The recent Solheim Cups have shown just how evenly matched Team Europe and Team USA have become, and there is little reason to believe this weekend’s showdown will break that pattern. Anna Nordqvist’s European side is set to chase the trophy on familiar ground at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, a venue that will host the live Sky Sports broadcast. Two years ago, Europe suffered a 15.5‑12.5 defeat in Virginia – their first loss in the biennial event since 2017 – and they are eager to reverse that outcome.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, where the last few editions have often produced sizable victory margins (with the notable exception of last year’s dramatic comeback at Bethpage Black), the Solheim Cup has consistently delivered nail‑biting finishes. The three most recent Solheim Cups staged in Europe have been the tightest in the competition’s history.
In 2015 and 2019 the contest was decided by a single point, and the 2023 edition ended in a historic 14‑14 tie. Each of those events provided its own brand of drama: Team USA staged a record‑breaking singles rally to clinch the 2015 cup, while Suzann Pettersen sank the decisive putt on the 18th green to hand Europe a memorable victory at Gleneagles in 2019.
Europe’s resilience was also on display in Spain, where after being swept in the opening Friday session, Pettersen’s squad clawed back to secure the necessary 14 points and retain the cup. The 2011 Dublin showdown was another close affair; Europe won by just two points after an injury forced Cristie Kerr to withdraw from the singles.
In fact, the last four Solheim Cups contested on European soil have produced a combined winning margin of only six points, underscoring how razor‑thin the competition has become. When you compare the current rosters, the picture is equally balanced. Both teams feature players who are in top form, occupy high positions on the world rankings, and possess valuable Solheim Cup experience.
Predicting a clear favorite for Sunday’s finale is therefore a difficult task. Statistically, Europe often enters the event as the underdog because the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings place a larger share of American players in the top tier. Nevertheless, this year’s European contingent actually boasts more golfers inside the world’s top ten than the Americans, which could narrow the perceived gap.
Charley Hull is marking her eighth straight appearance for Europe, while world No. 7 Lottie Woad, technically a rookie to the cup, has already captured two LPGA titles within her first year as a professional.
Nordqvist can also call upon five players from the world’s top‑35: Esther Henseleit, who surged after a runner‑up finish at the AIG Women’s Open, and both Maja Stark and Celine Boutier, who are regular contenders on the LPGA Tour. Team USA, on the other hand, enjoys depth in the rankings with nine players inside the top‑50. Their lowest‑ranked participant, rookie Lindy Duncan, sits at No.
66, whereas five Europeans – including all four of the captain’s picks – sit outside that threshold. "I firmly believe it will come down to home advantage," veteran 12‑time Solheim Cup competitor Dame Laura Davies told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. "The crowds will be massive, and our girls will feed off that energy. On paper the Americans will probably be favourites because they all play on the LPGA Tour, but home advantage makes a huge difference." Outside of the dominant performances by Jessica Korda earlier this season – where she won four tournaments and never finished worse than eighth over a ten‑event stretch – there have been few wins by either side’s members on the LPGA Tour in 2026.
Lauren Coughlin’s triumph at the Aramco Championship is the only other victory by an American Solheim Cup player this year, while Boutier and Woad are the sole Europeans to have won on U.S. soil.
Hull added a Ladies European Tour title at the PIF Saudi Ladies International in February and entered the cup with the confidence of having thrashed Korda 6&4 in the Sunday singles two years prior. She already holds 15 Solheim Cup match wins – the most by any player before turning 30 – and only Annika Sörenstam surpasses her winning‑points percentage among frequent European representatives. Davies urged Hull to "step up and lead" Europe again, citing her powerful drive, relaxed demeanor, and extensive experience. Nordqvist echoed that sentiment, noting that the world No.
8’s presence will be pivotal in Europe’s quest to retain the trophy. "You just have to let Charley be Charley," Nordqvist said to Sky Sports.
"She lights up the team room with her personality, and I can’t wait to see her tee it up." Earlier in the season, Nordqvist’s vice‑captains suggested she consider a captain’s pick for herself after a solid summer, but the Swedish captain declined and instead selected four younger players to round out the squad. A tied‑seventh finish at the Evian Championship sparked those discussions, as did consecutive top‑30 finishes in her next two events. Meanwhile, veteran Georgia Hall missed the cut for the first time since 2015, and Madelene Ságström was absent due to maternity. The lineup also features seasoned campaigner Leona Maguiré, the heroine of Europe’s 2021 victory on foreign soil, alongside rising talents Julia Lopez Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes, who will now test themselves on golf’s biggest stage.
"We have a lot of power in this group and I think we’ll be very strong this year," Nordqvist said. "It will be a big change, but we have a solid core that will make everyone feel comfortable and confident." Historically, Europe’s decision to include three rookies as captain’s picks in 2011 and 2021 both resulted in victories.
Nordqvist hopes to add a third such triumph to that legacy. Who will ultimately lift the Solheim Cup? Catch Team Europe’s attempt to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports, with all three days broadcast from September 11‑13 on Sky Sports Golf.
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