KUTZTOWN, Pa. — Patty Sheehan named Heather Bowie and Kellie Kuehne as her captain's picks Sunday, rounding out the 12-woman U.S. Solheim Cup team that will play Europe Sept. 12-14 in Loddekopinge, Sweden.
Bowie and Kuehne were selected after the Wachovia LPGA Classic. Juli Inkster, Rosie Jones, Beth Daniel, Laura Diaz, Michele Redman, Cristie Kerr, Meg Mallon, Angela Stanford, Kelly Robbins and Wendy Ward earned the 10 automatic bids.
European captain Catrin Nilsmark will round out her squad following the Wales WPGA Championship on Monday. Annika Sorenstam, Sophie Gustafson, Laura Davies, Elisabeth Esterl and Iben Tinning have locked up spots on the team. Two more Europeans will earn automatic berths. Nilsmark will make five captain's picks.
Sheehan, who captained the United States to a victory over Europe last year, said her decision to make Bowie a captain's pick was easy. The pick of Kuehne, 26, over Pat Hurst, Danielle Ammaccapane and Emilee Klein was more difficult.
"I sort of went with my gut," Sheehan said. "And I'm also looking to the future. We have such a strong, veteran team that I wanted to give the younger players the kudos they deserve."
Bowie, 28, and Stanford are the only U.S. Solheim Cup rookies.
She could have earned an automatic bid with a top-8 finish in yesterday's tournament. Bowie was at 7-under and in contention for the automatic bid going into the back nine before going 5-over the rest of the way.
"I was OK with it because it's a two-year process," Bowie said. "It doesn't come down to nine holes. I thought it still might work out, but it might not. I just battled through it and made it to the end."
Bowie saw Sheehan "lurking by the locker room" after the round. Sheehan approached Bowie and told her that she had made the team.
"As soon as she saw me she said 'You're going to Sweden,' " Bowie said. "I started crying. A lot."
The U.S. team beat Europe 15 1/2 to 12 1/2 in last year's competition and has won five of the seven Solheim Cups played. The U.S. needs 14 points to retain the title in the match play event.
"It's probably the showcase for women's golf in the world," Sheehan said. "We know that. The players always rise to the occasion."