Lytham St. Annes, England (My Sportsbook) - Michelle Wie and Juli Inkster were selected as captain's picks to the United States Solheim Cup team on Sunday after the completion of the Women's British Open.
U.S. captain Beth Daniel selected Wie for her first appearance in the event and also brought along Inkster, who will be making her eighth Solheim Cup appearance.
Daniel's European counterpart, Alison Nicholas, selected Becky Brewerton, Janice Moodie and McDonald's LPGA Championship winner Anna Nordqvist. Brewerton will play in this event for the second time, Moodie will make her third appearance, while Nordqvist will be a rookie.
The United States will defend its title at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., from August 21-23.
Wie and Inkster join Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr. Angela Stanford, Kristy McPherson, Nicole Castrale, Christina Kim, Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis, who all made the team via the points list.
The European team had France's Gwladys Nocera, Spain's Tania Elosegui, Italy's Diana Luna, England's Laura Davies and Sweden's Sophie Gustafson make the team on points. The next four places were selected via the women's world golf rankings and those positions went to Norway's Suzann Pettersen and three Swedes -- Helen Alfredsson, Women's British Open winner Catriona Matthew and Maria Hjorth.
Wie will be making her Solheim Cup debut. She began last week in 16th position on the U.S. points list, and moved up to 13th thanks to her tie for 11th at the Women's British Open.
The 19-year-old has yet to win on the LPGA Tour and her only victory on any significant level came at the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links. But Wie played better than any of her peers heading into the final week of qualification.
She has three top-threes this season, including a tie for third at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in early July. Wie, who hasn't missed a cut all year, is in the top 25 on tour in putting and driving.
"I am so honored and so thrilled. It was one of my biggest goals this year," said Wie of making the team. "I'm just so excited ... To be representing my country, it is such a thrill for me. I'm just so honored and thankful that Beth picked me and I'll do my best not to let her down."
Inkster is one of the most experienced Solheim Cuppers in history. This is her eighth appearance as a player, tying her with Meg Mallon and Daniel, the woman who selected her, for most by an American.
Inkster, 49, has amassed a 14-8-5 record in her Solheim Cup career, but more importantly, she has developed into the best closer for the Americans. Inkster has not lost a singles match since 1998 and has played in every Solheim Cup during that time.
The 2009 campaign has not been one of Inkster's best. She missed two cuts all year, but they were at the Kraft Nabisco and the Women's British Open, both major championships. Inkster hasn't cracked the top 10 this year and hasn't won since the 2006 Safeway International.
"It's an honor to be picked. I was disappointed I didn't play my way on," Inkster said. "I am happy Beth has enough confidence in me and my teammates have enough confidence in me that we can go out and play well as a team."
Brewerton, of Wales, went 1-1-1 in her only Solheim Cup appearance two years ago. She came into the Women's British Open as one of the hottest European players with a win in Spain and a top 15 at the Evian Masters. However, she missed the cut at Royal Lytham.
Moodie was picked for her great Solheim Cup record. In two previous appearances she went 6-1-1, but hasn't played since 2003. She formed a strong partnership in years past with Matthew and Annika Sorenstam, but also won both of her singles matches.
Moodie, from Scotland, has not had much success on the course of late. While she's only missed four cuts all year, Moodie hasn't registered a top-10 on the LPGA Tour since the 2007 season.
Nordqvist has just one top-10 on the LPGA Tour this year, but it was her first career major championship victory at the McDonald's LPGA Championship.
