Dame Laura Davies has publicly urged Charley Hull to step forward and assume 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 11‑13, aiming to reclaim the trophy from the United States.
Hull, alongside Spain's Carlota Ciganda, brings the most Solheim Cup experience of any European player in the squad, each set to make their eighth appearance in the biennial contest. Hull has enjoyed a breakout 2026 season, breaking into the top ten at 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 most reliable performers and a natural candidate for the team’s on‑course leader. Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Davies – who holds the record for the most Solheim Cup appearances for Europe – praised the depth and balance of the newly‑named team.
"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 said. She added that Hull’s role would be pivotal: "I think Charley will be the leader again and we’ll need her to perform like she did before.
I know it was a losing performance over there in Virginia, but she’s got to step up and lead that team out." The squad does miss a few seasoned players. Georgia Hall is absent after giving birth earlier this year, and Sweden’s Madelene Sagström will also miss the event as she prepares for her own maternity leave in September.
Their departures leave a gap in experience, but the captain’s picks aim to fill it with a mixture of proven veterans and hungry newcomers. Among the four captain’s selections, Ireland’s Leona Maguire stands out. Maguire was the top‑scoring rookie when Europe secured an away victory over the United States in 2021, and she has since added appearances in 2023 and 2024. At 31, she entered the squad as the highest‑ranked European on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who had not qualified automatically.
Her season on the LPGA Tour featured three top‑10 finishes, although she missed the cut in four of the five majors, underscoring a year of mixed results but undeniable talent. The other three picks were Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramírez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud, and England’s Mimi Rhodes. Nordqvist explained her choices, highlighting Maguire’s unique competitive edge: "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 like just suited for that game. She has the mentality and the toughness of just bringing out the best when she needs it." Davies echoed the sentiment, describing Maguire as "an absolute lock" for a captain’s pick.
She pointed to Maguire’s impressive Solheim Cup record: eight and a half points out of twelve matches, translating to a win‑rate just under 70 percent. "She was batting at probably 85, 90 per cent winning percentage before Virginia," Davies noted, emphasizing that even a modest showing in the 2024 edition would not diminish Maguire’s overall impact. Hull’s leadership responsibilities will extend beyond her own play. As the only English player on the team and a native of the host nation, she is expected to energize the locker room, mentor the younger contingent, and serve as the public face of Europe’s campaign.
Nordqvist summed up the expectation succinctly: "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." The Solheim Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf across all three days, with streaming options available without a contract. Fans can also follow the build‑up through the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, which offers deeper analysis of player form, strategic considerations, and the emotional narratives that define the event.
In summary, Europe enters the 2026 Solheim Cup with a blend of seasoned veterans like Hull and Ciganda, emerging talents such as Maguire, Lopez Ramírez, Nadaud, and Rhodes, and a captain in Nordqvist who knows how to balance experience with youthful enthusiasm. While the loss of Hall and Sagström creates a void, the team’s depth and the explicit call for Hull to lead suggest a renewed vigor and a clear mission: to bring the trophy back to Europe after a two‑year American hold.
The upcoming showdown promises high‑stakes golf, national pride, and the chance for Charley Hull to cement her legacy as a leader on the biggest stage in women’s team golf.