Annika Sörenstam has been picked to lead the European team at the 2017 Solheim Cup.
A veteran of eight Solheim Cups as a player, Sorenstam takes the reigns for the 15th Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iowa, from August 14-20, 2017.
The 45-year-od Swede earned 24 points from her eight appearances, and holds several records for Europe, including the joint most matches – 22 – with Laura Davies, and most points scored in foursomes competition – 11½.
She played on two winning sides, at Loch Lomond in 2000 and at Barsebäck in 2003, and was instrumental in two further victories as a vice captain at Killeen Castle in 2011 and in Colorado in 2013 under Alison Nicholas and Liselotte Neumann respectively.
“It’s an absolute honour to be named European Solheim Cup captain,” said Sorenstam. “The Solheim Cup was a very important component of my playing career, and I’ve enjoyed working as a vice captain the past three cups to prepare for this opportunity. I cannot tell you how excited I am. I had hoped and dreamed that this opportunity would come along. This is really going to be a lot of fun.”
Sorenstam was unanimously chosen by a nine-strong selection panel, which included three of the most recent European captains – Alison Nicholas, Liselotte Neumann and Carin Koch.
Annika Sorenstam of Sweden poses with the Solheim Cup with John Solheim the Chairman and CEO of Ping (l) and Ivan Khodabakhsh the CEO of the Ladies European Tour