Dame Laura Davies has urged Charley Hull to step up and lead Team Europe after captain Anna Nordqvist finalized her Solheim Cup lineup.
European skipper Anna Nordqvist named her four captain's picks on Monday to complete the home side's 12-player squad. Team Europe will attempt to win back the trophy from the USA from September 11 to 13 in the Netherlands.
Hull, from England, and Spain's Carlota Ciganda have the most Solheim Cup experience in the European team. Both players are set to feature in the tournament for an eighth time.
Hull's role and recent form
Davies, Europe's record holder for the most appearances at the Solheim Cup, discussed the lineup on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast. She described the selection as a really strong looking team with a lovely blend of experience and youth.
Davies stressed that Hull must take on a central leadership role for Europe. "I think Charley will be the leader again and we'll need her to perform like she did before," Davies said. "I know it was in a losing performance over there in Virginia, but she's got to step up and lead that team out."
Hull has enjoyed a strong 2026 season, finishing in the top 10 at three of the year's five major championships. Most recently, she claimed a share of sixth place at the AIG Women's Open over the weekend at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Davies noted that Hull and Lottie Woad may feel like they missed an opportunity to win at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Absences in the European squad
Nordqvist also appeared on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast after finalizing her roster and expects Hull to play a key role. "You're just going to let Charley be Charley," Nordqvist said.
Nordqvist recalled Hull's impact at the previous Solheim Cup in Washington. "It was really nice to see how much she really enjoyed the Solheim Cup last time in Washington," Nordqvist said. "I know we lost, but just seeing her enjoy the whole experience, light up the team room just with her personality."
Nordqvist added: "It's great to see her playing probably the best golf of her life, being up there in majors. She lives for those moments, so I can't wait to see her tee it up."
Europe will compete without the experience of stalwarts Georgia Hall and Madelene Sagstrom. Hall gave birth earlier this year, while Sagstrom is due to give birth in September.
In addition, Nordqvist's appointment as captain brings an end to her own streak of nine consecutive Solheim Cup playing appearances for Sweden.
Davies highlighted the impact of those missing veterans. "We've lost a few of the stalwarts, obviously Georgia Hall with the baby and Sagstrom, another big loss," Davies said. "The captain obviously not playing. But what we have got is a good nucleus of players that have played a lot of Solheim Cups and then the younger players that are just keen as mustard and want to get out there and play."
Nordqvist's captain's picks
Nordqvist announced her four captain's picks live on Sky Sports. She selected Ireland's Leona Maguire, Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez, France's Nastasia Nadaud and England's Mimi Rhodes.
Maguire was the only player among the four picks with previous Solheim Cup experience. Lopez Ramirez, Nadaud and Rhodes enter the team as tournament rookies.
The 31-year-old Maguire was the highest-ranked European player in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings who did not qualify automatically. She recorded three top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this season, but missed the cut in four of the five majors.
Maguire's Solheim Cup record
Nordqvist backed Maguire's inclusion, pointing to her competitive toughness. "Leona just has that little special thing that you need in the Solheim Cup," Nordqvist said. "I wouldn't want to play against her. I'm glad she's on my team."
Maguire top-scored as an unbeaten rookie during Europe's away victory over Team USA in 2021 at Inverness, before making further Solheim Cup appearances in 2023 and 2024. "Her having such a good start in her first Solheim Cup in Inverness, we started calling her MVP because I think she had the most points or she played the most matches," Nordqvist said.
Nordqvist added: "But she's just fearless and she's kind of like just suited for that game. She has the mentality and the toughness of just bringing out the best when she needs it."
Davies insisted that Maguire was an absolute lock for selection despite her mixed season on tour. "She hasn't (had the best season), I think she'd freely admit that," Davies said. "But what she has got is eight and a half points out of 12 Solheim Cup matches played. That's all you need to see there. That's batting at around just under 70 per cent. That's an unbelievable Solheim Cup record."
Davies added: "And let's not forget, in Virginia, she didn't get many points at all. So, before that, she was batting at probably 85, 90 per cent winning percentage. She was an absolute lock, no question about it."
The Solheim Cup will be broadcast live from September 11 to 13 on Sky Sports Golf.
