Georgia Hall earns Solheim Cup selection as Suzann Pettersen announces captain’s picks

Norwegian skipper says Englishwoman was ‘an obvious pick’ after she failed to qualify automatically for the clash between Europe and US

Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen has named Georgia Hall among her four picks for the showdown with the United States in Virginia next month.
World No 41 Hall had narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, which only ended upon completion of the Women’s Open on Sunday. Pettersen described the 28-year-old as “a natural” to name amongst her team, in which the only other British player is World No 11 Charley Hull. Pettersen has also described her side as “desperate” to retain the Solheim, which the Americans last won in 2017.
Hall had to depend on a captain’s pick as she came into the week of play at St Andrews outside of the automatic spots after claiming only one worldwide top-10 finish this year. 
Madelene Sagstrom’s missed cut at the Old Course left Hall with the opportunity to overtake the Swede as one of the six automatic qualifiers via the world rankings, with a top-20 finish, only for her to slip out of contention as she posted a third-round 76, leaving the Bournemouth woman tied for 22nd place.
The Solheim Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club south west of Washington DC will be Hall’s fifth appearance for Team Europe and this factored into Pettersen’s decision-making, as she told Telegraph Sport: “Georgia is an obvious pick since she just fell outside on the rankings. She has the experience. She has the head for matchplay. She’s got a great matchplay record. She absolutely loves Solheim.
“Solheim is by far some of the highlights of her career, like Georgia says in her own words. She is a natural, I would say, on the team.”
Hall is joined as a captain’s pick by Swiss rookie Albane Valenzuela, Dane Emily Pedersen, in her third time representing Team Europe, and the veteran 37-year-old Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, who will make her ninth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance while also taking on the role of vice-captain.
Europe won back the Solheim Cup in 2019 at Gleneagles thanks to a putt from Pettersen. They won again in 2021 in Ohio, and retained the cup last year with a 14-14 tie in Andalucia. “We’re desperate to keep that winning streak and make history,” Pettersen said.
The Solheim Cup had been played in odd years but to avoid a continued clash with the Ryder Cup, it has now switched to even years. 
A strong Swedish contingent made the automatic qualification with Maja Stark, Linn Grant and Sagstrom adding to German first-timer and Olympic silver medal-winner Esther Henseleit, France’s Celine Boutier, Irishwoman Leona Maguire and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda.
Norwegian Pettersen demonstrated her trademark directness when speaking of Hall and Hull’s age – they are both 28. “They’re both great golfers. They’re not that young anymore either.”
Of Hull, the European captain said: “Charley has really become a world-class player over the last couple of years. She’s taking those few extra steps that have made her like a complete golfer, which is great to see.”
Pettersen went on to praise Hull’s strong personality which has led to her becoming one of the most popular names in the women’s game. “There’s only one Charley Hull. She brings a lot of fun elements. She is a one-of-a-kind character. I love her to death. I love playing with her, I really enjoy being around her.”
Returning to Hall, Pettersen sees her as one of Europe’s future leaders: “She is almost like a leader in the team already with her experience and the way she’s played on the golf course over the last five years.
“She’s got some good confidence in her own game and she’s a feisty match player. I remember my first time that I really watched her closely. It was in 2017 when I was injured. I walked a lot of Georgia’s matches. And she’s the type of player, and I’ve told her this, who kind of gets what I’m trying to get across without me trying to put it into words.”
England will also be represented by Mel Reid and Dame Laura Davies as two of four vice-captains, with Norwegian Caroline Martens rounding out the backroom team alongside Nordqvist.