Maria McBride and Annika Sorenstam - Photo: DR

McBride represented Europe five times in the biennial competition against the United States from 2002-2011 as a player and was a member of the 2011 winning squad at Killeen Castle in Ireland before making her debut as a vice -captain in 2015 at the Golf Club St-Leon-Rot in Germany.

The 43-year-old Swedish woman turned professional in 1996 and won seven career victories, including five on the LPGA from 1999 to 2011 and two on the Ladies European Tour in 2004 and 2005.

Annika said: “Maria is a long-time friend with tremendous experience in the Solheim Cup as a player and vice-captain. We have worked well together in the past and it will bring great experience and great passion for our team ”.

Maria commented: “It is a great honor to represent Europe again at The Solheim Cup as vice-captain, alongside Annika. She is one of the greatest players in the world that golf has ever had, which has the effect of inspiring and motivating the whole team. It will be exhilarating to watch this event from behind the scenes. "

“I made my interest in the job known to Annika a long time ago and since she announced Catriona (Matthew) and Marta (Figueras-Dotti) first, I wasn't sure if I was taken! But when she called me, I was very happy and excited. I have known Annika since the early 1990s. We played the Eisenhower Trophy together in Vancouver, Canada in 1992 and it was fun getting to know Annika and see how she has progressed over the years. We know each other very well and we both live in Orlando and have daughters who are eight years old, so we see each other quite often. "

“I hope to bring all my experience, as a former player and vice-captain. I still know all the players on the teams from playing full time until last year. I'll get a feel for what the players want and I'm not afraid to ask what they would like or need to perform at their best ”.