Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang Lead U.S. Solheim Cup Qualifiers

The U.S. Solheim Cup team for 2024 is starting to take shape, with World No. 1 Nelly Korda leading a roster that includes several returning stars and exciting newcomers. Following the conclusion of the AIG Women’s Open, nine players have secured their spots on the team, with three additional spots to be filled by captain Stacy Lewis.

Automatic Qualifiers: The nine automatic qualifiers for the U.S. Solheim Cup team are:

• Nelly Korda (World No. 1)
• Lilia Vu
• Lauren Coughlin
• Ally Ewing
• Allisen Corpuz
• Megan Khang
• Andrea Lee
• Rose Zhang (currently No. 9 in the world)
• Alison Lee (ranked No. 25)

Korda, Vu, Coughlin, Ewing, Corpuz, Khang, and Lee all earned their spots through consistent performances throughout the year. Zhang and Alison Lee were selected as the highest-ranked American players not already on the team according to the Rolex Rankings.

Notable Additions:

• Rose Zhang will be making her second consecutive Solheim Cup appearance at just 21 years old. After a successful rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2023, Zhang will look to build on her experience from the previous year’s event in Spain, where Europe retained the cup in a 14-14 tie.
• Alison Lee will return for her second Solheim Cup appearance, having last played in 2015. Her nine-year gap between appearances is the longest in U.S. Team history.

Solheim Cup Rookies:

• Lauren Coughlin is the only rookie among the nine qualifiers. At 31, Coughlin has been a steady performer on the LPGA Tour since 2018. She captured her first career win at the CPKC Women’s Open in July and followed it up with another victory at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.

Captain’s Picks: Stacy Lewis will have three captain’s picks to finalize the team. Potential candidates include:

• Angel Yin
• Cheyenne Knight
• Jennifer Kupcho
• Lexi Thompson, who is retiring from full-time golf at the end of the season. Lewis has indicated that Thompson is in strong contention for a spot.

The 2024 Solheim Cup will take place from September 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. With a mix of experienced players and emerging talent, the U.S. team is set to make a strong push for victory.