The event will take place at Inverness Club, Ohio in September 2021.

With just under a year to go until the 2021 European PING Junior Solheim Cup team, the Ladies European Tour and PING have announced that iconic golfer Annika Sorenstam will captain Team Europe.

The 11th edition of the event will take place directly before the Solheim Cup at Inverness Club, Ohio from September 4 to 6 2021.

Formerly No.1 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the Swedish player is a role model and icon of the women's game. Her career spans an amazing 89 worldwide wins, including ten major championship titles.

She also has a great history with the Solheim Cup. She's played for Team Europe at the Solheim Cup eight times, has stepped up as vice-captain three times and captained the European Solheim Cup Team at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa in 2017.

She's also heavily involved in junior golf, having created the ANNIKA Foundation back in 2007 with the goal of developing women’s golf around the world and encouraging children to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

Annika said:

“I am really excited to captain the Europeans in next year’s PING Junior Solheim Cup. The Solheim Cup was a very important part of my career. Since stepping away in 2008, I’ve been focused on my Foundation and giving back to the next generation of junior girls. In the last decade, more than 90 per cent of the players on the US and European Solheim Cup teams have played in at least one of our seven global junior events. I already know most of the girls who will be aiming to qualify for next year’s European team and I look forward to working with them in Toledo.”

The biennial PING Junior Solheim Cup is designed to give junior golfers from both sides of the Atlantic the opportunity to gain international match play experience whilst at the same time giving them the chance to meet the professional players competing in the Solheim Cup.

Many of today's stars from Europe and the USA have previously featured in the junior tournament including Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, Azahara Muñoz, Caroline Masson and the recent AIG Women’s Open winner, Sophia Popov.

Both sides in the 2021 event will include 12 juniors who who must not have turned 18 before January 1, 2021 and must not be enrolled in a collegiate golf programme.

Alexandra Armas, Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies European Tour, is delighted that Annika had accepted the role.

She said:

“The young competitors are going to have an amazing opportunity to spend time and learn from undoubtedly, one of the best minds in the game.  I am sure they will all be excited to be part of the team in 2021.  Annika has an incredible commitment to growing the game and junior golf and this will part of her amazing legacy.  I am sure some of the players in the team will be stars of the future and carry the learnings from the 2021 matches into their careers."

The selection process for the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team, including confirmation of qualifying events, venue and dates, will be announced shortly.