O’Toole is shock Solheim pick

American Solheim Cup captain Rosie Jones has sprung a surprise by naming Ryann O’Toole as one of her wild cards for the match against Europe at Killeen Castle in Ireland from 23 to 25 September.

The 24-year-old finished only 18th on the points list and has played just seven LPGA Tour events in her rookie season on the circuit.

Jones added O’Toole and 21-year-old Vicky Hurst to the ten automatic qualifiers, who include 51-year-old Juli Inkster. She will become the oldest player to appear in either the Solheim or Ryder Cup matches – and will continue to act as an assistant captain. There are nine survivors from the side which won two years ago – Hurst, O’Toole and Kraft Nabisco winner Stacy Lewis replacing Kristy McPherson, Nicole Castrale and Natalie Gulbis.

Christina Kim earned the tenth and final points spot on Sunday. Going into the LPGA Safeway Classic, Kim was just ahead of Hurst, Katie Futcher and McPherson in the points race, and, although she shot a 78 to finish 11 over, it was enough to seal a place in the team.

The out-of-form Kim – 58th on the money list and without a top-ten finish this year – went on to Twitter to proclaim: “Going to Ireland, baby! Woot woot!!! Cannot wait for the 2011 Solheim Cup!!!”

O’Toole was similarly enthusiastic. “I’m ready to kick Europe’s butt,” she said when the team announcement was made.

The European team will be finalised after the world rankings are updated on 29 August. Safeway winner Suzann Pettersen, Melissa Reid, Laura Davies and Christel Boeljon have already secured their places on Alison Nicholas’s side.