From left to right: Suzann Pettersen, Catriona Matthew and Kathryn Imrie - Photo: DR

The duo are both extremely passionate about the Solheim Cup and will bring all their experience to the technical staff, having participated in a total of 18 Solheim Cups.

Speaking ahead of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Matthew, known by his nickname 'Beany', said: “I am delighted to have Kathryn and Suzann by my side on the trip to the Solheim Cup in Gleneagles. They both have considerable experience and will be huge assets over the next 14 months as we look to bring the trophy back to Europe. "

Pettersen has participated in eight editions of the Solheim Cup as a player and has appeared on three victorious European teams, winning 19 points in 14 matches. The 37-year-old athlete from Oslo, Norway was also vice -captain of Annika Sorenstam at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa in 2017 after being forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

Greatly respected for her golfing exploits, Pettersen has won 21 individual titles, including two majors: the McDonald's LPGA Championship 2007 and the Evian Championship 2013. She has twice reached second in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings and is a former Rookie of the Year of the Ladies European Tour and number 1 of the LET.

Pettersen, who is expecting her first child this fall, said: “It's an extreme honor to be able to help Beany at the Solheim Cup 2019 at Gleneagles. The Solheim Cup has definitely been the highlight of my career and being able to help the team recover the trophy would be very important to me. I have been a member of many teams alongside Beany and I have the utmost respect for her as a player and friend. She is a world class player and a true sportswoman on and off the course and I am sure she will bring those values ​​to the team. "

Imrie competed in the 1996 tournament at the St Pierre Hotel in Wales and won 1½ points, winning her four-ball match with Annika Sorenstam and halving her foursome match with Liselotte Neumann. She also featured in the 1994 game as a reserve at the Greenbrier in West Virginia and announced that traveling to Washington DC on the Concorde with the European team was one of the highlights of her career. The 51-year-old from Dundee, Scotland, who won the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in 1995 on the LPGA, has also competed in seven Solheim Cups as European assistant under Catrin Nilsmark, Helen Alfredsson, Alison Nicholas and Liselotte Neumann, Carin Koch and Annika Sorenstam.

She played amateur golf in Scotland and represented GB&I in 1990 at the Curtis Cup at Somerset Hills Country Club in New Jersey with Matthew. The couple have solidified their friendship throughout their time together on the Tour.

Imrie said: “I am super excited and extremely honored to be Beany's vice-captain. I consider my role to be exactly what the vice-captains do, which is to support the captain. As one of her closest friends, it will be easy to mirror her and offer opinions and suggestions on all aspects of her tenure. The captain has a big job to do and I'm sure Beany will have planned exactly what she expects of me. I just want to do the best job possible so that we can pick the strongest team and then guide them to get the Cup back during the week of the event. Can't wait to be in September 2019. »

The 16th edition Solheim Cup 2019 will take place from September 9 to 15, 2019 where Europe will try to reclaim the trophy for the first time in six years, after the last victory in Colorado. The United States team have won the last two competitions in Germany and Iowa and will look for three consecutive victories in Scotland.

The themes of equality, innovation and experience will be found in all communications of the event. The Solheim Cup 2019 aims to involve the traditional golfing public and the big sports fans.

The 2019 Solheim Cup will not only showcase the unique strengths of Scotland, the birthplace of golf, but also build on the legacy of the 2014 Ryder Cup success at Gleneagles. Scotland is the perfect setting for major golf events and inspires a new generation of children to embrace the game invented by their ancestors.

To know more : http://www.solheimcup.com/