Anne Van Dam, the PING Junior Solheim Cup captain for Team Europe, is confident that her young squad has a realistic shot at reclaiming the trophy from the United States at Bernardus Golf this week. She emphasizes that her players possess the tenacity to "fight to the last putt" and will not give up until the final stroke is sunk. The competition pits twelve of Europe’s finest junior golfers, aged 12 to 18, against their American counterparts on September 7 and 8 at the Bernardus Golf course in the Netherlands.
This junior event is scheduled just three days before the senior Solheim Cup opens on September 11, with both tournaments being broadcast live on Sky Sports. For the first time in history, the PING Junior Solheim Cup and the senior Solheim Cup will share the same venue and be played in the same week, creating a unique atmosphere of continuity and excitement for fans and players alike.
The 2026 edition also marks a historic first for the captaincy: Van Dam will simultaneously serve as a vice‑captain for the senior Solheim Cup team under Anna Nordqvist, blending her junior leadership experience with senior‑level responsibilities. Van Dam’s former teammate from a previous Junior Solheim Cup, Bronte Law, has been appointed as her vice‑captain, adding another layer of familiarity and shared experience to the European coaching staff. Across the Atlantic, former tour professional Morgan Pressel leads Team USA. Pressel’s side enters the event as the favorites, having defended their title successfully at the Army‑Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia in 2024.
Despite the odds, Van Dam remains upbeat about Europe’s prospects. "My team are all fighters," she said. "They all have big personalities and a feisty attitude.
I know they will battle hard to the last putt – that kind of grit is either there or it isn’t, and every player on our roster has it." She added that Europe is currently a little behind in the overall points standings, but she hopes the young golfers can close the gap. "I’m excited to see them give everything they have. Europe may be trailing, but I’d love to see us catch up and turn the tide," Van Dam explained. Historically, Team USA leads the all‑time Junior Solheim Cup record 8‑4‑1, yet the most recent meeting on European soil in 2023 saw Europe triumph with a 15‑9 victory in Spain.
Van Dam believes that momentum can be harnessed again, especially with the added motivation of playing on the same course that will host the senior Solheim Cup just days later. "It’s groundbreaking for these juniors to experience the same venue as the senior event," Van Dam noted.
"From the moment I started speaking with the players, I could feel their excitement about learning from me and Bronte, and about the chance to showcase their talent on such a prestigious stage." Selection for Team Europe combined automatic qualifiers and captain’s picks. The top six European players in the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings after the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in August earned automatic spots. Van Dam used her captain’s picks to add Spain’s Marta Muñoz, who captured the R&A Girls’ Amateur title by defeating 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 championship.
England contributed two players: Lauren Crump, the Annika Invitational Europe champion, qualified via the rankings, while Annabel Peaford was chosen as a captain’s pick. The roster blends seasoned juniors with fresh talent, offering a balanced mix of experience and hunger.
Team USA’s lineup features A‑star Asterisk Talley, who played for the United States in 2023 and 2024 and currently sits atop the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings after winning the US Women’s Amateur in August. Amelie Zalsman has been in fine form, posting top‑five finishes in all her AGJA starts and finishing runner‑up at the US Girls’ Junior Championship in July. Anna Fang, a former Junior Solheim Cup winner 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 personal history to the event: Van Dam and Law both played in the 2013 Junior Solheim Cup, while Pressel’s American squad includes veterans such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee, all of whom have Junior Solheim Cup experience. On the European side, past participants like Charley Hull, Georgia Hall and future senior captain Anna Nordqvist add depth and inspiration for the newcomers.
The format mirrors the senior competition: on Monday, September 7, six four‑ball matches and six foursomes will be contested, followed by twelve singles matches on Tuesday, September 8. The winner will claim the junior trophy and set the tone for the senior Solheim Cup that begins later in the week.
Fans can follow every swing live on Sky Sports, with coverage extending from the junior event through the senior Solheim Cup from September 11‑13. For those eager to experience the course themselves, Sky Sports offers streaming options and promotional packages for golf enthusiasts, while booking platforms list over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland for a round of golf. In summary, while Team USA enters as the defending champion and statistical favorite, Anne Van Dam’s belief in her squad’s fighting spirit, combined with the historic setting and the added incentive of playing on the same grounds as the senior Solheim Cup, creates a compelling narrative. The young Europeans are ready to fight every putt, and if they can translate that determination into results, the trophy could well return to Europe after a brief American reign.