Britain’s Mimi Rhodes and Leona Maguire, of Ireland, have earned wildcard picks for Europe’s Solheim Cup team to take on the United States in the Netherlands next month.
Captain Anna Nordqvist has selected Maguire despite missing four cuts in her last six tournaments, including last week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The Irishwoman has fallen to 79 in the world but has an impressive record in her three Solheim Cups to date.
Rhodes, who will be making her debut, is 92nd in the world rankings and failed to make the weekend in four tournaments in a row before finishing tied 51st at last month’s Scottish Open.
The Englishwoman has been selected alongside two other rookies: Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain and France’s Nastasia Nadaud, neither of whom feature in the world’s top 80 players.
“Leona has proved herself at the Solheim Cup,” said Nordqvist. “She has a huge passion for the European team and her record speaks for itself.
“She is a player you want on your team especially in matchplay and I’m thrilled to pick her.”
In her debut five years ago, Maguire won four and a half points out of five and has an overall record of eight wins, one half and just three defeats in 12 matches.
But her recent form brought into question whether she would remain on Nordqvist’s radar for Europe’s quest to win back the trophy after defeat in Virginia two years ago.
“I love the Solheim Cup,” said Maguire, who posted a welcome top 10 at the recent Scottish Open. “It brings the best out of my game and I love being part of the team.
“I can’t wait to represent Europe for the fourth time and to be back on European soil.”
Rhodes starred for Great Britain and Ireland in their 2024 Curtis Cup victory at Sunningdale before turning professional. The 24 year old already has three victories on the Ladies European Tour (LET), but her form this year has been patchy at best.
“To now be selected for the 2026 Solheim Cup is beyond anything I imagined,” said Rhodes. “I’m so proud to represent Team Europe so early in my professional career, and I can’t wait until September.”
Nordqvist added: “Since turning professional, Mimi has impressed me with her performances, winning three times on the LET last year and has played on the LPGA Tour.
“She is an experienced matchplay player and is a fierce competitor.”
Lopez Ramirez is in her debut season on the LET and in her second season on the LPGA Tour.
“It’s so cool,” said the 23 year old Spaniard. “I have a lot of respect for Anna and trust her decisions.
“This is what you dream of when you’re a kid to be on the team and be able to experience it and all the big crowds. I’m on cloud nine.”
Norqvist believes Lopez Ramirez will bring a positive influence in the locker room as well as a formidable game.
“She has a great personality and she is a great ball-striker, very passionate and will bring great energy to the European team,” said the Swede, who declined to pick herself despite many regarding her as still among the continent’s top dozen female golfers.
Nadaud won the season ending Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana last year, earned her LPGA card and made the cut in all five majors in 2026.
“If you’d have told me six months ago I’d be on the European Solheim Cup team, I wouldn’t have believed you,” the Frenchwoman said. “It’s a dream come true.”
Nordvist said: “Nastasia is a great young player who has been getting better and better in the qualifying period.
“After getting her first win on the LET, she is having a solid rookie season on the LPGA and is deserving of a spot on the team.”
With three rookie wildcard picks, Europe will have four debutants after Farnham’s Lottie Woad qualified automatically. The other qualifiers include England’s Charley Hull and Women’s Open runner-up Esther Henseleit.
Those two emerged from the LET Solheim Cup points list and are joined by Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant, France’s Celine Boutier, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark.
American skipper Angela Stanford will announce her team on 24 August for the match which will be played at Bernardus, the first Dutch venue for the match, starting on 11 September.
