The upcoming Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands promises another razor‑thin battle between Team Europe and Team USA, with the home crowd potentially providing the decisive edge. In recent editions the gap between the two sides has been minimal, and there is little to suggest that this week’s contest will break that pattern. Anna Nordqvist’s European squad is eager to reclaim the trophy on familiar turf, two years after a 15.5‑12.5 defeat in Virginia that marked Europe’s first loss in the biennial event since 2017.
While the Ryder Cup has often produced lopsided scores in recent years—aside from the dramatic comeback at Bethpage Black in 2023—the Solheim Cup has consistently delivered nail‑biting finishes. The last three Solheim Cups staged in Europe have produced the three closest margins in the tournament’s history. In 2015 and 2019 the competition was decided by a single point, and the 2023 edition ended in an unprecedented 14‑14 tie.
Each of those meetings featured its own brand of drama. In 2015, Team USA staged a record‑breaking singles comeback, while in 2019 Suzann Pettersen sank a clutch putt on the 18th green to secure victory for Europe at Gleneagles. The Spanish showdown in 2021 added another layer of excitement, as Europe rallied from a disastrous opening session on Friday to reach the required 14 points in the singles, ultimately retaining the cup. Even earlier, the 2011 contest in Dublin was decided by just two points after a late‑stage injury forced Cristie Kerr to withdraw from the singles.
Those narrow outcomes illustrate how evenly matched the two continents have become; the combined winning margin across the last four European‑hosted Solheim Cups is only six points. When you compare the current rosters, the picture is similarly balanced.
Both teams feature players who are in top form, hold high world rankings, and have substantial Solheim Cup experience. Predicting a winner therefore hinges on factors beyond raw talent, such as strategy, momentum, and, perhaps most importantly, the advantage of playing at home. Team Europe often enters the competition as the underdog in the eyes of the betting public because the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings typically show a larger contingent of American players in the top tier. Nevertheless, Europe now boasts more players inside the world’s top ten than the United States, a reversal that could tip the scales.
Charley Hull is making her eighth consecutive appearance for Europe, while world No. 7 Lottie Woad, though technically a rookie, has already captured two LPGA titles in just over a year as a professional.
Nordqvist can also call upon five of the world’s top 35 players, including Esther Henseleit, who surged after a runner‑up finish at the AIG Women’s Open, and the consistently competitive Maja Stark and Celine Boutier, both regulars on the LPGA Tour. Team USA is not short on depth either.
Nine Americans sit inside the top 50, with the lowest‑ranked rookie Lindy Duncan at world No. 66. By contrast, five Europeans—four of whom are captain’s picks—rank below that threshold, highlighting a slight numerical advantage for the United States.
"I firmly believe it will come down to home advantage," veteran Dame Laura Davies, a 12‑time Solheim Cup participant, told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. "It’s going to be a very loud week with our girls playing in front of a huge audience. On paper the Americans will probably be favourites because they always are, they all play on the LPGA Tour. I just think that home advantage makes such a difference." The early season performance of American star Nelly Korda—four wins and no finish worse than eighth over ten events—has been the standout for the USA, yet few other players from either side have claimed victories on the LPGA Tour in 2026.
Lauren Coughlin’s triumph at the Aramco Championship remains the sole win by an American Solheim Cup member this year, while Boutier and Woad are the only Europeans to have secured a victory on U.S. soil. Hull, who captured the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour in February, brings both experience and confidence. She famously defeated Korda 6&4 in the Sunday singles two years ago, a result that still resonates with European fans.
Hull now holds 15 Solheim Cup match wins—more than any player before the age of 30—and only Annika Sörenstam boasts a higher winning‑points percentage among Europeans with comparable participation. Davies has urged Hull to "step up and lead" Europe again, citing her powerful tee shots and relaxed demeanor.
Nordqvist echoed this sentiment, noting that the world No. 8 should play a pivotal role in the quest to retain the cup.
"You’ve just got to let Charley be Charley," Nordqvist told Sky Sports. "It was really nice to see how much she enjoyed the Solheim Cup last time—she lights up the team room just with her personality. I can’t wait to see her tee it up." While Nordqvist entertained the notion of naming herself a captain’s pick after a strong summer, she ultimately declined and selected four younger players to round out the roster.
A tied‑seventh finish at the Evian Championship sparked speculation, as did top‑30 finishes in her next two events, while veteran Georgia Hall missed the cut for the first time since 2015 and Madelene Sagström sat out due to childbirth. The squad also includes Leona Maguire, the heroine of Europe’s 2021 away‑soil victory, and rising talents Julia Lopez Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes, all eager to test themselves on golf’s biggest stage. "We have some great power in there and I think we’re going to be really strong this year," Nordqvist said. "It’s going to be a big change, but also I feel like we have such a good core group of girls that’s going to make the other players very comfortable and confident." Historically, when Europe has chosen three rookies as captain’s picks—first in 2011 and again in 2021—the team has gone on to win.
Nordqvist hopes to complete that pattern and secure a third consecutive triumph. Ultimately, the question remains: who will lift the Solheim Cup this September? Fans can watch Team Europe’s bid to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports, with all three days—September 11‑13—broadcast on Sky Sports Golf.
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