Alison Nicholas (AFP)
Former US Open champion Alison Nicholas was named on Monday as the new Solheim Cup captain for Europe taking over from Swede Helen Alfredsson.
The 45-year-old Nicholas, of England, played against the Americans six times and has served as a vice-captain or assistant since then.
She was long seen as the favourite for the job for the 2009 contest at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois when the Americans will defend the cup they won in Sweden this summer.
"It's a great honour and I'm delighted," said Nicholas.
"We face a big challenge, but I don't believe that anything is impossible. I want to enjoy the whole experience and to have fun with my team. I want to help them to be the best that they can be."
The diminutive Nicholas, known as "Big Al", was born in Gibraltar, but grew up in Sheffield and has resided in Birmingham since 1988.
She was twice on the winning side as a player, forming a redoubtable partnership with Laura Davies and finishing with a record of seven wins, three halves and eight losses.
She was then vice-captain to Catrin Nilsmark when the Americans were beaten again in Sweden in 2005, but Europe have lost the last two matches and trail 7-3 in the series.
The Americans have already appointed Beth Daniel as captain.
The proudest moment for Nicholas came in 1997 when she won the US Women's Open, beating the legendary Nancy Lopez.
© 2007 AFP/sid
