Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit secure automatic spots on the European team for the Solheim Cup.

Charley Hull and runner-up Esther Henseleit lead the list of eight golfers who have automatically qualified for the European team for the Solheim Cup, which will take place next month in the Netherlands. This selection was finalized on Sunday, following the tournament at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. The team will be completed on Monday when captain Anna Nordqvist announces her four wildcard picks at 3 PM Lisbon time.

The biennial event between the USA and Europe is scheduled for September 11-13 at Bernadus Golf Club in the Netherlands. The USA won the 2024 matches held in Virginia. The first two golfers to qualify came from the Ladies European Tour points list for the Solheim Cup, while the other six spots were filled by the top European players in the Rolex Women's Golf World Ranking. However, the positions of the players changed at the last minute.

Swiss golfer Chiara Tamburlini was in second place on the points list, but after Henseleit made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of the Women's British, she moved up to the second automatic spot. With this change, Danish player Nanna Koerstz Madsen secured the last of the six spots qualified via the Rolex Ranking. Thus, Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, and Linn Grant join Hull, Henseleit, and Madsen. It is worth noting that Woad is the only player among the eight who has not yet participated in a Solheim Cup.

Hull arrived at the Women's British Open already having secured the top spot in Europe through the LET, thanks to her victory at the PIF Saudi Ladies International and her finishes in the top 20 at the Aramco Championship and the Evian Championship. Both she and Ciganda will participate in their eighth Solheim Cup. On her part, Nordqvist, recognized as one of the 12 best players in Europe, stated that she will not select herself for the team, despite having an impressive history with nine appearances and a record of 17-15-3.

“I’m playing well,” said Nordqvist, who finished in 29th place at the Women's British. “I’m not going to select myself, but I feel that my golf is good enough to be at the level of the girls. I hope that brings a bit of respect.” The next stage of the selection process will occur with the announcement of the wildcards, which could further alter the team's dynamics.