Wie excited to make U.S. Solheim Cup team

After finishing her final round in the Women's British Open on Sunday, Michelle Wie knew her fate was out of her hands.

In order to be an automatic selection for the United States Solheim Cup team, Wie had to finish better in the Open than she did - tied for 11th place - yet she remained optimistic that a strong late kick (a final-round 69) might be enough to get her on the team as a captain's pick.

"Hopefully I put up a sign saying 'Pick me,' " Wie said. "It would be a great honor if I could play. I thought I played pretty well this year. I hoped the way I played today will really show that.

"I really want to make it."

A couple of hours later her wish came true when U.S. captain Beth Daniel used her two captain's picks to select Wie to her first Solheim Cup team and veteran Juli Inkster to her eighth.

"That was a lot longer than I wanted," Wie said of the wait.

Inkster and Wie will team with Paula Creamer, Christie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Nicole Castrale, Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel, Kristy McPherson, Christina Kim, Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis when the Cup heads to Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove (Aug. 18-23).

"We have some experience in the Solheim Cup on this team, but in terms of age we have a very young team," Daniel said. "And to me, that's really exciting, because this is the future of American golf sitting to my right, and it's a pretty exciting future."

As it stands, it's a pretty exciting present for Wie, who finished as the sixth highest American on the 2009 money list.

"I'm just so honored and so thankful that Beth picked me, and I'll do my best not to let her down," Wie said.

British Open winner Catriona Matthew (Scotland) heads a European team that includes Gwladys Nocera (France), Tania Elosegui (Spain), Diana Luna (Italy), Laura Davies (England), Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Helen Alfredsson (Sweden), Maria Hjorth (Sweden), as well as captain's picks Becky Brewerton (Wales), Janice Moodie (Scotland) and Solheim rookie Anna Nordqvist (Sweden).

"I think we have a balance of youth and experience, and a lot of great personalities, and Anna's experience (laughter)," European captain Alison Nicholas said. "Yeah, I think that balance is very important because the Americans are a very strong team, and I have the utmost respect for Beth and her players, and I've done what I think will make for a great match."