Solheim Cup: Three key members of the European team

Who are the three key players who captain Annika Sorenstam will be expecting big thing from in this week's Solheim Cup at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club?

Charley Hull will be making her third Solheim Cup appearance for Europe this week and looks sure to be one of the mainstays of Annika Sorenstam's team

The 21-year-old Englishwoman has a phenomenal record in the competition, despite her tender years, with six victories and two defeats from her eight matches in 2013 and 2015. Hull made her debut as a captain's pick at the age of 17 in Colorado in 2013 and became the youngest player in Solheim Cup history as a result.

She first tasted action in the Friday afternoon fourballs alongside the experienced Catriona Mathew, but the duo went down 2&1 to the strong American pairing of Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie. Hull then returned to the course on Friday afternoon to lead the European charge as she teamed up with Jodi Ewart Shadoff to defeat Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson 2up.

Europe went on to take all four of the fourballs to set the platform for their historic 18-10 success and Hull led the way in the singles as she posted Europe's first point with an emphatic 5&4 victory over Creamer.

Hull secured an automatic spot in the European team as they looked to retain the trophy at St Leon-Rot in 2015 and she played a key role as Europe forged into a 10-6 lead going into the Sunday singles, winning all four of her matches on Friday and Saturday.

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She was unable to extend her winning run in the singles, however, and lost 3&2 to Kerr as Europe crumbled to a one-point defeat after the United States dominated on Sunday afternoon.

Hull has since gained plenty of experience of playing in American conditions on the LPGA Tour and claimed her first LPGA title when she won the CME Group Tour Championship last year.

The world No 25's form has been a little indifferent this year but her recent performances have been encouraging - finishing in a tie for 21st place at the US Women's Open and joint-16th at the Women's British Open - and she will be looking to put more blue on the scoreboards for Sorenstam.

Melissa Reid was Europe's second highest points scorer at St Leon-Rot in 2015 and was the only home player to remain unbeaten in Germany.

The 29-year-old from Derby made her Solheim Cup debut in Europe's 15-13 victory at Killeen Castle in 2011 but struggled to make an impact as she lost three of her four matches, with her only win coming alongside Laura Davies in the Saturday afternoon fourballs as they defeated Wie and Brittany Lang 4&3.

Reid missed out in 2013 but was back in the team four years later after some solid performances in Europe.

She earned her first point in 2015 with Hull in the Friday morning foursomes but had to settle for a half in the afternoon fourballs as she shared the spoils with Kerr and Lexi Thompson after being paired with Spain's Carlota Ciganda.

Reid was back alongside Ciganda in the Saturday morning foursomes and the duo were never behind as they despatched Alison Lee and Wie 4&3.

The world No 97 was then one of only three Europeans to notch a victory in the singles thanks to an impressive 2&1 win over Brittany Lang but she was unable to prevent her team from slipping to defeat.

This year has seen Reid secure the sixth Ladies European Tour success of her career at the Oates Victorian Open in February and she will head to Iowa on the back of a decent display at the Women's British Open where she finished in a tie for 30th place after rounds of 67, 72, 69 and 74 at Kingsbarns.

A number of the European team performed well at Kingsbarns, including Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, whose final-round 67 earned her a share of seventh spot.

The 30-year-old had been a doubt for the Solheim Cup following a recent bout of glandular fever but she proved her fitness with that performance and secured one of captain Sorenstam's four picks.

Nordqvist is the highest-ranked European player in the world rankings and will be making her fifth consecutive appearance in the team, a "no-brainer" selection according to Sorenstam.

The world No 13 also made her Solheim Cup debut as a captain's pick in 2009 and has an overall record of eight wins, seven defeats and one half.

Nordqvist made her mark in Colorado in 2013 with the first hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history as she holed her tee shot at the 17th to wrap up a 2&1 victory over Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda alongside Caroline Hedwall.

She was then given the honour of leading Europe out in the singles and did not let her side down as she halved with Stacy Lewis following a tough battle.

Nordqvist took on Lewis again in the singles at St Leon-Rot in 2015 and emerged victorious this time as she prevailed 2&1, although she had earlier twice tasted defeat in the foursomes, either side of a 4&3 victory over Pressel and Creamer when paired with Hedwall.

Nordqvist also has plenty of LPGA Tour experience which will be an asset to the European team and she claimed her seventh LPGA win at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in March where she fired a 61 in the third round.