Dewi Weber would love to be part of a Solheim Cup held on Dutch soil, even if only in a supporting role, but she finds herself ineligible to represent Team Europe when the competition returns to the Netherlands. The biennial match will be staged at Bernardus Golf near Den Bosch from September 11‑13, with live coverage on Sky Sports.
Team Europe will be led by captain Anna Nordqvist, who is determined to reclaim the trophy after the 2024 defeat to the United States. Weber’s hopes of earning a Solheim Cup berth were revived earlier this summer at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where a tied‑third finish vaulted her from outside the world’s top 200 to a career‑best ranking of 82.
The strong showing seemed to put her on the road to selection, yet a crucial eligibility rule stopped her short: she is not a member of the Ladies European Tour (LET). The 30‑year‑old Dutch player admitted she was unaware of the membership requirement until captain Nordqvist texted her after the AIG Women’s Open, asking, “Are you an LET team member?” When Weber answered “no,” the captain’s message turned into a clear directive: "Then the goal just became, ‘well, you’ve got to win,’ and that’s been the aim ever since." To qualify for the Solheim Cup, Weber needed to secure LET membership by winning one of the three remaining qualifying events. She attempted to do so at the Amundi Evian Championship, the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open, and the AIG Women’s Open, but fell short each time – missing the cut at Evian, finishing tied‑44th in Scotland, and repeating that result at the Open. The qualification process for the 2026 Solheim Cup concludes after the AIG Women’s Open.
The top two players on the LET Solheim Cup points list, together with the next six highest‑ranked players on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, receive automatic spots. When the final team was announced, three players ranked lower than Weber in the world rankings were chosen as captain’s picks: Julia Lopez Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes, all making their debut for Europe. Weber had been aiming to become only the third Dutch golfer to appear in a Solheim Cup, joining Christel Boeljon (2011) and Anne van Dam (2019).
Although she missed out on a playing role, she remains eager to contribute in any capacity. “It would have been incredibly special to play,” she said, “especially because it’s the first time the Netherlands is hosting. I love the course, and the organizers have put a huge amount of effort into both the venue and the event.” She believes the tournament will have a lasting impact on Dutch golf, particularly for young players and women’s golf in the country. "This event will be massive for the Netherlands, for youth golf, and for the sport overall.
It’s going to be amazing," Weber added. Beyond the immediate disappointment, Weber’s experience highlights the complexities of Solheim Cup eligibility. The competition, modeled after the men’s Ryder Cup, pits the United States against a European team selected through a combination of points, world rankings, and captain’s picks.
Membership on the LET is a prerequisite for most European players, a rule that can catch rising stars off guard if they have not yet secured a tour card. In Weber’s case, despite a breakthrough major performance that vaulted her into the top 100, the lack of LET status meant she could not accumulate the points needed for automatic qualification.
The situation also underscores the pressure that players face during the final stretch of the qualifying season. With only three events left, every shot carries extra weight, and the mental strain can be intense. Weber described the challenge of trying to win while also coping with the expectations of a home Solheim Cup. "I was trying my best out here, and everyone knows how hard it is to win, let alone at a major.
It’s not like I’m going out there and every shot I’m thinking, ‘I have to hit this perfectly because of the Solheim Cup,’" she explained. "I was just trying to play golf, and thinking about the Solheim Cup didn’t really help my case." Looking ahead, Weber remains optimistic about her future on the LET and her chances of making the Solheim Cup team in a later edition. She plans to focus on securing her tour membership, improving her world ranking, and gaining more experience in high‑pressure tournaments.
Her determination reflects a broader trend among European players who view the Solheim Cup as the pinnacle of women’s team golf and are willing to navigate the administrative hurdles to earn a spot. For fans eager to follow the action, Sky Sports will broadcast all three days of the 2026 Solheim Cup live from September 11‑13. The network offers a subscription‑free streaming option, allowing viewers to watch the competition without a contract. As the tournament approaches, the excitement builds not only for the players but also for the host nation, which hopes the event will inspire a new generation of Dutch golfers and elevate the profile of women’s golf across Europe.