Solheim Cup 2026: Who needs big week at AIG Women’s Open to qualify? Team Europe as things stand ahead of final major | Golf News
The race to feature for Team Europe in the Solheim Cup reaches a climax this week at the AIG Women’s Open, leaving one last chance for players to force their way into Anna Nordqvist’s selection plans.
The qualification campaign ends after the final women’s major of the year, with the top two players in the European Solheim Cup points list and the next six available via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings securing their automatic spots.
Double points are on offer for the majors on the European Solheim Cup points, while additional world rankings are available compared to a regular event, meaning jeopardy remains on both lists heading into the final qualification event.
Nordqvist has ruled out naming herself as one of the four captain’s picks when she finalises her squad on Monday, live from 3pm on Sky Sports News, but who has their place secured and who needs to impress at Royal Lytham & St Annes?
We look at Team Europe as things stand and which players still could force their way into consideration for either a late qualification spot or a potential last-minute pick…
Who is currently in the qualification spots?
Charley Hull tops the Ladies European Tour points list and is guaranteed a spot via those rankings, while Chiara Tamburlini currently narrowly holds onto second spot ahead of Helen Briem.
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Speaking ahead of the AIG Women’s Open, Charley Hull claims she doesn’t see Nelly Korda as her rival due to the fact she’s yet to lift a major title
Lottie Woad (world No 5) is guaranteed a Solheim Cup debut at Bernardus Golf via the Rolex World Rankings, with Maja Stark (world No 25) and Celine Boutier (world No 30) also in via those standings.
Esther Henseleit’s fourth-place finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last week lifted her to world No 43 and all-but secured a Solheim Cup return, while Carlota Ciganda (world No 47) and Linn Grant (world No 50) hold the other spots as things stand.
Who can still qualify via the Solheim Cup points list?
Tamburlini enters the AIG Women’s Open with 133.1 points just a 1.1-point lead over Briem, with Agathe Laisne (111 points) and England’s Cara Gainer (104.63 points) completing the top five in those standings.
Only the top 20 on the leaderboard come Sunday evening earn points via that ranking, meaning Briem needs at least a top-20 finish, Laisne 12th or better and Gainer ninth or better to have any chance of qualifying.
Could Helen Briem make her Solheim Cup debut for Team Europe?
The winner will receive 100 points and the runner-up 75 points, with 50 points for third. Stark (sixth), Ciganda (seventh) and Woad (eighth) are all likely qualifiers via the world ranking, with anyone below that trio in the points list needing a top two finish to have a chance of overtaking Tamburlini.
Fourth gets 45 points and fifth earns 40 points, with spots six to 20th then decreasing in multiples of 2.5. If Tamburlini finishes outside the top 20 and Briem finishes inside, then Briem will overtake her in the Solheim race.
What about the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings?
Ranking points are given to everyone who makes the cut in a major, with 100 are available to the winner, although it is likely to require a big finish for anyone to break into the world’s top 50 and qualify via that method.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (No 63) and Leona Maguire (No 79) are the next two in the rankings outside of the current automatic qualification spots, having both made their Solheim Cup debuts as rookies in the 2021 victory on American soil.
Leona Maguire is chasing a fourth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance
Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez (84th), Nastasia Nadaud (86th), Dewi Weber (87th), Madelene Sagstrom (88th), Ingrid Lindbland (91st), Mimi Rhodes (92nd), Briem (94th) and Tamburlini (100th) are the only other Europeans in the world’s top 100.
Nordqvist sits world No 124 and followed a tied-seventh finish at the Evian Championship with a share of 28th at last week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, although is adamant that she will not pick herself – regardless of her performance at this week’s major.
Nordqvist has featured in the last nine Solheim Cups for Team Europe
“Thank you to everyone who believes in me and wanting me to pick myself for Solheim Cup,” Nordqvist posted on Instagram. “I’m humbled and it’s been great to play alongside the European girls in this journey. I signed up to be the captain and I am very proud to be, so I will not be picking myself for the team.”
Other members of the 2024 Solheim Cup team currently relying on a captain’s pick include Emily Kristine Pedersen, who failed to qualify for the AIG Women’s Open, 2018 Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall – part of the last five teams – and Albane Valenzuela.
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Highlights of the final day from the 2024 Solheim Cup as Team USA secured a 15.5-12.5 victory over Europe in Virginia
And what about Team USA?
Team USA’s qualification campaign doesn’t end until after the CPKC Women’s Open on August 23, when the top seven players in the Solheim Cup points standings and the next two players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will have earned their spots.
Nelly Korda, Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho, Auston Kim, Allisen Corpuz, Yealimi Noh and Lauren Coughlin are currently the top seven in the Solheim list, with Andrea Lee (world No 34) and Lindy Duncan (56th) the two in via the world rankings as things stand.
Jenny Bae (59th) and Alison Lee (61st) are the next two in the world rankings, with Team USA’s automatic qualifiers likely to change before Angela Stanford names her three remaining captain’s picks in late August.
Who will win the AIG Women’s Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 9am on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
