Dame Laura Davies has publicly urged Charley Hull to "step up and lead" Team Europe as they prepare for the upcoming Solheim Cup in September. The call comes after European captain Anna Nordqvist announced her final squad on Monday, selecting four captain's picks to round out 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 to the European contingent, each set to make their eighth appearance in the biennial event.
Hull's 2026 season has been particularly impressive; she has finished inside the top ten at three of the five major championships so far, most recently sharing sixth place at the AIG Women's Open over the weekend. Her consistent form and veteran status make her a natural candidate for a leadership role. During an interview on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Davies – who holds the record for the most Solheim Cup appearances by a European player – praised the strength of the squad. "It's a really strong looking team," she said.
"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 emphasize Hull's importance, noting, "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." Europe will be missing two notable players this year. England's Georgia Hall is on maternity leave after giving birth earlier in the year, while Sweden's Madelene Sagström is also expecting a child in September, meaning both will be unavailable for selection. Their absence creates a gap in experience, but the team still possesses a solid core of veterans complemented by eager newcomers. The Solheim Cup 2026 promises to be a compelling contest.
After the United States secured victory in 2024, the European side is eager to reverse the trend. The event will also mark the final Solheim Cup appearance for captain Anna Nordqvist, who will step down after this competition, ending a remarkable run of nine consecutive appearances as a player. Davies added perspective on the roster changes: "We've lost a few of the stalwarts, obviously Georgia Hall with the baby and Sagstrom, 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." This mix of seasoned competitors and hungry talent is expected to give Europe a balanced and dynamic lineup. Nordqvist, speaking on the same podcast after finalising her picks, reiterated her confidence in Hull's role. "You're just going to let Charley be Charley," she said. "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 the four captain's selections was Ireland's Leona Maguire, who made a memorable debut as an unbeaten rookie in Europe's 2021 victory in Inverness and has since added appearances in 2023 and 2024.
At 31, Maguire was the highest‑ranked European player in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings who did not qualify automatically, having posted three top‑10 finishes on the LPGA Tour this season, though she missed the cut in four of the five majors. Her inclusion reflects both her proven track record in the Solheim Cup and her potential to contribute points in critical matches.
The other three picks were Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez, France's Nastasia Nadaud, and England's Mimi Rhodes. Nordqvist highlighted Maguire's unique 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 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 this sentiment, calling Maguire "an absolute lock" as a captain's pick and pointing to her impressive Solheim Cup statistics.
"She hasn't (had the best season), I think she'd freely admit that," Davies said. "But what she has got is eight and a half points out of 12 Solheim Cup matches played. That's all you need to see there.
That's batting at around just under 70 per cent. That's 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 competition will be broadcast live across all three days on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available without a contract. Fans can follow the action, watch player interviews, and enjoy in‑depth analysis as Europe seeks to regain the Solheim Cup after a two‑year hiatus.
Beyond the on‑course drama, the event offers a chance for emerging European talent to test themselves against the world’s best. With Hull poised to take on a leadership mantle, Maguire ready to add to her point tally, and a blend of experienced veterans and hungry newcomers, Team Europe enters the 2026 Solheim Cup with optimism and a clear mission: to bring the trophy back home.