European Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen announced her four captain’s picks on Monday morning, and her selections were no surprise. Pettersen chose veterans Georgia Hall and Emily Kristine Pedersen, her vice-captain Anna Nordqvist and newcomer Albane Valenzuela to complete her 12-man squad.

The Europeans are seeking their third victory in the last four Solheim Cups after a late Sunday attack at Finca Cortesin forced them to pull out a draw last year to deny the Americans the Cup. This year’s competition will be held outside Washington DC in Gainesville, Virginia, at the Robert Trent Jones Jr. Golf Club from September 13-15.

“We can’t wait to make history again,” Pettersen said. “We know we’re up against a tough team, but we know we can do it and the girls believe they can do it. So we can’t wait and, yeah, let’s go.”

Hall, who has played in four Solheim Cups, was the obvious choice and the first pick announced by Pettersen. The 28-year-old Brit is the top player in the Rolex rankings who did not qualify for the team, sitting at No. 43, two spots behind Madelene Sagstrom, who took the final automatic qualifying spot off the leaderboard. Hall has slipped down the rankings from No. 16 when she was named to the European squad last season, amid a slow 2024 season for the two-time LPGA champion that produced just one top-10 finish, at the Dow Championship team event in July. Hall is 8-7-2 overall in the Cup.

Nordqvist, 37, is the steely veteran competing for the ninth time in her career, putting her level with legends Juli Inkster, Cristie Kerr, Catriona Matthew and her captain Pettersen, who praised Nordqvist as a trusted voice and anchor in the team room, for second most in Solheim Cup history. The Swede, competing as vice-captain for the second year in a row, is expected to compete in foursomes, having competed in all but one foursome since 2009, going 7-8-0. Nordqvist’s overall record is 15-13-3.

Pedersen, Pettersen’s third choice, is the player the captain says most resembles her. The Dane makes the European team for the fourth time after her best showing last year with a 3-2-0 record and is one of three players to have lasted all five sessions at the hilly Finca Cortesin. “When it comes to match play, I have to dig deep to find someone who lives and dies for it as much as she does,” Pettersen said.

Valenzuela is the second rookie to complete Pettersen’s squad, joining qualifier (and Olympic silver medalist) Esther Henseleit. Pettersen spoke differently about Valenzuela, recalling how difficult it was to tell her she didn’t make the team in 2023. A year later, Pettersen sees Valenzuela as a testament to her versatility after several solid performances, including a second-place finish in Thailand in early February. The captain believes the 26-year-old can pair well with almost anyone on the team for foursomes or four-ball matches.

Notably absent from the selection was Caroline Hedwall, Sunday hero of last year’s Solheim Cup, who birdied five of her last six holes to turn her match against Ally Ewing from 3-down to 2-up and help secure team parity. Hedwall and Gemma Dryburgh are the two players not returning from last year’s squad for the 2024 matchup.