EUROPE'S JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN ANNOUNCED

With a year to go, the LET and PING have named Annika Sorenstam as the captain of The 2021 European PING Junior Solheim Cup team.

The 2021 PING Junior Solheim Cup is to be played in Toledo, Ohio, next September, immediately ahead of The 2021 Solheim Cup, which is to be held at the Inverness Club from 4-6 September.

Annika Sorenstam is regarded as one of the best golfers in history of the game. She started playing golf in Sweden at the age of 12 and achieved success at the highest levels. Over a 16-year Hall of Fame career, she earned 89 worldwide wins, including ten major championship titles.

The former Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No.1 is an eight-time Solheim Cup player, a three-time vice-captain and led the 2017 European Solheim Cup Team at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa.

Many stars featured in the Junior Solheim Cup before excelling in the Solheim Cup, including 10 members of last year’s victorious 12-woman European side at Gleneagles. The recent AIG Women’s Open winner, Sophia Popov, played in the tournament in 2009.

Annika Sorenstam said:

“I am really excited to captain the Europeans in next year’s PING Junior Solheim Cup. The Solheim Cup was a very important part of my career. Since stepping away in 2008, I’ve been focused on my Foundation and giving back to the next generation of junior girls. In the last decade, more than 90 per cent of the players on the US and European Solheim Cup teams have played in at least one of our seven global junior events. I already know most of the girls who will be aiming to qualify for next year’s European team and I look forward to working with them in Toledo.”

PING Chairman, John A. Solheim, said:

“We’re so excited Annika has accepted the role of PING Junior Solheim Cup captain for 2021. She holds a special place in our hearts, having watched her shoot 59 in our own ‘backyard’ at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix almost 20 years ago on her way to winning the Standard Register PING. We’ve always admired and appreciated her on-going support of women’s and girls’ golf, especially all she has done to raise the stature of the Solheim Cup. Her respect and influence extend well beyond her Hall-of-Fame career on the golf course. Annika’s leadership skills and ability to connect with junior golfers will make her a tremendous captain. The girls who earn their way onto the team will benefit greatly in many ways from playing under her guidance.”

Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, said:

“We are delighted that Annika has accepted the PING Junior Solheim Cup captaincy. The young competitors are going to have an amazing opportunity to spend time and learn from undoubtedly, one of the best minds in the game. I am sure they will all be excited to be part of the team in 2021. Annika has an incredible commitment to growing the game and junior golf and this will part of her amazing legacy. I am sure some of the players in the team will be stars of the future and carry the learnings from the 2021 matches into their careers.”