European Solheim Cup team announced

The European Solheim Cup 2011 team has been announced by captain Alison Nicholas ahead of next month's event at Killeen Castle in Ireland.

England are represented by Laura Davies, Melissa Reid and Karen Stupples, while Scotland's Catriona Matthew makes up the British contingent.

Stupples was one of four captain's picks by Nicholas along with Spain's Azahara Munoz, Sandra Gal from Germany and Sweden's Caroline Hedwall.

Sweden is represented by the largest number of players with Maria Hjorth, Sophie Gustafson and Anna Nordqvist also making the final team through the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings. Christel Boeljon from Holland and Norway's Suzann Pettersen both qualified for the team via the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points system to make up the rest of the team.

Boeljon will be the first woman from Holland to ever play in the Solheim Cup while, world number two, Pettersen plays in her sixth Solheim Cup.

With Europe looking to regain the trophy after defeat in the last three meetings, team captain, Alison Nicholas says, "I am confident in my team and I believe that we will do very well at Killeen Castle."

Nicholas, who has also named two assistant captains in England's Joanne Morley and Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, added, "These players represent the best of European women's golf and we look forward to putting on a magnificent show for the fans."