Chiara Tamburlini, visibly emotional, is enduring 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, with the top two players after this week’s event earning automatic spots on captain Anna Nordqvist’s squad. The Swiss competitor arrived at Royal Lytham & St Annes holding a narrow 1.1‑point advantage over fellow Swede Helen Briem.
Unfortunately, Tamburlini posted a four‑bogey round of 75 on Thursday and followed it with a three‑over 74 on Friday morning, confirming her early exit from the tournament. Briem, along with France’s Agathe Laisne, also failed to make the cut, effectively ending their chances of automatic qualification.
This leaves Tamburlini dependent on the performances of other players over the weekend to determine if she will make her Solheim Cup debut. "I want it [the Solheim Cup spot] 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. She expressed deep disappointment at not being able to compete over the weekend, yet she remains hopeful that the final points tally will still work in her favor. "If I do get in, it will be a huge motivator for the next few events," she added.
The Solheim Cup has been a central goal for Tamburlini this year, coinciding with her rookie season on the LPGA Tour. "It’s my first year on the LPGA and establishing myself has been a real challenge," she explained.
"Getting this spot would give me a much‑needed boost." She also acknowledged the pressure surrounding her LPGA status, noting that retaining her tour card is not guaranteed at the moment. "The worst‑case scenario is that I have other options, so I’m trying to take some pressure off myself and see what happens this weekend on the Solheim side," she said. At 26, Tamburlini’s best finish on the LPGA this season has been a 17th place, and she has missed the cut in four of her last six starts.
Despite the modest results, she insists her level of play is higher than the numbers suggest. "Over the past seven or eight weeks I’ve felt close again with everyone on the team," she said.
"Early this year was tough because I was based more in the United States, but now I’m feeling the connections strengthening." She emphasized that the scores don’t always reflect the improvements she’s made. "I know the numbers don’t show it, but my game feels a lot more solid now.
I’m starting to see my swing and strategy returning to the form I had two years ago, which is encouraging, even if the results haven’t caught up yet," Tamburlini noted. She also pointed out how thin the margins are in professional golf. "It sounds simple, but the differences are incredibly small.
A single putt can be the line between making the cut and going home." Earlier this month, Tamburlini joined the European team on a trip to Bernardus Golf following the Evian Championship. The experience reinforced her desire to compete in the Solheim Cup.
"Being there reminded me just how much I want this," she admitted. "It was also great to get closer to the senior players I haven’t had many chances to play with before.
They’ve been incredibly welcoming and open to answering my questions, which has helped me feel more at home." The leaderboard remains fluid. Lottie Woad could leapfrog Tamburlini with a top‑three finish, while Maja Stark, Carlota Ciganda and several other contenders have the ability to push Tamburlini out of an automatic spot in the remaining rounds. "I’ll probably be staring at the leaderboard a lot this weekend," Tamburlini said, "but my goal right now is to not obsess over it." The qualification race for the Solheim Cup concludes on Sunday evening.
The top two players on the LET points list, provided they are among the highest‑ranked in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, will earn automatic places. After the points are 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, among others.
For fans eager to follow the unfolding drama, live coverage of the AIG Women’s Open continues throughout the weekend on Sky Sports, with additional programming on Sky Sports Golf from midday Saturday. Viewers can also stream the action without a contract via Sky Sports’ online platform. As the final rounds approach, Tamburlini’s emotions oscillate between hope and anxiety. She knows that a single strong performance by a rival could alter the composition of the European team, yet she remains focused on the bigger picture: representing Europe on one of golf’s most prestigious stages.
"If I make the team, it will be a huge personal milestone and a catalyst for the rest of my season," she concluded, eyes glistening with determination.