Dewi Weber would love to be part of the Solheim Cup when it is staged on Dutch soil, even if she cannot play for Team Europe. The biennial match will be held at Bernardus Golf, just outside Den Bosch, from September 11 to 13, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Anna Nordqvist, the newly appointed captain of Team Europe, will lead the European side in an attempt to reclaim the trophy after the 2024 defeat to the United States.

Weber’s hopes of earning a place on the European team were sparked by a breakthrough performance at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship earlier this summer. A tied‑third finish vaulted her from outside the world’s top‑200 into a career‑best ranking of No. 82. The result seemed to put her on the qualification radar, but a crucial detail was overlooked: she is not a member of the Ladies European Tour (LET).

Because LET membership is a prerequisite for Solheim Cup eligibility, the 30‑year‑old Dutch player was suddenly ineligible, a fact she only learned after the tournament when captain Nordqvist texted her to ask, “Are you an LET member?” Weber confirmed she was not, and the conversation shifted to a new objective – winning a spot through the remaining qualification events. The Solheim Cup qualification system grants automatic places to the top two players on the LET Solheim Cup points list and to the next six highest‑ranked players on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings who are LET members. In addition, the captain may select three wild‑cards.

For Weber, the only path forward was to secure LET membership by performing well enough in one of the three remaining qualifying tournaments. Unfortunately, her attempts fell short.

At the Amundi Evian Championship she missed the cut entirely. She then finished tied for 44th at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open and repeated that result at the AIG Women’s Open. Those scores were insufficient to earn her a LET card, and consequently her Solheim Cup campaign ended. When asked about the missed opportunities, Weber admitted the pressure of the situation was palpable.

“Evian definitely didn’t go my way,” she said, recalling a difficult stretch of holes at the Scottish Open. “I was trying my best, but everyone knows how hard it is to win a major, let alone use it as a ticket to the Solheim Cup.

I wasn’t out there thinking, ‘I have to win because of Solheim.’ I was just trying to play golf.” The final selection list was announced the day after the AIG Women’s Open. Three players ranked lower than Weber in the world rankings received captain’s picks – Julia López Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes – each earning their first Solheim Cup appearance.

Weber, despite being only a few spots away, missed out on a place. Had she qualified, Weber would have become only the third Dutchwoman ever to play in the Solheim Cup, joining Christel Boeljon (who competed in 2011) and Anne van Dam (who represented Europe in 2019).

Even though she will not be on the field, Weber expressed that she remains eager to contribute to the event in any capacity. “It would have been incredibly special to play at home,” she told Sky Sports. “The Netherlands is hosting the Cup for the first time, and I love the course. The organizers have put a huge amount of effort into both the venue and the overall event.” Weber believes the tournament will have a lasting impact on Dutch golf, especially for young players and women.

“This event will be massive for the Netherlands, for youth golf here, and for women’s golf in particular. It’s going to be amazing,” she added. Fans who want to follow Team Europe’s quest to retake the Solheim Cup can tune in to Sky Sports Golf for three days of live coverage from September 11‑13. The broadcast will also be available via streaming services that offer Sky Sports without a contract, ensuring that viewers worldwide can watch the drama unfold on the historic Bernardus Golf course.

In summary, Dewi Weber’s exclusion from the Solheim Cup is a result of the LET membership rule rather than a lack of talent. Her strong performance at a major championship highlighted her potential, but the timing of her LET status prevented her from earning a place on the European team.

While she will not be swinging in the competition, her enthusiasm for the event and hope for future involvement underscore her commitment to Dutch golf and the growth of the women’s game in her country.