Killeen Castle, site of the 2011 Solheim Cup, hosts top LPGA players this week

AIB Ladies Irish Open features LPGA players, U.S. Solheim Cup Team hopefuls

Daytona Beach, Fla., Aug. 2, 2010 - The 2011 Solheim Cup may be 13 months away, but several U.S. Team hopefuls will get some early practice at this week's AIB Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle, hosted by the Ladies European Tour (LET). U.S. Solheim Cup Team veterans Christina Kim, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome, Kristy McPherson and Angela Stanford will scout the County Meath-based course - site of the 12th staging of the biannual, international team competition - in hopes of returning next September as members of the 12-player U.S. Team.

The tournament also features many LPGA Tour players who are likely to play for the European squad including Rolex Rankings No. 3 Suzann Pettersen, No. 9 Anna Nordqvist, No. 23 Catriona Matthew, No. 30 Sophie Gustafson, No. 34 Maria Hjorth, No. 42 Azahara Munoz, No. 56 Laura Davies, who currently leads the LET Money List, No. 63 Helen Alfredsson and No. 102 Gwladys Nocera.

"I'm very excited to know that five of our 2009 Solheim Cup players are taking the initiative to play in this year's AIB Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle," said 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Rosie Jones, who was joined on-site early this week by her assistant captains, Juli Inkster and Sherri Steinhauer. "The more times our players can get a look at this golf course, the better we will be at the 2011 Solheim Cup event. It shows me the passion and forethought these players have in their quest to be on the 2011 U.S. Team."

Killeen Castle will play host to Ireland's first-ever Solheim Cup, Sept. 19-25, 2011. Weekly tickets, PING Pavilion tickets and travel packages for the event are available at www.SolheimCup.com.

For the 12-person U.S. Team, 10 players qualify by earning points for wins and top-20 finishes over a two-year qualifying period, with two players selected by the captain. U.S. players began earning points toward the 2011 Solheim Cup at the 2009 Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola. The 12-person European Team will feature the top-four players on the LET Solheim Cup points ranking, the top-four LET members appearing on the Rolex Women's World Rankings at the end of the Qualifying Period who are not already qualified and four players selected by the captain.

The United States won the 2009 Solheim Cup, 16 to 12, over Europe at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The U.S. leads the overall competition 8-3, but they are 2-3 when competing on European soil.

Player quotes on Killeen Castle and the 2011 Solheim Cup

Rolex Rankings No. 13 Angela Stanford (U.S. Solheim Cup Team Member 2003, 2007, 2009)
I'm looking forward to playing the Irish Open at Killeen Castle. I've always heard wonderful things about Ireland and I can't wait to play the 2011 Solheim Cup course.

Rolex Rankings No. 18 Brittany Lincicome (2007, 2009)
One of the biggest reasons why I'm trying to go over there is to get some practice rounds in and show Rosie (Jones) that I really want to be on her team if it comes down to a captain's pick. I've never been to Ireland. I hear it's really cool. We're staying at a castle and I mean that is really cool. So I'm excited to get over there and see what it has to offer. I'm going to do a little sightseeing because it is only a three day tournament and we'll see what we can find.

Rolex Rankings No. 29 Brittany Lang (2009)
I am very excited to go to Ireland and see the course. I've heard great things about the country, people and course so I am thrilled to be playing in the Irish Open. I think it will be helpful to get a practice week on the Solheim Cup course.

Rolex Rankings No. 32 Kristy McPherson (2009)
I'm looking forward to playing Killeen Castle and hope to get back there in 2011 to help the Red, White and Blue keep the Solheim Cup. It will be a tough field this week and should be a great test of golf.

Rolex Rankings No. 48 Christina Kim (2005, 2009)
I am beyond stoked to visit Killeen Castle and see the golf course and the entire Dublin region. This is my first trip to Ireland and I cannot wait to meet the people and see the course.

About The Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim, and his family, the makers of PING golf equipment. The Solheim Cup is the most prestigious international team event in women's professional golf. It is a biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best U.S.-born players from the LPGA and the best European-born players from the LET. The U.S. Team leads the competition, 8-3, and has never lost on home soil. The 2009 Solheim Cup will and be played at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland, Sept. 19-25. In addition to founding sponsor PING, Global Partners of The Solheim Cup include AIB Group and Rolex. For more information, log on to www.SolheimCup.com.

Killeen Castle hosts top LPGA players this week

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