Team Europe

Full player profiles and stats for the European Solheim Cup team taking on the USA at Killeen Castle.

Profiles for the European Solheim Cup team:

Captain - Alison Nicholas
Englishwoman Nicholas did a good job in defeat in 2009 but is determined to go one better this time around. Winner of the 1997 US Open, she is fiercely competitive, but also analytical. Has travelled round Ireland for a year to rally the troops - desperate for the crowds to be Europe's "13th player". Suzann Pettersen, world ranked 2 (age 30, Norway, record: 9-7-5 [wins-losses-halves])
Easily Europe's highest ranked player in the world rankings (at two). Her last two Solheim appearances were not her best. Due a good week.
Form: Three wins this year, including the Sybase Matchplay (beating Cristie Kerr in the final). * Closed with rounds of 63-64 to win the Irish Open at Killeen Castle in August. * Has a superb fourball record, winning 5.5 points from seven matches. * Has only two halves (and no win) from five singles (although one half was earned from five down, five to play). Maria Hjorth, WR 21 (37, Sweden, record: 5-7-5)
The quiet strong woman of European golf. Has five LPGA wins and nine top ten finishes in major championships but is little known.
Form: Two-time LPGA winner in the last 12 months, sixth at Killeen Castle last month. * Adaptable: had six different partners but lost just one of her last eight foursome and fourball matches. * It's her fifth Solheim Cup but she is yet to play on a winning side. * Sneaky long, hits greens and putts well; highest ranked European for All-Round stats on the LPGA. Anna Nordqvist, WR 31 (24, Sweden, record: 2-2-0)
Major winner, LPGA Tour Championship winner, made a fine debut in 2009. All of this and she's still only 24. Loves team golf.
Form: solid all year but no big finishes. Says she is playing better than in 2009 without results. * Formed a good partnership with Gustafson, winning the European Nations Cup in 2010 and 2011. * Solid record at Killeen Castle with finishes of sixth and 11th in the last two years. * Is Europe's joint-highest-ranked performer for par-five scoring on the LPGA (eighth). Catriona Matthew, WR 32 (42, Scotland, record: 10-7-4)
Responded to the birth of her second child and a hotel fire by winning the 2009 Ricoh Women's British Open. One word: unflappable.
Form: fifth in the British Open, sixth at Killeen Castle, won the Scottish Open. * Has career record of winning 57% points - the highest percentage of any of the Europeans. * A superb singles record with four wins and just one loss. * Particularly strong record on European soil: six wins, two losses, one half. Melissa Reid, WR 33 (24, England, rookie)
Debutant earned her spot with 13 top five finishes, including two wins, in qualification. Consistent, athletic, determined.
Form: won twice this year including the perfect warm-up: victory in Spain last week. * Finished second at this year's European Nations Cup alongside Laura Davies. * No-one has played all six rounds of the Killeen Castle Irish Opens in less than her total of 411 (21-under-par). * Nine top three finishes in the last two seasons including two wins. Sophie Gustafson, WR 39 (37, Sweden, record: 9-12-6)
Big-hitting and smooth putting has produced a long career and eight previous Solheim Cup appearances. Dry, funny, experienced.
Form: Quarter-finalist in the Sybase Matchplay and third in the Ricoh Women's British Open. * Won the 2010 Irish Open at Killeen Castle and was 13th there last month. * Loves Ireland: has a total of six wins and two second placed finishes in the country. * Oddly poor fourball record (just 2.5 points earned from ten matches). Caroline Hedwall, WR 41 (22, Sweden, rookie)
Feisty, aggressive, superb long game and knows how to win. She's a rookie but most agree - there's something special about Hedwall.
Form: a tour rookie, but you wouldn't know it - won five times this year. * Her biggest strength - aside from character - is her ability to hit greens in regulation. * Missed only seven of 54 greens in regulation when 16th at Killeen Castle this year. * Defeated Paula Creamer, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey at PowerPlay: Ignition in June. Sandra Gal, WR 42 (26, Germany, rookie)
Tall, elegant and a tireless worker on her game. Ineligible to play as a non-LET member until some hasty paperwork corrected the situation.
Form: a maiden winner on the LPGA in March this year, fifth in Arkansas two weeks ago. * Good short-game: ranks highly on the LPGA for putting and sand saves. * Ranks third for Birdie Conversion on the LPGA this year. * Caddie Royston Clarke is the only Irish presence inside the ropes. An adopted Irishwoman this week. Azahara Munoz, WR 46 (23, Spain, rookie)
The 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year loves team golf and made selection for this week her goal for the year. Watch out for the Spanish smile.
Form: eighth in the LPGA Championship and runner-up in the Irish Open. * Very strong course form at Killen Castle - eighth in 2010 and second this year. * After Suzann Pettersen, the top-ranking European for Total Accuracy on the LPGA. * Team-mate of Anna Nordqvist's at Arizona State University. Karen Stupples, WR 51 (38, England, record: 0-2-0)
Having missed out on selection last time, the 2004 British Open champion's excitement this time is palpable. Pumped.
Form: no big week all year but ultra-consistent: 13 of last 15 starts were top 30. * Backing the above up, she ranks tenth for All-Round play on the LPGA this year. * Watch her on the par-fives: she has 12 eagles on the LPGA this year (next best total is nine). * Lost both matches in her only previous Solheim Cup (in 2005): is keen to right that wrong. Christel Boeljon, WR 58 (24, The Netherlands, rookie)
Don't be fooled. She looks like a fourteen-year-old but she knows exactly how to carry out a plan and she is tough too.
Form - winner in Turkey in May, solid in recent weeks on the LPGA. * Consistent: 24 of her 39 LET starts during qualifying were top 20. * Has team form: won the 2009 European Nations Cup (alongside Marjet Van Der Graaf). * The first Dutch golfer to represent Europe at either the Ryder or Solheim Cup. Laura Davies, WR 88 (48, England, record 21-17-5)
79 wins worldwide, never missed a Solheim Cup and five wins in 2010 to qualify for the team. Quite simply a legend of the event.
Form: a worry. No strokeplay top ten finish since February. * Her total of 23.5 points in the event is second only to Annika Sorenstam's tally of 24. * Has won 16 and halved four of her 32 foursome and fourball matches (56.3%). * Recent LPGA record poor but has retained the ability to intimidate in this event.