March 28, 2017: The Solheim Cup will return to U.S. soil at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa on Aug. 18-20, 2017. With just five months to go, the battle for a berth on Team USA will intensify given that Solheim Cup points are worth double for each of the five majors (ANA Inspiration, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, RICOH Women’s British Open and The Evian Championship).
Throughout the 2017 LPGA season, Solheim Cup points, which determine eight of the 12 American golfers who make the team, will double and increase by one-third during the year’s other LPGA tournaments. The increase in awarded points means players can make big moves in a hurry by carding a top-20 finish this week at the season’s first major.
Juli Inkster will return as captain for the U.S. squad while LPGA and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam will lead the European team which will be looking to bring the cup back across the pond.
As of March 27th, Rolex Rankings No. 9 Lexi Thompson leads the USA team standings with 424.4 points, followed by No. 15 Stacy Lewis with 347.5 points and No. 17 Gerina Piller with 313 thanks to her T4 finish at the Kia Classic.
RAMA DRAMA STARTS AT ANA
The Rolex ANNIKA Major Award was established in 2014 to recognize the player who, during a current LPGA Tour season, has the most outstanding Major Championship record.
Points for the award are awarded as followed:
- A Player must win a Major Championship to be eligible for the award
- Points will be awarded to all Players who finish in the top 10 and ties at all five Major Championships (ANA Inspiration, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, US Women’s Open conducted by the USGA, RICOH Women’s British Open, The Evian Championship)
- Previous Winners: Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016)
LPGA Tour Release
