Tour School champ Claire Coughlan will be playing Solheim Cup catch up next year.

But skipper Helen Alfredsson will be aware that she now has a potential Michelle Wie beater in the running to make the side.

Coughlan, 26, beat World No 10 Wie twice in the foursomes on her Curtis Cup debut in 2004.

And if she excels in the pro game, she could the chance to do it again and become the first Irishwoman to take on the cream of American professional golf in the biennial showpiece.

She said: "Beating Michelle Wie in the Curtis Cup is one of the highlights of my career so far.

"But I have no idea what to expect next year. Getting on the tour probably hasn't hit me yet.

"All I know is that I will be on my own. It is very individual. There is no team behind you outside the Solheim Cup."

The Cork ace, 26, grabbed her place on the Ladies European Tour by finishing joint winner of last week's qualifying school in Spain.

But she faces an uphill battle to qualify for the 2007 Solheim Cup in Sweden with the race to make the team already well advanced.

Tour stars Gwladys Nocera, Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam, Stephanie Arricau and Rebecca Hudson occupy the five automatic Solheim Cup places right now.

The 12-strong side will be completed by the top-four players from the Rolex Women's World Rankings and three picks from skipper Alfredsson.