Leona Maguire has been selected as one of four wildcard picks for Europe’s Solheim Cup team, securing a place in the squad that will compete in the Netherlands next month. Joining Maguire are rookies Julia López Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes, completing the European roster.
Maguire’s selection comes after a difficult 2026 season. The 31-year-old Irish golfer missed the cut at the Women’s British Open last week, extending a concerning trend that saw her fail to play in the final two rounds at four of five major championships this year. In the sole major where she made the cut, the Women’s PGA Championship, she finished tied 53rd. At the time of her selection, she held a world ranking of 83rd.
Captain Anna Nordqvist defended her selection, emphasizing Maguire’s competitive character and team commitment. Nordqvist, who played alongside Maguire at the 2021 Solheim Cup, cited the golfer’s matchplay record as a deciding factor. Maguire has accumulated eight and a half points from twelve Solheim Cup matches in previous competitions, including strong performances in 2021 and 2023. Despite acknowledging a previous difficult experience at the 2024 Solheim Cup under captain Suzann Pettersen, Maguire expressed enthusiasm about the team environment.
The three rookie wildcards bring varying levels of professional accomplishment. Ramirez, a 23-year-old from Málaga, has yet to win a professional event but expressed excitement about her maiden call-up. Nadaud earned her credentials with a Ladies European Tour victory in Andalusia late last year. England’s Rhodes demonstrated strong form as the LET’s rookie of the year in 2025, when she claimed three victories, earning praise from Nordqvist as a fierce competitor.
Europe’s automatic qualifiers include Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit, Lottie Wood, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Henseleit recently competed in the Women’s Open final, where she finished as runner-up to Shiho Kuwaki in a playoff at Royal Lytham and St Annes. On the American side, Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho, and Nelly Kord have secured spots, with US captain Angela Stanford set to announce three additional captain’s picks following a qualification period ending in late August.
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