Monty and Poulter boost European Solheim Cup team

Solheim Cup skipper Alison Nicholas believes inspirational messages from Colin Montgomerie and Ian Poulter could give Europe an edge at Killeen Castle next month.

The Americans will be bidding for a fourth successive Solheim Cup win from September 23-25.

But Nicholas said her team is “fired up” after watching video messages from two Ryder Cup stars during a recent team building meeting.

The pint-sized English ace named her four wildcards yesterday with rookies Azahara Muñoz of Spain, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and Germany’s Sandra Gal joined by English veteran Karen Stupples.

She also announced that Irish amateur legend Mary McKenna would join her backroom team as her “very special” personal buggy driver.

Nicholas expects a tough challenge for a star-studded American side but confessed that she was so surprised by the inclusion of wildcard Ryann O’Toole by opposite number Rosie Jones that she had to do some homework.

The American rookie vowed: “I’m ready to kick Europe’s butt.”

But Nicholas said: “I had to go on the internet to get more information about her.”

European team: Melissa Reid (Eng), Laura Davies (England), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Christel Boeljon (Ned), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Catriona Matthew (Sco), Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Azahara Muñoz (Sp), Caroline Hedwall (Swe), Karen Stupples (Eng).