Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will spearhead Europe’s Solheim Cup challenge in the Netherlands in September, but it is Anna Nordqvist’s captain’s picks that have raised eyebrows.
There is always at least one left-field selection in team contests and this time it is surely Leona Maguire.
Maguire has featured in the past three Solheim Cups, top-scoring as an unbeaten rookie in Europe's away win over the USA in 2021, before making further appearances in 2023 and 2024.
The 31-year-old has posted three top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this season but missed the cut in four of the five majors. She has fallen to 83rd in the world rankings and has missed a total of nine cuts in 2026. It is hardly the sort of form that inspires confidence in Nordqvist’s decision.
Maguire was the only player with past Solheim Cup experience named among Nordqvist's picks, announced live on Sky Sports, with Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez, France's Nastasia Nadaud and England's Mimi Rhodes the other selections.
Maguire said: "I'm really excited to be part of Team Europe again. I love the Solheim Cup, it brings the best out of my game and I love being part of the team."
It leaves Europe with four debutants in their line-up to face the USA at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands from September 11-13, where the hosts look to regain the trophy after their 2024 loss.
Nordqvist said: "Leona has proved herself at the Solheim Cup, she has a huge passion for the European team and her record speaks for itself. She is a player you want on your team - especially in match play - and I'm thrilled to pick her."
(Image Credit: Rolex/Chris Turvey)
Maguire has been a world-class golfer but has only two LPGA wins to her name and the most recent of those came more than three years ago. She has largely struggled for the better part of two years. And I don’t care who you are or what your record may be, I simply do not believe it is possible to play yourself out of a slump in such a high-pressure environment.
Former world amateur No 1 Lopez Ramirez and Nadaud were the next two available players in the world rankings, while Rhodes claimed her pick having won three times on the Ladies European Tour last season.
"It's always been a dream and goal of mine to play in the Solheim Cup," Rhodes said. "To be selected for the 2026 Solheim Cup is beyond anything I imagined. I'm so proud to represent Team Europe so early in my professional career."
Like Maguire, Rhodes has struggled to set the fairways alight on the LPGA Tour this year, missing eight of 16 cuts. It was always going to be difficult to follow such a wonderful rookie season and will never have experienced anything like the pressure she will experience in the Netherlands.
Lopez Ramirez makes her debut after impressing in her second season on the LPGA Tour, including contending at the Women's Scottish Open, while Nadaud won the season-ending Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana in 2025.
"It's unbelievable!" Nadaud said. "If you'd have told me six months ago, I'd be on the European Solheim Cup team, I wouldn't have believed you. It's a dream come true to be able to represent Europe."
Speaking to Sky Sports after announcing her final picks, Nordqvist said: "I couldn't be more proud and excited to finalise the team.
"I think we have a good mixture of experience and we have four rookies - the most we have had in a couple of years - but the rookies are not playing like rookies. They will bring a great attitude and positivity. We knew coming into the year that it was going to be a little different, but different can also be good. The way these girls play, they are so fearless and they show up and they are ready."
Europe's qualification campaign ended after the Women's Open, where the top two players on the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points list and the next available six via the world rankings secured their spots.
Hull topped the LET Solheim Cup points list to secure her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance, while Esther Henseleit pipped Chiara Tamburlini to second by 0.9 points after her runner-up finish at the final women's major of the year.
"I'm really happy to be part of the European Solheim Cup team again," Henseleit said. "It was a great experience last time out in the United States but I'm very excited to be in the team on European soil. With it being so close to Germany, I hope a lot of fans come out and watch."
Woad will make her debut as the highest-ranked European in the world rankings, having won on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour over the past 13 months since turning professional. Woad is a different kettle of fish from the other rookies and will not be afraid of anybody.
Sweden's Maja Stark and Linn Grant return for their third consecutive Solheim Cups, with France's Celine Boutier, Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen the others to qualify automatically.
Team USA's qualification campaign ends after the CPKC Women's Open from August 20-23, with the top seven in the Solheim Cup points list and the next two in the world rankings qualifying, before Angela Stanford names her three captain's picks.
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