Annika Sorenstam - © LET

Team Europe will face the United States in the 11th PING Junior Solheim Cup, which will take place immediately before the Solheim Cup at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, next September.

Annika is recognized as one of the best players in golf history. She started playing golf in Sweden at the age of 12 and achieved numerous titles at the highest levels. During her 16-year Hall of Fame career, she scored 89 victories around the world, including ten major titles.

The former number one Rolex Women's Golf World Ranking has taken part in the Solheim Cup eight times, including three times as vice-captain and led the 2017 Solheim Cup European team at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in the 'Iowa.

Annika's commitment to junior golf began when she established the ANNIKA Foundation in 2007, with the goal of developing women's golf worldwide and encouraging children to lead healthy, active lifestyles. . The ANNIKA Foundation organizes seven world events for junior players each year, including the ANNIKA Invitational Europe. Indeed, 45 former students and members of ANNIKA were present during the recent AIG Women's Open field.

The biennial PING Junior Solheim Cup, which was inaugurated in 2002, is designed to give female junior golfers on both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to gain international game-to-match experience, while meeting and sharing experiences with the professional players of the Solheim Cup. The five players who took part in the 2019 junior event are still young enough to play again in 2021.

© LET

Many stars competed in the PING Junior Solheim Cup before excelling in the Solheim Cup. Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz and Caroline Masson triumphed as amateurs before lifting the Solheim Cup crystal trophy, while 10 members of the 12-player European squad victorious last year at Gleneagles had previously played in a team from the PING Junior Solheim Cup. Recent AIG Women's Open winner Sophia Popov entered the tournament in 2009, while Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda played for the US team that same year. Indeed, Emily Kristine Pedersen, the recent champion of the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open and leader of the LET's Race to Costa del Sol, played for the European junior team in 2013.

« I am very excited to be captain of Team Europe in the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2021. The Solheim Cup has been a very important part of my career. Since leaving in 2008, I have focused on my Foundation and on contributing to the next generation of young girls. Over the past ten years, more than 90% of the players of the American and European Solheim Cup teams have participated in at least one of our seven world youth events. I already know most of the girls who will aim to qualify for the European team next year and I look forward to working with them in Toledo“. Said Annika.

PING President John A. Solheim commented: “ We are very happy that Annika has accepted the role of captain of the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2021. She holds a special place in our hearts as she achieved her record of 59 in our own 'backyard' at Moon Valley Country. Club of Phoenix almost 20 years ago, when she was on the verge of winning the Standard Register PING. We have always admired and appreciated her continued support for women's golf, especially all that she has done to build stature for the Solheim Cup. His respect and influence extend far beyond his career in the Golf Hall of Fame. Annika's leadership qualities and her ability to bond with junior golfers will make her an outstanding captain. The young women who earn their place on the team will benefit greatly from playing golf under his leadership in many ways."

© LET

Alexandra Armas, Managing Director of the Ladies European Tour, said: “ We are delighted that Annika has accepted to be captain of the PING Junior Solheim Cup. Younger competitors are going to have an amazing opportunity to spend time and learn from one of the best thinkers in golf, without a doubt. I'm sure they'll all be excited to be a part of the team in 2021. Annika has an incredible commitment to developing the game and junior golf and it will be part of her incredible legacy. I'm sure some of the players on the squad will be future stars and carry the lessons of the 2021 games into their careers."

The European and American PING Junior Solheim Cup teams will include 12 juniors who must not be 18 before January 1, 2021 (born 2003 and after) and must not be enrolled in a college golf program. The selection process for the European PING Junior Solheim Cup squad, including confirmation of qualifying events, location and dates, will be announced shortly.

With a full week of action at the Solheim Cup 2021, fans can purchase various hospitality tickets and packages to enjoy all the activities in Toledo at the Inverness Club. New for 2021 is the Solheim Pavilion, which will offer ticket holders a 300-degree view of the surrounding holes, upgraded dining options and much more. Information on ticket options and prices is available on the website SolheimCupUSA.com.

About the PING Junior Solheim Cup:

The PING Junior Solheim Cup 2021 will be played in Ohio, just before the Solheim Cup, which takes place in Inverness from September 4-6. The PING Junior Solheim Cup is a team match play competition between Europe and the United States, with each team comprising the top 12 female golfers aged 18 and under. The competition consists of 24 matches: six foursome matches, six fourball matches and 12 individual matches. The aim of the competition is to give juniors the opportunity to continue their golfing career by playing high-level matches, but also to allow participants to meet, learn and be inspired by the professional players of the Solheim Cup. The PING Junior Solheim Cup was established in 2002 by PING President and CEO John Solheim and has since gained a deserved reputation for showcasing the talents of the world's top junior players, such as Carlota Ciganda, Bronte Law, Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Lexi Thompson, Jessica and Nelly Korda, all of whom played in the match before graduating from the Solheim Cup.

For more information : http://www.solheimcup.com et https://ladieseuropeantour.com