solheim Cup qualifiers between Europe and the United States, deciding 17 of the 24 players heading to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club next month. Major tournaments offer more points to players aiming for a spot on either roster, but no players have earned spots in the biennial match-play tournament.
Coming into the Women's British Championship, there were still four open spots in Solheim, USA – two on the points list and two on the world rankings. Megan Kang and Andrea Li held the final spots. Alison Li or Rose Chan could have overtaken Andrea Li, but the 2022 Portland Classic winner beat them both, finishing T-22 on the Old Course.
Still, Chan and Allison Li earned automatic berths through their world rankings. Chan, ranked 9th in the world going into the Women's British Championships, had the luxury of time, but Allison Lee, ranked 25th at the start of the week, held on to a tie for 29th in Scotland, fending off a strong challenge from Angel Yin, ranked 34th, who was tied for 10th. Li's return marks a historic moment for the Americans, as her first appearance at the Solheim since 2015 is the longest gap in American history at the Solheim, surpassing Shelley Steinhauer's seven-year hiatus from 2000 to 2007.
The U.S. field included a talented quintet of Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Allie Ewing and Alisen Copes who qualified before the tournament began at St. Andrews. They combined for 14 LPGA wins and three major titles during the qualifying period, led by Korda's six wins and Coughlin's two in her last four tournaments. Coughlin, 31, is the only American Solheim newcomer entering through the automatic qualifiers, and earned her spot thanks to her meteoric rise from 109th at the start of the year to 14th in the rankings.
Lewis expressed confidence in his team, which is seeking its first Solheim Cup victory since 2017 at Des Moines Golf & Country Club.
“We are very excited that our team has been finalized,” Lewis said in the release. “Many of this crew will be competing starting in 2023, so they have a lot of experience. We had five people qualify this week and are delighted to have Megan and Andrea back; they were a big part of our success last year.”
In Europe, there are no changes to the two qualifiers who came off the points list, with Charlie Hull taking the top spot and making her seventh Solheim Cup appearance at just 28 years old. Olympic silver medallist Estelle Henseleit remains in second place in the qualifiers. Henseleit is the only European newcomer from an automatic qualifying position.
Europe captain Suzann Pettersen leads a group of six Solheim veterans from the Rolex Rankings – Celine Boutier, Maja Stark, Lynn Grant, Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda and Madeleine Sagstrom – who have a combined 17 appearances between them.
“Team Europe is in great form right now heading into the Solheim Cup in 2024,” Pettersen said in a statement. “Congratulations to the eight skaters who have automatically qualified. We have a lot of experience on the team, but it's also great to see Ester making her Solheim Cup debut this year. The European skaters have performed brilliantly this year and we're looking forward to September.”
Five of Pettersen's eight automatic qualifiers, as ranked a week ago, have inched down the world rankings since their tie at Finca Cortesin last September, and none have won a 2024 LPGA event.
Those who don't automatically qualify will have to wait two more days to see if they can be selected. Pettersen will select the four captains on Monday morning, while Lewis will select the three on Tuesday morning.
