By Larry Fine
HAVRE DE GRACE, Maryland (Reuters) - The LPGA Championship starting on Thursday kicks off a scintillating, seven-week stretch that will determine automatic berths on the Solheim Cup teams.
Europe and the United States square off in the women's match play equivalent of the Ryder Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois on August 21-23 and upcoming tournaments include three majors, where players receive added points for high finishes.
"These next seven weeks are huge and players are feeling it, too," U.S. captain Beth Daniel, an eight-times Solheim Cup player and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, told Reuters on Wednesday.
"There are six tournaments left and three are majors, and majors this year count triple so it makes a big difference. A lot of things will move this week."
Only two of the 10 automatic U.S. places are already decided, with 2009 leading money winner Cristie Kerr and world number three Paula Creamer assured of making the team.
"I was thinking about Solheim Cup before we even teed it up this year in Hawaii," Kerr told reporters.
"We really enjoy playing this team competition and there's nothing else like it. It's an amazing feeling. It's a rush to play for your country and for your team mates."
Daniel said she expected a mix of veterans and rookies on the team and said established players had passed on their passion for the competition.
"Even Michelle Wie is talking about it as a goal for her," said Daniel.
Wie, gunning for her first LPGA title, stands 17th in the points table, 96 behind 10th-placed Brittany Lincicome, winner of the season's first major, the Kraft Nabisco.
Daniel and European captain Alison Nicholas will announce their wildcard picks in a joint news conference two hours after the British Open at Royal Lytham, which ends on August 2.
(Editing by Clare Fallon)
Source: Reuters
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