Marta Figueras-Dotti - Photo: DR

The announcement was made during the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España for women at Aloha Golf Club in Marbella. Annika said: “I am very happy to see Marta joining our team. She has a great passion for golf and life to the fullest and her positive energy is contagious. It is dedicated to the culture of the game and trains players around the world ”.

Figueras-Dotti is the second European vice-captain to be appointed, following the appointment of Catriona Matthew. She was involved in seven Solheim Cups, twice captain of the Solheim Cup junior PING team, in 2002 and 2003 and twice as vice-captain, in 2005 and 2007. She was also a team aide in the 2009, 2013 and 2015 editions of the Solheim Cup and was instrumental in Europe's first victory in Colorado in 2013.

Annika Sörenstam and Marta Figueras-Dotti - Photo: DR

"Annika and I have known each other for many years", said the Madrid 58, who counts the 1982 British Women's Open among her many world titles. “I have admired her for many years as a player and then as a leader in all of her projects. When she asked me to be by her side as vice-captain of the Solheim Cup 2017 I was really speechless. I can't tell you what it means for me to be able to share this amazing experience with such an amazing person as Annika. I feel honored, happy and very touched. So I look forward not only to the event, but also to the months leading up to it. I will help the team and support Annika to the best of my ability, but I think I have known the team for a few years now and team spirit is essential for the performance. I will support and help each of them in any way I can. "

Spain's 1977 Athlete of the Year, Figueras-Dotti was also USC Athlete of the Year in 1982, the year she won the British Women's Open as an amateur at the Royal Birkdale. His six professional titles include two titles on each of the Ladies European Tour, Symetra tour and LPGA Tour. She was also one of the founders of the Legends Tour in the United States.

She coached the women's national team between 2001 and 2015 as well as many of the past and current players on the Ladies European Tour, LPGA and PGA Tour and was recently the captain of the Spanish women's team for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.

Ivan Khodabakhsh, CEO of the Ladies European Tour said: “It's wonderful that Marta Figueras-Dotti is named vice-captain at the Solheim Cup 2017 next August. With Annika at the helm, assisted by Marta and Catriona, the European team is in good hands and we at the Ladies European Tour will do everything we can to ensure that next year's match is a huge success ”.

The Solheim Cup 2017 will be the 15th edition of the transatlantic team match tournament, which features the top 12 European players from the Ladies European Tour and the top 12 female LPGA players in the United States. The USA team leads the series 9-5, having won with a score of 14 ½ - 13 ½ in the Solheim Cup 2015 at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany, while in 2013 at Colorado Golf Club, the Europeans won a historic first away victory with an 18-10 record on the sidelines.

For its 16th edition, The Solheim Cup 2019 will return to Scotland, the birthplace of golf and the scene of Europe's first two victories, respectively at Dalmahoy in 1993 and at Loch Lomond in 2000. The 2019 event will be played at famous PGA Centenary course at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup and which will host the 2018 European Championships.

To know more : www.solheimcup.com