Annika Sorenstam set to get Solheim nod

• Sorenstam tipped for Solheim captaincy
• Swede to be unveiled this evening in California
• Will become sixth Swede to captain Europe

Annika Sorenstam is widely expected to be named today as the European captain for the 2017 Solheim Cup match.

The Swede, who won ten major championships before retiring in 2008, is tipped to be named by the Ladies European Tour as the successor to her compatriot Carin Koch at an announcement in California this evening.

Sorenstam, 45, played in eight consecutive Solheim Cups between 1994 and 2007, winning 22 of her 37 matches. No other European has won more Solheim matches. Dame Laura Davies has the same tally but has played nine more matches.

Sorenstam will also become the sixth Swede to be captain, following Pia Nilsson, Catrin Nilsmark, Helen Alfredsson, Liselotte Neumann and Koch.

She admitted last month that she had notified the LET of her interest in the 2017 captaincy, having previously turned down an invitation to lead the team. She reportedly declined an offer to succeed Alison Nicholas following the 2011 match in Ireland, citing a young family, business interests and other commitments competing for her time. Neumann subsequently got the nod for the 2013 contest in Colorado.

“The Solheim Cup has been an important part of my career,” said Sorenstam at the time. “I hope to one day lead the European team.” If the reports are accurate, it appears as though she’s going to get her wish later today.

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, meanwhile, is heavily fancied to follow Sorenstam in the role in time for the match coming to Gleneagles in 2019. The former RICOH Women’s British Open champion reiterated her interest in the role at the recent Scottish Golf Awards where she received a Lifetime Achievement award.

Watch Annika Sorenstam get the captaincy

You can watch live coverage of today’s Solheim Cup announcement, where Annika Sorenstam is hotly tipped to be named Europe’s new captain, here from 7pm.

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor