Anne Van Dam, the appointed captain of Team Europe for this year’s PING Junior Soliman Cup, is confident that her squad of twelve talented youngsters has a realistic shot at wresting the trophy back from the United States at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. The Dutch venue will host the junior showdown on September 7 and 8, just days before the senior Solheim Cup kicks off on September 11, and Van Dam insists her players will "fight to the last putt" in pursuit of victory. The competition brings together the finest European female golfers aged 12 to 18, each of whom has earned her place through a blend of ranking points, championship performances and captain's selections.
The format mirrors that of the senior event: six four‑ball matches and six foursomes on the first day, followed by twelve singles matches on the second day. The stakes are high, as the Junior Solheim Cup not only offers a prestigious title but also serves as a proving ground for the next generation of elite women’s golfers. One of the most notable aspects of the 2026 edition is that it will be the first time the junior and senior Solheim Cups share the same course in the same week.
This alignment gives the young players a rare glimpse of the atmosphere and pressure that will define their future careers. Moreover, Van Dam will simultaneously serve as a vice‑captain for the senior Team Europe under Anna Nordqvist, marking the inaugural instance of a Junior Solheim Cup captain holding a dual role. Her former teammate, Bronte Law, has been appointed as Van Dam’s vice‑captain for the junior side, adding further experience to the leadership team.
Across the Atlantic, former professional Morgan Pressel leads Team USA. The Americans enter the contest as the defending champions after a convincing win at the Army‑Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, in 2024.
Their record in the event stands at eight wins, four losses and one tie, making them the historical favorites. Still, Van Dam believes that Europe’s blend of personality, grit and youthful enthusiasm can narrow the gap and perhaps overturn the odds. "My team are all fighters," Van Dam said in a pre‑tournament press conference.
"They share big personalities and a feisty attitude. You either have that fighting spirit or you don’t, and every one of our players possesses it. I expect them to battle hard right down to the final putt. Europe may be trailing in the overall standings, but I would love to see them catch up and perhaps even overtake the Americans." The last time the two sides met on European soil, in Spain in 2023, Team Europe produced a dominant 15‑9 victory.
That result still resonates, and Van Dam hopes to tap into that memory as motivation for her squad. She also highlighted the personal development aspect of the event, noting that playing on the same course that will host the senior Solheim Cup is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience for these teenagers. Selection for Team Europe was based largely on the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings after the R&A Girls' Amateur Championship in August. The top six players earned automatic spots, while Van Dam exercised her captain's picks to round out the roster.
Among the automatic qualifiers were Switzerland’s Lana Guyot, who reached the semi‑finals of the R&A Girls' Amateur, and England’s Lauren Crump, the winner of the Annika Invitational Europe in Sweden. Spain’s Marta Muñoz earned a captain's pick after defeating compatriot Adriana García Terol in the 36‑hole final of the R&A Girls' Amateur.
García Terol herself qualified automatically, as did Annabel Peaford, another English player chosen by Van Dam. Team USA’s lineup features several high‑profile juniors.
Asterisk Talley, a two‑time Junior Solheim Cup participant, tops the Rolex American Junior Golf Association rankings and captured the US Women’s Amateur Championship in August. Amelie Zalsman has been in excellent form, posting top‑five finishes in all her AJGA starts and finishing runner‑up at the US Girls' Junior Championship. Anna Fang, who helped the United States win in 2024, has risen to 52nd in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings after a strong showing at the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Both captains bring a wealth of experience from previous Junior Solheim Cups.
Van Dam and Law both played in the 2013 edition, and they will draw on those memories to guide the current team. Pressel’s American side also boasts veterans such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee, all of whom have competed in the junior event before turning professional. The schedule is straightforward: Monday, September 7, will feature six four‑ball matches and six foursomes, while Tuesday, September 8, will host twelve singles matches. The format ensures that every player contributes to the final score, and the cumulative points will decide the winner.
Beyond the competition itself, the event offers a platform for the young athletes to gain exposure, attract sponsorship, and build the mental toughness required for future professional careers. The proximity to the senior Solheim Cup means that many of the same media crews, broadcasters and fans will be present, providing a taste of the spotlight that awaits the next generation. For fans eager to follow the action, Sky Sports will broadcast the Junior Soliman Cup live, with additional coverage leading up to the senior Solheim Cup from September 11 to 13.
The tournament also ties into broader golf coverage, including leaderboards from the PGA, LPGA, LIV Golf, DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour, ensuring that viewers can keep track of the sport’s top performers across all levels. In summary, while Team USA enters as the statistical favorite, Anne Van Dam’s belief in her squad’s fighting spirit, combined with the unique opportunity to play on the same course as the senior event, creates a compelling narrative for a potential European comeback. The next two days at Bernardus Golf will not only decide which continent holds the junior trophy but also showcase the future stars of women’s golf, many of whom will likely appear on senior Solheim Cup teams within the next decade.