Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist has firmly rejected suggestions that the Bernardus Golf course was configured to favor the home side, following Europe’s 15-13 victory over the United States at the Solheim Cup.
Nordqvist’s squad overcame a deadlocked 8-8 tie heading into the final Sunday singles to reclaim the trophy on home soil in the Netherlands. However, the celebration was briefly tempered by remarks from USA captain Angela Stanford, who implied her team faced an uneven playing field due to the condition of the greens.
Stanford, speaking at her post-tournament press conference, acknowledged that Europe putted exceptionally well but hinted that external factors played a role. “If you listen to everything I’ve ever said, Europeans always putt better,” Stanford said. “I don’t know why. I still don’t know why. I mean, I have a good idea, but I’m not going to say it right now.”
When pressed on whether the green speeds had shifted from their expectations, Stanford noted that the turf was already faster when the teams arrived in July, adding, “Apparently I didn’t get to know the superintendent as well as I should have.” She also expressed personal frustration, stating, “This is the one thing I am kicking myself is that I just didn’t keep pushing… we got to figure out how to hit our putts a little bit harder.”
Nordqvist, however, remained unconvinced by the implications behind Stanford’s comments. “We’re in Europe and in September. We know how the weather can be,” she said. “I’m not sure I believe a lot in setting up a way to fit Europe because these girls play the same golf courses week-in and week-out competing.”
The European captain pointed to the seasonal changes since the team’s July visit as the primary variable. “We came here in July, it was a very hot and dry summer, so the course played a little bit different then,” Nordqvist explained. She attributed the softer conditions during the tournament to recent heavy rainfall rather than deliberate setup choices, concluding, “If anything they were probably just playing a little bit softer than we all thought coming here. But that’s obviously the weather, we can’t control that.”
The event was not without its dramatic moments earlier in the weekend. On Saturday, the USA appeared to reach an emotional peak after Jennifer Kupcho sank crucial putts to level the match at 8-8. Stanford addressed speculation that this early celebration might have caused complacency before the final day. “That’s kind of tricky because you don’t ever want to take away from that moment,” she said. “The worst thing I could have done is go in there and be like, ‘okay, y’all. Come off this high’… We’re never going to see anything like that again. I think they handled it very well.”
Following the Solheim Cup, the Ladies European Tour will head to Spain for the La Sella Open, while the LPGA Tour will take a brief pause before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship later in September. The next Solheim Cup is scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
Kicking myself is right. Stanford had the chance to push harder on the superintendent issue instead of just hinting at it.
Wait, does Valhalla host in September too? If so, I hope 2028 has clearer answers about course conditions.
Such a classy rebuttal from Nordqvist. No need to engage with the drama, just let the weather explain it. Good sportsmanship.
I’m still skeptical about those green speeds changing that drastically in two months. Something feels off, but I’ll let it go.
Nordqvist makes a solid point about the summer heat versus September rain. Seems like Mother Nature decided the greens, not the captains.