The selectors' shock decision comes after Fliss made a spirited defence of her English Ladies title recently by reaching the semi-finals and their thinking must have gone only as far as her defeat in the first round of last week?s British Championship.

That was the first blip in a golf career that has taken the 19-year-old redhead to the top echelons of golf in Britain and has seen her win match after match in a string of international matches.

Last year she went to America with another brilliant player, Sophie Walker, to represent England in the world ladies team championship in the Spirit International ? and they beat two Americans who are both in the US Curtis Cup team. Yet Sophie has been totally ignored by the Curtis Cup selectors. It's a funny old world.

Ros Weston, chairman of the English Ladies Golf Association and a member at Droitwich said: "We're naturally disappointed and sorry for Fliss, but there are so many first class young golfers to choose from."

This week, Fliss was back at Harborne Church Farm helping her stepfather, Paul Johnson, in his professional?s shop there.

She is in the England team for the European Under-21 championship in Holland July 11-15.