Solheim Cup skipper Nicholas has

had her first group practice session

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
With just eight months remaining until the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, from 17-23 August, European Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas is raring to go.
Nicholas, perhaps Europe’s most organised captain in history, invited eight potential team members for a group practice session at Emirates Golf Club this past Monday, following the Dubai Ladies Masters.
Her aim: to get to know some of the possible team members better before she announces her captain’s picks at the 2009 RICOH Women’s British Open in August.
Those who attended the practise session were the European No 1 Gwladys Nocera, fellow French star Anne-Lise Caudal, newly named Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year Melissa Reid from England, last year’s leading rookie Louise Stahle of Sweden, Spain’s Tania Elosegui and multiple LET champions Laura Davies, Lisa Hall and Martina Eberl.
“I asked players who are in current form and there was a mixture from the European Solheim Cup ranking, the Ladies European Tour’s New Star Money List and the Rolex World Rankings,” said Nicholas (pictured above).
“The day provided the opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better and gave me a chance to see their games a little more closely. It was very useful, however I would like to stress that I am not excluding anyone from my plans. There are a lot of other players who would also be considered if they come into form and I will be watching very closely next year.”
Nicholas, the 1997 US Open champion, was also joined by her vice-captain Joanne Morley at Emirates Golf Club and she added: “We hope to motivate and encourage the players to try to qualify for the 2009 European Solheim Cup Team. Some of the youngsters are raring to get going.”
For the first time in history, both the European and US Solheim Cup teams will be announced on the same date next year: following the conclusion of the 2009 RICOH Women’s British Open on Sunday 2nd August at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in Lancashire.
The Solheim Cup will take place just over a fortnight later and European No.1 Gwladys Nocera enthused: “I think The Solheim Cup is the best moment in golf. I really hope that the European team will beat the U.S. because that is the whole thing: beating them and being better for three days. That’s all we need, just three days. I’m sure we can do it.
“There is a good spirit here in Europe and we are capable of putting our strength together. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Those currently leading the charge for the European Solheim Cup team are Gwladys Nocera, Martina Eberl, Laura Davies, Suzann Pettersen, Helen Alfredsson, Maria Hjorth, Karen Stupples, Sophie Gustafson and Catriona Matthew.
The 10 players leading the U.S. points list at the close of 2008 are Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Christina Kim, Nicole Castrale, Morgan Pressel, Laura Diaz, Brittany Lang, Stacy Prammanasudh and Natalie Gulbis.