Chiara Tamburlini, the Swiss golfer who has been battling tears, now faces a tense waiting period to discover whether she will secure a place on Team Europe for the Solheim Cup after missing the cut at the AIG Women’s Open. Heading into the season’s final women’s major, Tamburlini was second on the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points leaderboard, a position that, together with the leader, normally guarantees a spot on Anna Nordqvist’s European squad. When she arrived at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Tamburlini held a narrow 1.1‑point advantage over fellow Swede Helen Briem.
Unfortunately, a shaky opening round of 75, which included a costly four‑bogey, set her up for an early exit, and a subsequent 74 on Friday morning left her three strokes over par and well outside the cut line. Briem and France’s Agathe Laisne also failed to make the cut, effectively ending their automatic qualification chances. This leaves Tamburlini’s fate hanging on the performances of other European players over the weekend.
"I want it so badly, but sometimes the things you want most can actually hold you back," Tamburlini said, her voice breaking, in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports. "I’m obviously disappointed not to be playing this weekend, but I’m still hoping I’ll get the spot.
If I do, it will give me a huge boost for the next few events." The Solheim Cup has been a primary goal for Tamburlini this year, which also marks her debut season on the LPGA Tour. "It’s been a tough year trying to find my footing on the LPGA," she admitted. "If I earn a place on the Solheim Cup team, it will be a massive confidence boost and a reminder that I belong at this level." At 26, Tamburlini’s best finish on the LPGA this season has been a modest 17th place, and she has missed the cut in four of her last six starts.
Nevertheless, she insists her game is stronger than the results suggest. "Over the past seven or eight weeks I’ve felt a real connection with my European teammates again," she explained.
"Early in the year, being based in the United States made it difficult to build that camaraderie, but now we’re clicking." She added that while the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it, her swing and overall play feel more solid, reminiscent of her form from the previous two seasons. "The margins are razor‑thin," she said. "A single putt or a missed fairway can swing a round from a top‑10 finish to a missed cut." After the Evian Championship, Tamburlini joined the European squad on a team trip to Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. The experience reinforced her desire to compete.
"Being with the senior players made me realize just how much I want this," she said. "It’s been great getting closer to the older ladies I haven’t played much with before. They’ve been incredibly welcoming and helpful with any questions I have." Looking ahead, Tamburlini knows that her fate may also be influenced by the results of players like Lottie Woad, who could leapfrog her with a top‑three finish, as well as Maja Stark and Carlota Ciganda, both of whom are capable of pushing Tamburlini out of an automatic berth.
"I’ll be watching the leaderboard closely this weekend," she admitted, though she tried to temper her anxiety. "My goal right now is to not obsess over it." The Solheim Cup qualification window closes on Sunday evening.
The top two players on the LET points list, provided they are also among the highest‑ranked in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, will earn automatic spots. After the points list is finalized, Captain Anna Nordqvist will announce her four captain’s picks on Monday afternoon during a live Sky Sports broadcast.
Potential picks include Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Leona Maguire, and former major champion Georgia Hall. Tamburlini’s emotional journey highlights the thin line between triumph and disappointment in professional golf.
While she awaits the final decision, she remains focused on turning the pressure into motivation. "Even if I don’t make the team, I have other options and I’m trying to take some pressure off myself," she said. "We’ll see what happens this weekend, and I’ll keep working hard regardless of the outcome." Fans can follow the ongoing drama and the remainder of the AIG Women’s Open live on Sky Sports, with coverage extending through Saturday’s midday round.
The tournament’s leaderboard, live updates, and expert analysis will continue to be available online, ensuring that supporters can track both the major championship and the unfolding Solheim Cup qualification battle.