By: Max Bechtoldt
Suzann Pettersen will be announcing her picks for the 2024 European Solheim Cup team in just over an hour. Predicting who she will select is a bit of a mystery, as she proved last year that she doesn’t necessarily pick the best players, but the players who will fit together best. Her team already consists of Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit, Celine Boutier, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda and Madelene Sagström. Here are who I predict she will pick to round out the team:
Georgia Hall – Great Britain – This is the easy selection, Hall has been a fixture on this team and that is in no danger of changing anytime soon. Hall is the top ranked player not already on the team and her game is on the upswing a bit. She has a winning record across her four Solheim Cup appearances, and Pettersen won’t have to put much thought into who her first selection will be.
Anna Nordqvist – Sweden – The most experienced player for either team is still playing solid enough golf to make her a likely selection here. Nordqvist has played in eight Solheim Cups for Europe dating back to 2009. In those competitions, she has built a 15-13-3 record. Nordqvist has had four top-15 finishes against world class fields this season despite not having a top 10. Regardless, it would be a tough call to make to not include her.
Emily Pedersen – Denmark – Pedersen was one of the big surprises in 2023 to be selected for the team, and I don’t see Suzann changing her mind this year. Pedersen has played in three Solheim Cups, and performed well in her last two. In 2021 she went 3-1 and 2023 she had a 2-2-1 record, surprisingly playing all five rounds. Pedersen has improved on her putting this year and has been in solid if inconsistent form. Pedersen is ranked 20 spots higher in the Rolex Rankings than she was in 2023 at this time, and even though she’s still ranked low at 97, that doesn’t really matter for Suzann.
Alexandra Försterling – Germany – I am going a bit out on a limb to say the Arizona State alum be the final selection. Many expect it to be Albane Valenzuela, which would not surprise me in the least, but I see Pettersen respecting the resumè that Forsterling has put together, particularly on the LET. In the last 365 days, Alexandra has four wins on the Ladies European Tour, and seems poised to be a future LPGA Tour contender perhaps in the vein of a Linn Grant or Maja Stark. She also brings much needed youth to this team at only 24-years-old.
