Chiara Tamburlini, the Swiss golfer who has been battling tears and nerves, is now waiting anxiously to discover whether she will secure a place on Team Europe for the upcoming Solheim Cup after she missed the cut at the AIG Women’s Open. Entering the final women’s major of the season, Tamburlini was positioned second on the Ladies European Tour’s Solheim Cup points leaderboard, meaning that the top two players after this week’s tournament would lock in their spots on captain Anna Nordqvist’s European squad. When she arrived at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes course, 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 the tone for a difficult weekend.
She posted a three‑over 74 on Friday morning, confirming her early exit from the championship and allowing both Briem and France’s Agathe Laisne to also miss the cut, effectively ending their automatic qualification hopes. With her own chances now dependent on how other contenders perform over the remaining rounds, Tamburlini confessed to Sky Sports that the desire to make the Solheim Cup team is both a powerful motivator and a source of pressure. "I want it so badly, but sometimes the things you want so badly almost hinder your performance more," she said, her voice breaking as she spoke. The 26‑year‑old has struggled to find consistency on the LPGA Tour this year, never finishing higher than 17th in any event and missing the cut in four of her last six starts.
Despite those results, she insists her game is stronger than the numbers suggest. "I feel like my game is more solid now," she explained. "The scores don’t always reflect what’s happening, but I’m seeing improvement in the fundamentals that I lost sight of during the early part of the season when I was spending most of my time in the United States." Tamburlini’s ambition to play in the Solheim Cup is intertwined with her first full season on the LPGA Tour. She described the Cup as a key goal for 2026 and a potential catalyst to boost her confidence and performance in upcoming events.
"If I get the spot, it will be a huge motivation for the next few tournaments," she said, adding that even if she fails to qualify, there are other pathways to keep her career moving forward. "I’m trying to take some pressure off myself because keeping my LPGA card has also become a concern." The qualification battle remains wide open. Lottie Woad could leapfrog Tamburlini with a top‑three finish, while Maja Stark, Carlota Ciganda and several other European players still have the chance to push Tamburlini out of the automatic slots. "I’ll be watching the leaderboard closely this weekend," she admitted, "but I’m also trying not to obsess over it because that only adds more stress." Earlier in the month, Tamburlini joined the European team on a trip to Bernardus Golf after the Evian Championship.
The experience, she says, reminded her just how much she wants to represent Europe. "Being with the older players, getting to know them better, and feeling welcomed made me realize again how much this means to me," she reflected.
The camaraderie and mentorship she received have helped her feel more connected to the team, something she felt was missing earlier in the season. The Solheim Cup points race will conclude on Sunday evening, at which point the top two players on the LET points list who are also highest‑ranked in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will earn automatic berths. Following that, captain Anna Nordqvist will announce her four captain’s picks on Monday afternoon during a live Sky Sports broadcast.
Names being floated for those discretionary spots include Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Leona Maguire and former major champion Georgia Hall. For Tamburlini, the coming days are a mixture of hope and anxiety. She knows that a strong finish by her rivals could push her out of the automatic positions, but she also believes that her recent improvements and the emotional boost from the team environment could translate into a breakthrough performance when it matters most. "I’m trying to stay positive and focus on what I can control," she said.
"If I don’t make the team automatically, I’ll still be ready to fight for a captain’s pick." The AIG Women’s Open continues throughout the weekend, with live coverage on Sky Sports and streaming options available without a contract. As the tournament unfolds, fans of both the Open and the Solheim Cup will be watching closely, not only for the crowning of a major champion but also for the drama of the qualification race that could see Tamburlini either celebrating a dream realized or regrouping for another chance later in the season.