Lexi Thompson Chosen as US Solheim Cup Wildcard

Lexi Thompson has been chosen as one of Stacy Lewis’s wildcards for the Solheim Cup.

After the AIG Women’s Open, nine players secured their spots through automatic qualifying, including Nelly Korda and Lillia Vu.

This left three wildcard picks for Lewis to decide on for the match against Team Europe at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. The US team aims to reclaim the trophy after a 14-14 tie at Finca Cortesin in 2023.

Lewis picked Thompson, who had announced her retirement from full-time professional golf earlier this year. This will be her seventh and possibly final Solheim Cup appearance. In 2023, she had an impressive record of 3-1-1 and holds an overall record of 9-7-7. Thompson expressed her excitement by saying, “It was a tremendous honor last year to play under Stacy. She’s someone I’ve always looked up to on and off the golf course. It’s a great honor to represent my country.”

Fans might think it’s great that experienced players are getting another chance.

US Solheim Cup Team

Jennifer Kupcho is another experienced player Lewis chose as a wildcard. Kupcho, with three LPGA Tour wins, will make her third Solheim Cup appearance and has an overall record of 2-3-2. She shared her enthusiasm: “It’s special. I mean it’s the greatest honor to be able to play for your country, but I also think it’s going to be amazing to be back on US soil.”

Sarah Schmelzel is making her first Solheim Cup appearance thanks to Lewis’s decision. Recently, she finished T9 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and placed eighth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.

The Solheim Cup will take place between September 13 and 15.

Here’s the full list of players:

Nelly Korda (points list)
Lilia Vu (points list)
Lauren Coughlin (points list)
Ally Ewing (points list)
Allisen Corpuz (points list)
Megan Khang (points list)
Andrea Lee (points list)
Rose Zhang (world ranking)
Alison Lee (world ranking)
Jennifer Kupcho (wildcard)
Sarah Schmelzel (wildcard)
Lexi Thompson (wildcard)

What do you think about these picks?