The recent Solheim Cup contests 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, with the event being broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Two years ago, Europe suffered a 15.5‑12.5 defeat in Virginia, marking their first loss in the biennial competition since 2017, and they are eager to reverse that outcome. Unlike the Ryder Cup, which has often produced decisive margins in recent years—aside from the dramatic comeback by the United States at Bethpage Black in the previous edition—the Solheim Cup has consistently delivered nail‑biting finishes.
The last three European venues have yielded the three closest results in the tournament’s history. In 2015 and 2019, Europe edged out the United States by a single point, while the 2023 match ended in an unprecedented 14‑14 tie. Each of those contests offered its own brand of excitement. In 2015, Team USA staged a record‑breaking singles rally to clinch the cup, while four years later Suzann Pettersen sank the decisive putt on the 18th green to hand Europe a victory at Gleneagles.
The Spanish edition added another memorable climax, with Europe recovering from a disastrous Friday opening session and fighting back in the singles to reach the required 14 points and retain the cup. Even earlier, the 2011 Dublin showdown was decided by a narrow two‑point margin after an injury forced Cristie Kerr to withdraw from the singles.
Across those four events on the Atlantic side, the combined winning margin has been a mere six points, underscoring how tightly contested the competition has become. This year’s rosters look similarly balanced in terms of recent form, world rankings, and Solheim Cup experience, making any prediction about the eventual champion a difficult task.
On paper, Team USA often enters as the favorite because the majority of its players compete full‑time on the LPGA Tour and dominate the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. However, Europe actually boasts a greater number of players inside the top ten this time around. Charley Hull is making her eighth straight appearance for Europe, while world No. 7 Lottie Woad, despite being labeled a rookie, has already captured two LPGA titles within a little more than a year of turning professional.
Nordqvist can also call upon five golfers ranked inside the world’s top 35: Esther Henseleit, who surged after a runner‑up finish at the AIG Women’s Open, plus Maja Stark and Celine Boutier, both regular contenders on the LPGA Tour. The United States, by contrast, has nine players inside the top 50, with the lowest‑ranked rookie Lindy Duncan sitting at world No. 66.
Five European players—including all four of the captain’s picks—rank outside that threshold, highlighting a slight depth advantage for the Americans. "I firmly believe it will come down to home advantage," veteran Dame Laura Davies 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 – but home advantage makes such a difference." The season’s early narrative has been dominated by Nelly Korda’s astonishing start on the LPGA Tour, where she claimed four victories and never finished worse than eighth across ten events. Apart from Korda, few players from either side have lifted a tournament in 2026.
Lauren Coughlin’s win at the Aramco Championship stands as the sole American Solheim Cup player’s victory on the LPGA Tour this year, while Boutier and Woad are the only Europeans to have won stateside. Hull, a recent winner of the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour, brings both experience and confidence. She famously defeated Korda 6&4 in the Sunday singles two years ago, adding a memorable chapter to her résumé.
Hull now holds 15 Solheim Cup match wins—more than any player under 30 in the competition’s history—second only to Annika Sörenstam in terms of winning‑points percentage among frequent European representatives. Davies has urged Hull to "step up and lead" Europe again, citing her power off the tee and relaxed demeanor.
Nordqvist echoed this sentiment, noting that Hull’s personality lights up the team environment. "You just have to let Charley be Charley," Nordqvist said to Sky Sports. "It was great to see how much she enjoyed the Solheim Cup last time – she energises the team room just by being herself. I can’t wait to see her tee it up." While some have suggested that Nordqvist might consider naming herself a captain’s pick after a strong summer, she dismissed the notion and instead selected four younger players to round out her squad.
A tied‑seventh finish at the Evian Championship sparked speculation, as did subsequent top‑30 finishes, but Nordqvist ultimately chose to keep the roster youthful. The team also includes seasoned campaigner Leona Maguire, the heroine of Europe’s 2021 victory on foreign soil, alongside rising talents Julia Lopez Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes, all of whom are eager to prove themselves on golf’s biggest stage. "We have a lot of power in the group and I think we’ll be really strong this year," Nordqvist asserted. "It will be a big change, but we have such a solid core that will make the other players feel comfortable and confident." Historically, Europe’s decision to select three rookies as captain’s picks in 2011 and 2021 both resulted in triumphs.
Nordqvist hopes to add a third such success and complete a hat‑trick of victories. Will Europe finally reclaim the Solheim Cup?
Fans can watch Team Europe’s quest live on Sky Sports, with all three days of action—September 11‑13—available on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also explore the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract on NOW.