Ricoh Women’s British Open is last chance for players to earn Solheim Cup points

Suzann Pettersen from Norway

For the final time this season, European LET members and U.S.-born LPGA Tour players will earn points for the 2013 Solheim Cup at this week’s RICOH Women’s British Open at the famed Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland.

The fourth major of the year, the RICOH Women’s British Open will be held Aug. 1-4 on The Old Course.  

The tournament is the final opportunity for players to either solidify their positions or make big jumps in the points standings with the Solheim Cup just two weeks away. The 2013 event will be held Aug. 13-18 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker.

The United States and European teams will be announced live on the Golf Channel and Sky Sports approximately two hours after play on Sunday, Aug. 4. U.S. Captain Meg Mallon will announce her two captain’s picks, and European Captain Liselotte Neumann will reveal her four selections for the 12-member European squad.

European Team

The European team will include the top four players from the LET Solheim Cup points ranking, followed by the next highest four European players from the Rolex Women’s World Rankings and four captain’s picks.

Suzann Pettersen, a six-time member of the European team and world No. 3, leads the European points heading into the fourth major of the season. She is closely followed by Carlota Ciganda, Catriona Matthew and Caroline Masson.

Players can earn points for top 20 finishes this week, with twice as many points available as in 2012. A European player winning the RICOH Women’s British Open could earn 80 Solheim Cup points.

Here is a breakdown of the points available this week:

1. 80
2. 60
3. 40
4. 36
5. 32
6. 30
7. 28
8. 26
9. 24
10. 22
11. 20
12. 18
13. 16
14. 14
15. 12
16. 10
17. 8
18. 6
19. 4
20. 2

The European Solheim Cup points standings heading into this week’s championship:

Rolex World Rankings heading into this week:

3. Suzann Pettersen

10. Catriona Matthew

18. Beatriz Recari

23. Anna Nordqvist

25. Karine Icher

27. Azahara Munoz

28. Carlota Ciganda

29. Caroline Hedwall

43. Jodi Ewart

54. Sandra Gal

56. Caroline Masson

59. Giulia Sergas

United States Team

Stacy Lewis, a member of the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team and world No. 2, currently leads the U.S. Solheim Cup standings heading into the 72-hole event.

With players earning one-and-a-half times as many points in 2013 as they did in 2012, there are large amounts of potential points available. A U.S.-born player winning the RICOH Women’s British Open will earn a whopping 120 Solheim Cup points.

Players earn points for top-20 finishes at official LPGA Tour events, and only U.S.-born players are eligible. U.S. players began earning points for the 2013 Solheim Cup at the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open.

Here is a breakdown of the points available this week:

1. 120                          8. 42                            15. 21

2. 60                            9. 39                            16. 18

3. 57                            10. 36                          17. 15

4. 54                            11. 33                          18. 12

5. 51                            12. 30                          19. 9

6. 48                            13. 27                          20. 6

7. 45                            14. 24             

The top eight players in the U.S. Solheim Cup standings at the conclusion of the RICOH Women’s British Open in St. Andrews, Scotland, Aug. 4, will automatically qualify for the team, two more will qualify based on their position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, and Mallon will select the final two team members.

The U.S. Solheim Cup points standings heading into this weekend: 

1. Stacy Lewis             857                  9. Jennifer Johnson       185

2. Paula Creamer         526.5              10. Lizette Salas            174

3. Cristie Kerr              484.5                     Gerina Piller          174

4. Angela Stanford       406.5               12. Morgan Pressel       164.5

5. Brittany Lincicome  269                  13. Michelle Wie           160.5

6. Lexi Thompson       261                  14. Katie Futcher          116.5

7. Jessica Korda           247.5               15. Nicole Castrale       104

8. Brittany Lang           241

Rolex World Rankings

9. Lizette Salas            No. 20                         10. Jennifer Johnson    No. 50

ABOUT THE SOLHEIM CUP

The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with passion for one’s country. This biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition features the best U.S.-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the best European members from the Ladies European Tour (LET).

The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim, the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in conjunction with the LPGA and the LET, developed the concept and became the title sponsor for The Solheim Cup, professional golf’s international match-play competition for women. Held every two years, the event has grown into the most prestigious international women’s professional golf team event. The Solheim Cup is the most highly coveted trophy in women’s profes­sional golf team competition; some of the most memorable moments in the sport have happened during Solheim Cups, and berths on the U.S. and European teams are highly sought after by players from both organizations.

The 2013 Solheim Cup will take place Aug. 13-18 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo. The European Team enters the competition holding the Cup and will need 14 points to retain it, with the U.S. Team needing 14½ points to regain the coveted Waterford Crystal prize. The U.S. squad holds an 8-4 lead in the series, which began in 1990, and is undefeated (6-0) on U.S. soil.

For more information about The Solheim Cup and updated standings for each team, log on to www.solheimcup.com, www.lpga.com and www.solheimcupeurope.com.