Eight of the 24 players that will be on show are currently ranked in the top 20 of the women's game with this year's women's British Open winner Stacy Lewis the highest ranked player, at number two, behind South Korean Inbee Park.

Just below Lewis on the world rankings list is Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who will lead the European challenge as they look to defend the title they won at Killeen Castle Golf Resort in Ireland two years ago.

At that match, England's Laura Davies overtook the great Annika Sorenstam's Solheim Cup record of 24 points to become the highest point's scorer in the competition's 23-year-history but the four-time major winner will not be part of the European team for the first time ever.

England will be represented by rookies Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Charley Hull, who along with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall and another Solheim Cup debutant Giulia Sergas of Italy are captain Neumann's wildcard picks for the event which is due to take place between August 16 and 18.

"It was a tough day obviously having to make some of the phone calls and talking to some of the players," said Swede Neumann.

"But I feel really comfortable and very confident with these four players that I picked.

"They totally complete our team and I'm super happy about our picks."


German Caroline Masson and Spaniards Carlota Ciganda and world number 20 Beatriz Recari complete the list of the six European players who will be playing in the biennial competition for the first time.

They will be looking to the likes of 2011 winner's Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, Spain's Azahara Munoz and world number eight Catriona Matthew of Scotland for inspiration as Europe seeks to win a match on US soil for the first time.

"Obviously we've never won over there, so it's obviously a big challenge," added Neumann, the women's US Open champion in 1988.

"You know, I feel like this is really the team that's going to do it for us.

"We've got some young girls on here; we've got some rookies, so we've got some big, strong players, and some players that can really hit it.

"In Colorado, the golf course is quite generous off the tees, and [I was] looking for good, long hitters and some girls with great energy, and I think this is the team that's going to do it."

Qualification for the European team comprises of the top-four players on the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup standings, with the next four qualifiers based on the Rolex Rankings.

The Europeans will face a tough challenge once they cross the Atlantic, as along with Lewis, the US team contains world top 20 players Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr, Lizette Salas and Angela Stanford.


US qualification is based on the top eight players who accumulate the most points in the US Solheim Cup standings which began at the 2011 CN Canadian Women's Open, along with the two highest ranked players on the Rolex Rankings, who are not already in the top eight spots.

US captain Mallon, who is a four-time major winner, had two captain's picks and went with Michelle Wie and rookie Gerina Piller.

Wie, 23, will be making her third appearance in the Solheim Cup and the Hawaiian is excited by the opportunity to try and help the US team to a ninth victory.

"I am so happy and so honoured and so grateful to be a captain's pick," she said.

"To play under Meg and be with all the girls again, it's a dream come true."

Captain Mallon added: "I'm just thrilled to finally have my team announced.

"I have 12 players who I am very excited to have on this team.

"They have all played their hearts out over the last two years."

The full team lists are:

Europe: Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Carlota Ciganda, Beatriz Recari, Azahara Munoz (Spain), Catriona Matthew (Scotland), Caroline Masson (Germany), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), Karine Icher (France), Charley Hull, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England), Caroline Hedwall (Sweden), Giulia Sergas (Italy).

United States: Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Brittany Lang, Lizette Salas, Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie, Gerina Piller.

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