Anne Van Dam, the captain of Team Europe’s PING Junior Solheim Cup, is confident that her young squad has a strong chance of recapturing the trophy from the United States at Bernardus Golf this week. Van Dam emphasizes that her players possess the grit to "fight to the last putt" in pursuit of the win. The competition will see twelve of Europe’s top junior golfers, aged between 12 and 18, face off against their American counterparts on September 7 and 8 at the Bernardus Golf course in the Netherlands.
This event is scheduled just three days before the senior Solheim Cup kicks off on September 11, with live coverage on Sky Sports. For the first time in history, both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and the senior Solheim Cup will share the same venue and be contested within the same week, creating a unique atmosphere for players and fans alike. The 2026 edition also marks a historic moment for the junior competition’s leadership: Van Dam will serve simultaneously as a vice‑captain for the senior Solheim Cup team under Anna Nordqvist, while her former junior teammate Bronte Law will act as her vice‑captain for the junior side.
Morgan Pressel leads Team USA and enters the event as the favorite, having defended the title successfully after a 2024 victory at the Army‑Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Despite the American team’s reputation, Van Dam remains upbeat about Europe’s prospects. "My team are all fighters," Van Dam said. "They each have big personalities and a feisty attitude.
I know they will battle hard right up to the final putt. That kind of determination isn’t something you can teach; you either have it or you don’t, and every player on our roster has it." She added, "Europe may be a little behind in the overall standings, but I would love to see us close the gap and catch up." Historically, Team USA leads the all‑time PING Junior Solheim Cup record with eight wins, four losses, and one tie.
However, the most recent encounter on European soil in 2023 saw Europe dominate, winning 15‑9 in Spain. Van Dam hopes to replicate that success on home turf. "I’m thrilled for the next couple of days and for watching these players develop throughout their careers," she continued. "There are a lot of future stars in this group.
From the moment I started speaking with them, I could feel their excitement about learning from me and Bronte. Playing on the same course that will host the senior Solheim Cup is a groundbreaking experience for them." Qualification for Team Europe was largely based on the PING Junior Soliman Cup rankings after the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in August. The top six European players earned automatic spots, while Van Dam exercised her captain’s picks to round out the roster.
Among her selections was Spain’s Marta Muñoz, who captured the R&A Girls’ Amateur title by defeating compatriot Adriana García Terol in a 36‑hole final. García Terol also qualified automatically, as did Switzerland’s Lana Guyot, a semi‑finalist in the same amateur championship. England contributed two players: Lauren Crump, the Annika Invitational Europe champion, qualified through the rankings, and Annabel Peaford received a captain’s pick. The United States field featured standout A.J.G.A.
No. 1 Asterisk Talley, a two‑time Junior Solheim Cup participant who recently won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, as well as Amelie Zalsman, who posted top‑five finishes in every AGJA event she entered and was runner‑up at the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Anna Fang, a former 2024 Junior Solheim Cup hero, now sits 52nd in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings after a strong 2025 season that included a runner‑up finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Both Van Dam and Law bring personal experience to the role, having competed in the 2013 PING Junior Solheim Cup themselves. Their familiarity with the pressure of international junior competition is expected to be a valuable asset for the European squad.
The United States roster also boasts notable alumni such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee, all of whom have previously represented the U.S. in the Junior Solheim Cup.
Europe’s side can point to past participants like Charley Hull, Georgia Hall and, of course, future Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist, underscoring the depth of talent on both teams. The match schedule is straightforward: on Monday, September 7, six four‑ball matches and six foursomes will be played, followed by twelve singles matches on Tuesday, September 8. The format ensures that every player will have multiple opportunities to influence the outcome. Fans eager to see whether Europe can reclaim the Junior Solheim Cup can tune in to Sky Sports for live coverage of the event and the subsequent senior Solheim Cup, which runs from September 11‑13.
The tournament also offers a chance for golf enthusiasts to explore more than 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through Sky Sports' booking platform. In summary, while Team USA enters as the defending champion and the statistical favorite, Anne Van Dam’s belief in her squad’s fighting spirit, combined with the historic setting and the added motivation of playing on the same grounds as the senior Solheim Cup, set the stage for a compelling showdown. The young golfers will not only compete for a trophy but also gain invaluable experience that could shape the next generation of elite women’s golf.
The question now is whether Europe’s determination will translate into a decisive victory or if the United States will maintain its dominance in the junior ranks.