Lexi Thompson Named One Of Three US Solheim Cup Wildcards

Lexi Thompson, at 29 years old, is set to make her seventh appearance in the Solheim Cup this September at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. She has been selected as one of the wildcard picks by U.S. captain Stacy Lewis, joining the squad in what could be her final appearance at this prestigious event.

After the conclusion of the AIG Women’s Open, nine players secured their spots on the team through automatic qualification. Among them are World No.1 Nelly Korda and two-time Major champion Lilia Vu. With those places filled, three additional slots were left for Lewis to assign as wildcards. The Solheim Cup, which will take place in Virginia, is where Team USA will attempt to reclaim the trophy from Team Europe, who managed to retain it with a dramatic 14-14 tie at Finca Cortesin in 2023.

Thompson, who earlier this year announced her retirement from full-time professional golf, is undoubtedly the most high-profile wildcard selection. Her inclusion provides a wealth of experience and talent, especially considering her performance in the 2023 Solheim Cup, where she achieved a solid record of 3-1-1. Overall, Thompson has an impressive record of 9-7-7 in Solheim Cup play. Reflecting on her selection, Thompson expressed her gratitude and excitement: “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.”

Alongside Thompson, Jennifer Kupcho has also been selected as a wildcard. Kupcho, a three-time winner on the LPGA Tour, will be making her third Solheim Cup appearance. She enters the competition with a record of 2-3-2 and is eager to contribute to the team’s success. “It’s special,” Kupcho said. “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 U.S. soil.”

Rounding out the wildcard picks is Sarah Schmelzel, who will be making her debut in the Solheim Cup. Although new to the event, the 30-year-old has been in strong form recently, with notable performances including a T9 finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and an eighth-place finish at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.

The final U.S. Solheim Cup Team is as follows:

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

As the U.S. team prepares for the 2024 Solheim Cup, they hope to leverage both the experience of seasoned players like Thompson and the fresh energy of newcomers like Schmelzel to bring the trophy back to American soil.