The gap between Team Europe and Team USA has been razor‑thin in recent Solheim Cups, and there is little to suggest that this week’s showdown will break that pattern. Anna Nordqvist’s European side is back on home soil at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, hoping to reclaim the trophy after a 15.5‑12.5 defeat in Virginia two years ago – the first loss for Europe in the biennial event since 2017. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans a chance to witness another closely contested battle.
Unlike the Ryder Cup, which has often produced large victory margins in its latest editions, the Solheim Cup has consistently delivered nail‑biting finishes. The last three Solheim Cups staged in Europe have produced the three narrowest outcomes in the tournament’s history. In 2015 and 2019 the competition was decided by a single point, and the 2023 edition ended in a historic 14‑14 tie.
Each of those events provided its own brand of drama: a record‑setting singles comeback by the United States in 2015, and Suzann Pettersen’s clutch putt on the 18th green to secure a European win at Gleneagles in 2019. The 2021 contest in Spain added another memorable chapter. After being swept in the opening Friday session, Pettersen’s teammates rallied in the singles matches, clawing back enough points to reach the 14‑point threshold and retain the cup on home ground. Even earlier, the 2011 Dublin showdown was decided by just two points, a margin that was influenced by Cristie Kerr’s injury‑forced withdrawal in the singles.
Over the past four editions on European soil, the combined winning margin has been a modest six points, underscoring how evenly matched the two teams have become. Looking ahead to this year’s event, the rosters appear almost identical in terms of current form, world rankings, and Solheim Cup experience. Predicting a winner is therefore as challenging as ever. Historically, Europe has often been cast as the underdog because the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings place a larger number of American players higher in the list.
However, Europe now boasts more players inside the top ten than the United States, narrowing that perceived gap. Charley Hull is making her eighth consecutive appearance for Europe, while world No. 7 Lottie Woad, despite being a rookie in name only, has already captured two LPGA Tour victories in just over a year as a professional.
Nordqvist can also call on five of the world’s top‑35 players: Esther Henseleit, who surged after a runner‑up finish at the AIG Women’s Open, and both Maja Stark and Celine Boutier, who are regular contenders on the LPGA Tour. Team USA, on the other hand, brings depth with nine players inside the world’s top‑50. Their lowest‑ranked participant, rookie Lindy Duncan, sits at No.
66, while five European players—including all four of the captain’s picks—rank outside the top‑50. This disparity in ranking depth adds another layer of intrigue to the matchup. "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—most of them play on the LPGA Tour—but I think home advantage makes such a difference." Beyond rankings, recent form offers mixed signals. While Nelly Korda has enjoyed a spectacular start to the LPGA season—winning four events and never finishing worse than eighth in a ten‑tournament stretch—few other players from either side have captured titles this year. Lauren Coughlin’s victory at the Aramco Championship is the sole American Solheim Cup player win on the LPGA Tour so far, whereas Boutier and Woad are the only Europeans to have won on U.S.
soil this season. Hull, who claimed the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour in February, arrives with the confidence of a recent champion and the bragging rights of a dominant 6&4 singles victory over Korda two years ago. She already holds 15 Solheim Cup match wins—more than any player before the age of 30 in the competition’s history—second only to Annika Sörenstam in winning‑percentage among frequent European representatives. Davies has urged Hull to "step up and lead" Europe again, citing her powerful tee shots and relaxed demeanor.
Nordqvist echoed that 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 wonderful to see how much she enjoyed the Solheim Cup last time—she energises the team just by being herself. I can’t wait to see her tee it up." There was speculation earlier in the season about Nordqvist potentially naming herself as a captain’s pick, given her strong summer results.
She dismissed the idea, opting instead to select four younger players to round out her squad. A tied‑seventh finish at the Evian Championship, followed by two top‑30 finishes, bolstered her case, while notable absences such as Georgia Hall (who missed qualification for the first time since 2015) and Madelene Sags tröm (who sat out due to childbirth) opened spots for emerging talent. Leona Maguire, the heroine of Europe’s 2021 victory on foreign soil, brings invaluable experience, while rising stars Julia Lopez Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes will test themselves on the sport’s biggest stage.
Nordqvist believes the team’s blend of power and cohesion will be decisive: "We have great power in there and I think we’ll be really strong this year. It’s a big change, but we have such a solid core group that will make the other players feel comfortable and confident." Historically, Europe’s decision to include three rookie captain’s picks in 2011 and 2021 both resulted in triumphs. Nordqvist hopes to replicate that success and complete a hat‑trick of victories for Europe.
Who will ultimately lift the Solheim Cup? Fans can watch Team Europe’s quest to regain the trophy live on Sky Sports, with all three days—September 11‑13—broadcast on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also explore the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract on NOW.