The U.S. Solheim Cup team has been finalized with the selection of Lexi Thompson, Jennifer Kupcho and Sarah Schmelzel as captain’s picks to round out the 12-woman roster for next month’s tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Northern Virginia.
The three players selected by U.S. captain Stacy Lewis join seven others, led by world No. 1 Nelly Korda and world No. 2 Lilia Vu, who qualified via points in the Solheim Cup team standings, and Rose Zhang and Alison Lee, who qualified via their world rankings.
“We had to really let a bunch of scenarios play out because there were some scenarios where the who got in on points could change, who got in on Rolex could change, and not that it really changed our decision very much, but it could have changed the decision,” Lewis said. “I was pacing my apartment that I was in all day, and I couldn’t sit down. I was just trying to stay busy. But ultimately we got to where I thought we would be a few weeks ago.”
Thompson, who announced earlier this year that this is her final season playing on tour full-time, will make her seventh Solheim Cup appearance, tied for third-most all time.
“Lexi was probably the easiest pick to make of these three, with her experience. I know what Lexi can do at a Solheim Cup and that definitely helped her get a pick,” Lewis said. “She’s somebody who is going to help the team out a lot, on the golf course and also off.”
Kupcho is playing in the Solheim Cup for the third time, and Lewis noted her skill in keeping the ball on line as something that will be an asset on the RTJ course.
“I think Jennifer, probably more so than anyone, is a great fit for this golf course,” Lewis said. “I love how high and how straight she hits a golf ball. You can see it in how many strokes she gains off the tee and her ball striking is always what carries her.”
Schmelzel joins Virginia native Lauren Coughlin, who’s won two tournaments in the last month, as rookies on the team.
“Sarah’s just super solid and doesn’t beat herself up. She’s a player who can play both formats with a lot of different people,” Lewis said. “She’s somebody that we’ve been watching for a long time.”
Lewis said she was able to gather the Americans together for a celebration following the AIG Women’s Open, the year’s final major, at St. Andrews this past weekend.
“While there is some of that learning that’s still going to have to happen, I’m not worried about the team dynamic itself. I think the team dynamic this year is going to be awesome,” Lewis said. “These girls are going to have a great time.”
She’ll begin her deliberations on partnerships for foursome and fourball matches the first two days of the competition, which begins Sept. 13. She plans to meet again with everyone virtually before coming to Virginia for the biennial showdown that pits the top American women against an all-star team of Europeans.
“I think time will tell where this team stacks up,” Lewis said, “but I think over the last maybe three or four, I think it’s probably one of the more talented teams we’ve had, and we just need to get them over the hump of getting to learn what winning a Solheim Cup is like.”
• George Gerbo can be reached at ggerbo@washingtontimes.com.
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