Tuesday 20 September 2016 10:45, UK
Europe's Solheim Cup captain Annika Sorenstam has selected Spain's Marta Figueras-Dotti as a vice-captain for next year's showdown with the United States at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa.
Figueras-Dotti is the second European vice-captain to be named and joins Scotland's Catriona Matthew.
The 58-year-old has been involved in seven Solheim Cups, twice as the Junior Solheim Cup team captain in 2002 and 2003 and twice as the vice-captain, in 2005 and 2007.
She was also a Solheim Cup team helper in 2009, 2013 and 2015 and was an instrumental part of Europe's first away victory in Colorado in 2013, when Europe won by a record 18-10 margin.
Swede Sorenstam said: "I am very happy to have Marta join our team. She has a tremendous passion for golf and life and her positive energy is contagious. She's dedicated to growing the game and actively coaches around the world."
Figueras-Dotti, who won six titles as a professional and was recently captain of the Spanish women's team at the Olympic Games in Rio, said: "Annika and I have known each other for many years.
"I have admired her for many years as a player and then as a leader in all her projects. When she asked me to be by her side as a vice-captain in the 2017 Solheim Cup I was truly speechless.
"I can't tell you what it means to me to be able to share this incredible experience with such an amazing person as Annika. I feel honoured, excited and very touched.
"I so look forward to not only the event, but the months prior to it. I will help the team in any way Annika asks me to, but I think I have known the team for a few years now and the team spirit is essential for performance. I will support and help all of them in any way I can."
The 2017 Solheim Cup will be the 15th staging of the biennial, team matchplay tournament, which features the best 12 European players from the Ladies European Tour and the best 12 players from the United States on the LPGA.
The United States team leads the series 9-5, having won by a score of 14 ½ - 13 ½ at St Leon-Rot in Germany last year.
