Team Europe captured the Solheim Cup with a 15-13 victory over the United States on a rainy Sunday at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. The win marks the first outright triumph for the European side since 2021, reversing a previous evening where Team USA had leveled the biennial contest thanks to late birdies from Jennifer Kupcho.
European captain Anna Nordqvist expressed immense pride in her squad, describing the decision to place Charley Hull as the opening singles player as a “no-brainer.” Hull secured a decisive 3&2 win against Megan Khang, earning a full point and helping Europe win six of the first eight singles matches—a historic start for the hosts.
“This feels so good,” Nordqvist told Sky Sports. “There’s been so much hard work this week and over the last two years from not only me but the entire support staff.” She highlighted that despite the difficult weather conditions, her players started strongly and maintained that momentum throughout the day.
Hull, who had struggled to convert opportunities earlier in the tournament alongside teammate Lottie Woad, validated Nordqvist’s trust. Both players were among the top four for birdies during the week but had faced frustration due to putting struggles in match play. Hull credited vice-captain Mel Reid for reminding her of her strong ball-striking stats before her match against Yealimi Noh.
“I was giving myself so many chances, so that was quite frustrating,” Hull admitted. “But I was very steady and hit a lot of greens.” She added happily that securing even one and a half points for the week was better than returning empty-handed.
The momentum shifted further when Woad defeated Auston Kim 3&2 to reach 14 points, sparking wild celebrations on the 17th green. Carlota Ciganda then closed out the trophy by defeating Kupcho, confirming Europe’s victory.
Nordqvist praised the resilience of her team, noting that many observers underestimated the quality of golf displayed over the three days. “People don’t understand how good all these players are,” she said.
Following the event, the Ladies European Tour moves to Spain for the La Sella Open, while the LPGA Tour will take a break before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship later in September. The next Solheim Cup is scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
Bet the weather didn’t help the Americans one bit. Cold fingers are no fun for putting!
Is this really a ‘no-brainer’ call, or just smart captaincy? I’d love to see the stats.
Did anyone else notice how steady the putting was for Hull considering her struggles earlier?
I was so surprised when they took that early lead. USA barely recovered after that.
What a thrilling finish! Charley Hull’s leadership really paid off in the end.