Dame Laura Davies has publicly urged Charley Hull to take on a leadership role for Team Europe as the Solheim Cup approaches in September. The call comes after European captain Anna Nordqvist announced her final four captain's picks on Monday, completing a 12‑player roster that will compete on home soil in the Netherlands from September 11 to 13, hoping to reclaim the trophy from the United States. Hull and Spain's Carlota Ciganda are the most seasoned members of the European contingent, each set to make their eighth Solheim Cup appearance.
Hull, who hails from England, has enjoyed a breakout 2026 season, breaking into the top ten in three of the five major championships and most recently sharing sixth place at the AIG Women’s Open. Her consistent performances have cemented her status as one of Europe’s leading players, and Davies believes she is ready to step up when the pressure intensifies. In an interview on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Davies – who holds the record for the most Solheim Cup appearances for Europe – praised the balance of the squad: "It’s a really strong looking team. You’ve got the experience, some of them are young but really well experienced in Solheim Cup golf.
I think it’s a lovely blend." She went on to single out Hull, saying, "I think Charley will be the leader again and we’ll need her to perform like she did before. I know it was in a losing performance over there in Virginia, but she’s got to step up and lead that team out." The European side will be missing two key veterans. Georgia Hall is on maternity leave after giving birth earlier this year, and Swedish rising star Madelene Sagström will be unavailable as she prepares for her own childbirth in September. Their absences leave a noticeable gap, but the team’s depth should compensate.
Nordqvist, who will captain her final Solheim Cup after nine straight appearances, emphasized the mix of seasoned campaigners and hungry newcomers: "We’ve lost a few of the stalwarts, obviously Georgia Hall with the baby and Sagström, another big loss. The captain obviously not playing. But what we have got is a good nucleus of players that have played a lot of Solheim Cups and then the younger players that are just keen as mustard and want to get out there and play." Hull’s leadership qualities have not gone unnoticed by the captain either.
Nordqvist told the podcast, "You’re just going to let Charley be Charley. It was really nice to see how much she really enjoyed the Solheim Cup last time in Washington. I know we lost, but just seeing her enjoy the whole experience, light up the team room just with her personality.
It’s great to see her playing probably the best golf of her life, being up there in majors. She lives for those moments, so I can’t wait to see her tee it up." Among Nordqvist’s four captain’s picks was Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who made a splash as an unbeaten rookie during Europe’s victorious 2021 campaign in Inverness and has since featured in the 2023 and 2024 matches. At 31, Maguire entered the squad as the highest‑ranked European not automatically qualified, having logged three top‑10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this season, though she missed the cut in four of the five majors.
Her inclusion was announced live on Sky Sports alongside three other picks: Spain’s Julia López Ramírez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud, and England’s Mimi Rhodes. Nordqvist praised Maguire’s intangible qualities: "Leona just has that little special thing that you need in the Solheim Cup. I wouldn’t want to play against her.
I’m glad she’s on my team. Her having such a good start in her first Solheim Cup in Inverness, we started calling her MVP because I think she had the most points or she played the most matches. But she’s just fearless and she’s kind of just suited for that game.
She has the mentality and the toughness of just bringing out the best when she needs it." Davies echoed that sentiment, calling Maguire "an absolute lock" as a captain’s pick and highlighting her impressive Solheim Cup record: "She hasn’t (had the best season), I think she’d freely admit that, but what she has got is eight and a half points out of 12 Solheim Cup matches played. That’s batting at just under 70 per cent – an unbelievable Solheim Cup record.
And let’s not forget, in Virginia she didn’t get many points at all. So, before that, she was batting at probably 85‑90 per cent winning percentage. She was an absolute lock, no question about it." The upcoming Solheim Cup promises a compelling narrative: a home‑based European team eager to overturn the United States’ recent dominance, a captain’s final appearance, and a young English star poised to lead the charge.
With Hull expected to anchor the team’s performance, the pressure will be on her to translate her major‑championship form into match‑play success. Her ability to handle the intense, head‑to‑head format of the Solheim Cup will be scrutinised, especially after the disappointment in Virginia where Europe fell short despite a valiant effort. Beyond the individual storylines, the event will showcase the evolving landscape of women’s golf in Europe.
The inclusion of players like Maguire, López Ramírez, Nadaud, and Rhodes underscores the depth of talent emerging from the continent. Their recent performances on the LPGA and Ladies European Tours suggest that Europe is building a new generation capable of challenging the USA’s historical advantage. Fans can catch every moment of the three‑day showdown live on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available without a long‑term contract.
The tournament will be staged across several venues in the Netherlands, offering a mix of links‑style and parkland courses that will test every facet of a player’s skill set – from driving accuracy to short‑game finesse. In summary, the stage is set for a dramatic Solheim Cup in September. Charley Hull, backed by seasoned veterans like Carlota Ciganda and emerging talents such as Leona Maguire, will be at the forefront of Europe’s bid to reclaim the trophy.
The blend of experience, youthful enthusiasm, and strategic captaincy under Anna Nordqvist promises a fiercely contested series that could reshape the balance of power in women’s team golf for years to come.