Last year, Europe retained the Cup. This time, will the U.S.A. claim it back? That is the question that many in the community yearn for an answer to, especially as the 19th edition of the Solheim Cup will soon tee off at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. With a squad of talented golfers led by Stacy Lewis, the dream doesn’t feel far from sight.

The American team consists of 12 golfers, 7 of whom qualified automatically due to their Solheim Cup points. The rest, 2 athletes owing to their Rolex Rankings and 3 of the total 12, were selected by the captain via the wildcard entry. Now, let us set these aside for the moment and look at the athletes with the best odds of dominating the field. Who among them has the best chance of winning?

Top picks from the U.S.A. Solheim Cup team

The two teams will tee off at the upcoming biennial event on September 12. Out of the two, as per Sports Illustrated, the squad led by Lewis has the best odds of winning, being the betting favorite at -170, with an implied 62.96% probability of victory. This is all thanks to the performances that the athletes in the American team have delivered this season, giving many of them the best odds of dominating the greens at this patriotic showdown.

1. Nelly Korda: This will be the 26-year-old’s fourth Solheim Cup appearance, her first being in 2019, followed by 2021, and 2023. Although her team failed to clinch the trophy in all three editions, her record at the event is something that leaves everyone in awe. The current world No. 1 on the Rolex Rankings boasts 7 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie (7-4-1), including 2 victories and a loss in singles matches at the upcoming event. Regardless of those numbers, she would still have the best odds even considering this year’s stats: #1 in strokes gained, scoring average, Race to CME Globe, Player of the Year points (238), and Birdie Percentage (23.46%), among others.

2. Lauren Coughlin: The golfer earned her spot with a T3 finish in the Solheim Cup standings, while also boasting the second-best figures (+1.77) for ‘total strokes gained’ this season. Even though this year will mark her first appearance at the prestigious event, the athlete will undoubtedly be confident. Why, you might ask? Well, the American’s numbers this season, topping the number of birdies and sub-par holes made, paint her as an incredibly tough opponent to face on the greens.

3. Lilia Vu: Tailing just behind Nelly Korda this season, both on the Rolex Rankings and the U.S. Solheim Cup standings, the 26-year-old has truly had a successful year. She emerged victorious at the 2024 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give while finishing in the top 10 four times, including the win. The current world No. 2 will also look to improve her Solheim Cup record of 1-3-0 from her debut in the 2023 edition. Can the two-time major champ dominate the greens? Surely, since she boasts top numbers in scoring averages on par-4s and scrambling.

4. Rose Zhang: The 21-year-old has just one Solheim Cup appearance from 2023, with two losses and a tie. So, how did she make the list? Interestingly, 2024 has been gracious to her, as she has been a steady performer throughout the season. She won the Cognizant Founders Cup and finished T8 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. A ninth position on the Rolex Rankings and the U.S. Solheim Cup standings speaks volumes, doesn’t it?

5. Lexi Thompson: 9-7-7. Yes, those are her incredible numbers when it comes to the biennial event. The soon-to-be-retiring professional will look to make her final Solheim Cup appearance and her captain’s pick count. That’s not all. Since announcing her retirement at the end of the year, she has been remarkable on the greens, with five top-20 finishes in her last seven games. That, coupled with her dominating stats in singles matches (2-1-3), is sure to help the U.S. team win back the trophy from the European squad, led by Suzann Pettersen.

Even though these five golfers might pose the biggest risk for the European team, the competition is largely a team event. Meaning, that the squad as a whole will need to deliver their best to beat the European team at the 2024 Solheim Cup and break the losing streak. Will they be able to do it? That is something you will find out on September 15, this Sunday!