The Solheim Cup takes place in the Netherlands for the first time, at Bernardus Golf in North Brabant, with Anna Nordqvist’s European team desperate for revenge after losing on American soil two years ago.
Angela Stanford’s American team are led by the formidable Nelly Korda but the holders come to Europe with a team that, Korda apart, have been struggling throughout 2026. Europe will be looking to Charley Hull, who is playing in her eighth match even though she is still only 30, and her formidable fellow Englishwoman Lottie Woad, who has made a sensational start to her fledgling professional career.
Several eyebrows were raised when Nordqvist gave a captain’s pick to Leona Maguire, but the Irish woman promises to be ready, saying that the opportunity to regain the Solheim Cup offers an “extra incentive” for Team Europe.
(Image Credit: Rolex/J.D. Cuban)
Maguire was part of the team that lost 15.5-12.5 two years ago and also played in Europe’s victory on Ohio in 2021 and the drawn encounter in Andalusia, which saw the Europeans retain the trophy.
She said: “The Solheim is a special event every two years and a home Solheim is even more special. We’ve got a young team this year, an exciting team and looking forward to getting over to the Netherlands for that.”
Her recent form has been disappointing but her record reads eight wins, one half and three defeats and there were encouraging signs at the recent Irish Women’s Open.
Maguire continued: “It’s one of my favourite events. It’s a team event which we don’t get to do very often and matchplay which I love. Once you’re part of one Solheim, the same as the Ryder Cup, you don’t want to miss any more.
“It’s competitive, there’s no money on the line, it’s all just for pride and all the rest. You’re doing whatever you can to help your teammates and the team. We obviously lost the last one so there’s an extra incentive to try and bring it back this time.”
Sometimes it is about what players bring to the team room.
This is what Stanford had to say about captain’s pick Rose Zhang: “She brings that executive nature to a room. She just has a presence about her. She’s just really good in the team room because she’s so solid, there’s an ease about her too.
“But then we start talking about how she plays golf, just kind of listened to a lot of people talk about how her finishes weren’t there, and again, if you know professional golf, sometimes you don’t see the finishes, and we were watching her stats, and you could see it coming. We saw what was coming in Portland. Every tournament she has played since April, she has gained in approach. We knew it was coming, and the good news is, she’s still rising.”
This is a highly competitive event that has witnessed some pretty unsavoury scenes over the years and in Nordqvist Europe have a fiercely competitive and fiery captain so don’t be surprised to see some gamesmanship over the course of the three days.
Since 2002, the format has seen 28 matches – eight foursomes and eight fourballs played on days one and two, and 12 singles on the final day. This format is exactly the same as the one used in the Ryder Cup.
One point is awarded to the team that wins each match; in the event of a tie, both teams score half a point. The target is 14.5 points.
In recent years, Europe have held the upper hand, winning in 2013, 2019 and 2021 and retailing the trophy in 2023 after the match was tied. If Hull, Woad, Esther Henseleit, Maja Stark and Celine Boutier are anywhere close to their best then Europe have little to fear.
Getting the partnerships right is always the key and I expect to see Woad and Hull playing together four times during the opening two days – don’t be surprised to see them putting four points on the board for Europe.
Nordqvist’s team have nothing to fear this week. Yes, the Americans have the best player in the world in Korda, but they have a whole host of players who are out of form and several who have been struggling with injury. It is there for Europe to win, and I expect them to do precisely that.
The Course:
Bernardus Golf was designed by Kyle Phillips. It is a par 72 measuring 7,430 yards and has held the Dutch Open on the DP World Tour. It is a heathland course that features lots of dunes, bunkers, gorse, challenging rough and several water hazards.
Recent History:
In 2013 Europe won 18-10, in 2015 the USA won 14.5-13.5; in 2017 the USA won 16.5-11.5; in 2019 Europe won 14.5-13.5; in 2021 Europe won 15-13; in 2023 the match was tied, with Europe retaining the trophy, and in 2024 the USA won 15.5-12.5. The overall score stands at USA 11, Europe 7, with one match tied.
How to Watch:
Friday, September 11, Sky Sports Golf, 6.30am; Saturday, September 12, Sky Sports Golf, 6.30am; Sunday, September 13, Sky Sports Golf, 9am.
The Teams:
The home side will be represented by Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit, Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Leona Maguire, Julia Lopez Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes.
The American team consists of Nelly Korda, Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho, Yealimi Noh, Auston Kim, Lauren Coughlin, Allisen Corpuz, Andrea Lee, Alison Lee, Lindy Duncan, Rose Zhang and Megan Khang.
Prediction:
Europe to win 16-12.