Solheim Cup 2021: United States player profiles

Captain Pat Hurst has a team packed full of stars for this year’s event at the Inverness Club in Toledo

Team USA celebrate victory over  Europe  in the 2017  Solheim Cup at  Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images
Team USA celebrate victory over Europe in the 2017 Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Automatic qualifiers

Nelly Korda celebrates with her gold medal after winning at the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Nelly Korda celebrates with her gold medal after winning at the Tokyo Olympics. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Nelly Korda

Age: 23
Caps: 1 (2019)
Record: Won 3 Lost 0 Halved 1
Became world number one after winning her first major title, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, in Atlanta in June and went on to claim Olympic gold in Tokyo. Won three and a half points from four matches on her debut at Gleneagles, partnering sister Jessica to two crushing foursomes wins.

Danielle Kang and Cristie Kerr of Team USA celebrate after the final day singles matches at the 2017 Solheim Cup  at Des Moines Golf and Country Club  in Iowa. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Danielle Kang and Cristie Kerr of Team USA celebrate after the final day singles matches at the 2017 Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Danielle Kang

Age: 28
Caps: 2 (2017, 2019)
Record: Won 4 Lost 4 Halved 0
Made an impressive debut in 2017 when winning three points from her four matches, including a victory over Emily Pedersen in the final singles match, although the overall result had been decided by then. Won just one point from four matches at Gleneagles, losing the opening singles to Carlota Ciganda.

Ally Ewing  tees off on the 15th hole during day two of the Evian Championship. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Ally Ewing tees off on the 15th hole during day two of the Evian Championship. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Ally Ewing

Age: 28
Caps: 1 (2019)
Record: Won 1 Lost 3 Halved 0
Ewing was a late replacement in 2019 for Stacy Lewis, who was forced to withdraw with a back injury just three days before play got under way. Won just one of her four matches at Gleneagles but claimed a second LPGA Tour title with victory in the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play in May 2021.

Austin Ernst was given a wild card by captain Juli Inkster in 2017. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Austin Ernst was given a wild card by captain Juli Inkster in 2017. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Austin Ernst

Age: 29
Caps: 1 (2017)
Record: Won 2 Lost 2 Halved 0
Won a third LPGA Tour title in May to help secure a second appearance in the Solheim Cup, four years after being given a wild card by captain Juli Inkster and helping the United States to victory in Des Moines.

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Lexi Thompson during the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Lexi Thompson during the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019. Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Lexi Thompson

Age: 26
Caps: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Record: Won 5 Lost 4 Halved 6
Held a five-shot lead in the final round of the US Women's Open in June, but slumped to a back nine of 41 to miss out on a playoff by a single shot. Halved two and lost two of her four matches at Gleneagles.

Jessica Korda celebrates  after putting on the ninth green during the first day of the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Jessica Korda celebrates after putting on the ninth green during the first day of the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Jessica Korda

Age: 28
Caps: 2 (2013, 2019)
Record: Won 4 Lost 2 Halved 2
Returned to the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles for the first time since her debut in 2013, having missed out in Des Moines in 2017 due to injury. Won three and a half points from four matches, including a singles victory over Caroline Masson. Won a sixth LPGA Tour title in January.

Megan Khang  and Danielle Kang celebrate during the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph:  Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Megan Khang and Danielle Kang celebrate during the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Megan Khang

Age: 23
Caps: 1 (2019)
Record: Won 0 Lost 2 Halved 1
Qualified for the US Women's Open in 2012 at the age of 14 and finished in a tie for fourth in the same event this year, her best result to date in a Major championship. Undefeated in the 2015 Junior Solheim Cup in Germany, Khang won just half a point from four matches on her debut in the senior event in 2019.

Lizette Salas  wears Team USA earmuffs at the 2019  Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Lizette Salas wears Team USA earmuffs at the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Lizette Salas

Age: 32
Caps: 4 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Record: Won 6 Lost 6 Halved 2
Secured a fifth consecutive appearance with a tie for second in the final qualifying event, the British Women's Open at Carnoustie. Her victory over Jodi Ewart Shadoff in the 2017 Solheim Cup sealed victory for the home side in Des Moines.

Brittany Altomare has been handed a wild card this year. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images
Brittany Altomare has been handed a wild card this year. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Jennifer Kupcho

Age: 24
Caps: 0
Won the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2019 before turning professional and finished second in the Evian Championship that season. Won three and a half points from five matches in the 2018 Curtis Cup.

Wild cards

Jennifer Kupcho in action during the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in August. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Jennifer Kupcho in action during the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort in August. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Brittany Altomare

Age: 30
Caps: 1 (2019)
Record: Won 2 Lost 1 Halved 1
Secured the eighth and final automatic qualifying berth in 2019 and enjoyed a successful debut with two and a half points from four matches, including a 5 and 4 victory over Jodi Ewart Shadoff in the singles.

Mina Harigae playing in the third round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort. Photograph: Oisín Keniry/Getty Images
Mina Harigae playing in the third round of the ISPS Handa World Invitational at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort. Photograph: Oisín Keniry/Getty Images

Mina Harigae

Age: 31
Caps: 0
Shared the halfway lead in the British Women's Open at Carnoustie, but struggled to a 76 in round three and eventually finished in a tie for 13th. Has represented the United States in the Junior Ryder Cup, Junior Solheim Cup and Curtis Cup.

Yealimi Noh in action during the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie. Photograph:  Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Yealimi Noh in action during the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Yealimi Noh

Age: 20
Caps: 0
Enjoyed an eventful 2021 season, which included a $10,000 fine for slow play in the Kia Classic in March, more than double the prizemoney she earned in the event. Shared the lead after the first round of the Evian Championship and eventually finished third, a shot outside the playoff won by Minjee Lee.