Anne Van Dam, the PING Junior Solheim Cup captain for Team Europe, is confident that her youthful contingent has a realistic shot at reclaiming the trophy from the United States at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Van Dam insists that her players possess the grit to "fight to the last putt" and will leave nothing on the course in pursuit of a win. The upcoming Junior Solheim Cup pits twelve of Europe’s finest junior golfers, aged 12 to 18, against their American counterparts on September 7 and 8.
The event is scheduled just three days before the senior Solheim Cup kicks off on September 11, with both competitions being broadcast live on Sky Sports. This will be the first occasion that the junior and senior matches share the same venue and week, giving the young players a rare taste of the atmosphere that surrounds the elite event. In a historic twist for 2026, the captain of the junior side, Van Dam, will also serve as a vice‑captain for the senior Solheim Cup team under Anna Nordqvist.
Her former teammate from a previous Junior Solheim Cup, Bronte Law, has been appointed as Van Dam’s vice‑captain for the junior squad, creating a leadership group that blends recent playing experience with seasoned mentorship. Across the Atlantic, Morgan Pressel leads Team USA. The American side enters the contest as the defending champions after their 2024 triumph at the Army‑Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia.
Pressel’s squad is widely regarded as the favorite, but Van Dam remains upbeat about Europe’s prospects. "My team are all fighters," Van Dam said in a pre‑event interview.
"They each have big personalities and a feisty attitude. I know they will battle hard right to the final putt. That kind of determination isn’t something you can teach; it either exists or it doesn’t, and every player on our roster has it." She added, "I’m thrilled to see that fire in action and to watch them fight for every point. Europe may be trailing slightly in the overall standings, but I’d love to see us close the gap and maybe even overtake the Americans." Historically, Team USA leads the all‑time Junior Solheim Cup record with eight wins, four losses, and one tie.
However, the most recent meeting on European soil in 2023 saw Europe dominate, winning 15‑9 in Spain. That result fuels Van Dam’s optimism and underscores the potential for a home‑field advantage at Bernardus Golf. Van Dam highlighted the excitement of the young golfers: "I’m looking forward to the next couple of days and to watching these players develop throughout their careers.
There are a lot of future stars on both teams. From the moment I started speaking with my players, I could tell how eager they are to learn from me and Bronte. Playing on the same course that will host the senior Solheim Cup is a groundbreaking experience for them." Team selection for 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 automatically earned 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’s Lauren Crump, the Annika Invitational Europe champion, secured her place through the rankings, while her teammate Annabel Peaford was chosen as a captain’s pick. On the U.S. side, standout Asterisk Talley, a two‑time Junior Solheim Cup participant, headlines Pressel’s roster. Talley sits atop the Rolex AJGA rankings and recently won the U.S.
Women’s Amateur Championship. Amelie Zalsman has been in strong form, posting top‑five finishes in every AGJA event she entered and finishing runner‑up at the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Anna Fang, a key contributor to the 2024 U.S. victory, has risen to 52nd in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings after a runner‑up finish at the 2025 Rolex Tournament of Champions. Both captains bring personal Junior Solheim Cup experience to the table. Van Dam and Law both competed in the 2013 edition, while Pressel herself played for the United States in earlier years.
Former junior participants such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, Alison Lee (USA) and Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, and Anna Nordqvist (Europe) have since become prominent figures on the professional circuit, illustrating the event’s role as a pipeline for future talent. The competition format mirrors that of the senior event: on Monday, September 7, six four‑ball matches and six foursomes matches will be contested, followed by twelve singles matches on Tuesday, September 8. Every point will be crucial as both sides vie for the coveted Junior Solheim Cup trophy.
Fans eager to follow the action can watch Europe’s bid to reclaim the cup live on Sky Sports, with comprehensive coverage extending through the senior Solheim Cup from September 11‑13. For those looking to experience the venue firsthand, Bernardus Golf offers the chance to book a round at one of the United Kingdom and Ireland’s 1,700 courses, though availability may vary. 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 unique experience of playing on the same course as the senior Solheim Cup, sets the stage for a compelling showdown. The young athletes will not only compete for a trophy but also for the honor of representing their continents on a stage that could launch their future professional careers.