Ok, so this might be a little early, but Americans have already started earning points for the 2017 Solheim Cup.
The 2013 and 2015 teams were nearly identical, minus the addition of rookie Alison Lee. But should the team be finalized today, the team would look very different from the one fans have seen over the past few years, with many of the usual suspects currently lurking outside the automatic qualifying spots in both the Solheim Cup Points standings and Rolex Rankings.
Points are earned over the course of two years, with more up for grabs in the year of the event. The top eight players on the Solheim Cup Points list will automatically qualify in 2017 as well as the top-two players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who have not already qualified by way of the Solheim Cup Points list. The final two spots on the 12-woman roster will be selected by the 2017 captain.
Here’s a very early look at the current standings based on points earned since the Canadian Pacific Women's Open, the cutoff to earn points for the 2015 team. This includes the 2015 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and Evian Championship.
| Rank | Solheim Cup Points | Rolex Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lexi Thompson | Brittany Lincicome |
| 2. | Kris Tamulis | Cristie Kerr |
| 3. | Alison Lee | Michelle Wie |
| 4. | Stacy Lewis | Morgan Pressel |
| 5. | Morgan Pressel | Alison Lee |
| 6. | Austin Ernst | Lizette Salas |
| 7. | Sydnee Michaels | Angel Stanford |
| 8. | Jaye Marie Green | Gerina Piller |
| 9. | Nannette Hill | Brittany Lang |
| 10. | Michelle Wie/Jennifer Song | Austin Ernst |
While we’re looking ahead to 2017, might as well consider who might be the one to lead the eventual team. Here are five players who could be in the running to captain Team U.S.A. in two years.
Juli Inkster
The first captain of Team U.S.A. to win since 2009, Juli Inkster implemented a modified pod system strategy that led to success for the Americans in mounting the largest comeback in the history of the event. Inkster wouldn’t be the first to repeat as captain, the job being held by Kathy Whitworth in 1990 and 1992 and Patty Sheehan in 2002 and 2003.
Pat Hurst
A five-time member of Team U.S.A. with a record of 10-7-3, Pat Hurst was at Inkster’s side this year as one of her assistant captains. Hurst would be a likely choice given her experience and success in this event and continue what players enjoyed with Inkster’s captaincy in that Hurst has played alongside many of the players who would make up her team.
Wendy Ward
A three-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team, Wendy Ward was another one of Inkster’s assistant captains in 2015. While she hasn’t had as much success as Hurst, with a record of 2-8-1 in the event, she is another candidate to watch ahead of 2017.
Laura Diaz
Four-times a member of Team U.S.A., Diaz has a record of 6-6-1 in the Solheim Cup. Her familiarity in having played with many of her potential players as well as her role as an assistant captain to Meg Mallon in 2013 would put her on the short list for 2017.
Dottie Pepper
Dottie Pepper holds the third most winning record for the Americans in the Solheim Cup at 13-5-2, behind Inkster and Mallon. Pepper represented the U.S.A. six times in the Solheim Cup, with a perfect record of 4-0-0 in 1998. Pepper served as an assistant to Meg Mallon in 2013 and would be a possible choice in 2017 depending on her TV commentating schedule.
)
)
)
)
