Anne Van Dam, the captain of Team Europe’s PING Junior Soliman Cup, is brimming with confidence as her squad prepares to challenge the United States for the trophy at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. The 12‑member European contingent, all aged between 12 and 18, will face off against their American counterparts on September 7 and 8, with the event scheduled just three days before the senior Solheim Cup kicks off on September 11. Van Dam insists her players possess the grit to "fight to the last putt," a mindset she believes will be decisive in a competition that often hinges on a single stroke.
The upcoming Junior Solheim Cup is historic for several reasons. It will be the first occasion that both the junior and senior Solheim Cups share the same venue and week, creating a unique atmosphere where the rising stars can soak up the same energy that fuels the elite professionals.
Moreover, the 2026 edition marks a milestone in leadership structure: Van Dam will serve simultaneously as a junior team captain and as a vice‑captain for the senior Solheim Cup, supporting Anna Nordqvist in that role. Her former teammate, Bronte Law, will act as Van Dam’s vice‑captain on the junior side, adding further experience to the coaching staff. Team USA enters the contest as the defending champions, having captured the 2024 title at the Army‑Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. Morgan Pressel, a former major winner and seasoned leader, commands the American squad and is widely regarded as the favorite.
The United States currently leads the all‑time Junior Solheim Cup series 8‑4‑1, yet Europe’s most recent encounter on home soil in 2023 resulted in a convincing 15‑9 victory for the Europeans in Spain, demonstrating that the balance of power can shift quickly. Van Dam’s optimism is rooted in the character of her players. "All of my girls are fighters," she said.
"They each have big personalities and a feisty attitude that makes them willing to battle for every putt. That kind of mental toughness isn’t something you can teach; you either have it or you don’t, and every member of this team has it." She added that while Europe may be trailing in the overall points standings, she hopes the team can close the gap through relentless effort and determination.
The selection process for Team Europe blended automatic qualifiers with captain's picks. After the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in August, the top six European players in the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings earned automatic spots.
Van Dam used her discretion to add Spain’s Marta Muñoz, fresh off a 36‑hole victory over compatriot Adriana García Terol in the same championship, as a captain’s pick. García Terol, who secured her place through the rankings, will join Muñoz alongside Switzerland’s Lana Guyot, a semi‑finalist at the R&A event.
England’s Lauren Crump, the Annika Invitational Europe champion, also qualified automatically, while fellow Englishwoman Annabel Peaford was chosen as another captain’s pick. On the American side, standout junior talent includes Asterisk Talley, a two‑time Junior Solheim Cup participant who tops the Rolex AJGA rankings and recently triumphed at the U.S.
Women’s Amateur. Amelie Zalsman has posted a string of top‑five finishes on the AGJA circuit and was runner‑up at the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
Anna Fang, who helped the U.S. win in 2024, has risen to 52nd in the Women’s World Amateur Rankings after a runner‑up finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions in 2025. These players, together with seasoned junior stars such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee, give the United States a deep and experienced roster. Both captains bring personal experience to the table.
Van Dam and Law both competed in the 2013 Junior Solheim Cup, giving them insight into the pressures young golfers face on this stage. Their familiarity with the event’s format and expectations should help them mentor the new generation.
Pressel, meanwhile, has guided multiple U.S. teams and understands the nuances of international competition.
The competition format mirrors that of the senior event: six four‑ball matches and six foursomes on Monday, September 7, followed by twelve singles matches on Tuesday, September 8. Each match carries equal weight, meaning every point is vital and the outcome can swing dramatically based on a single decisive putt.
Beyond the immediate stakes, the Junior Soliman Cup offers participants a rare glimpse into the world of professional team golf. Playing on the same course that will host the senior Solheim Cup a few days later provides an inspirational backdrop.
Van Dam noted, "For these girls, competing on the same venue as the Solheim Cup is groundbreaking. It shows them what’s possible and fuels their ambition to one day stand on that same stage as professionals." The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with coverage extending through the senior Soliman Cup from September 11‑13. Fans can follow the action online or via the Sky Sports Golf app, ensuring that the excitement reaches a global audience. In addition to the competition itself, the tournament serves as a showcase for the future of women’s golf, highlighting emerging talent from both continents and offering a platform for sponsors, coaches, and fans to engage with the next generation of stars.
As the teams prepare to tee off, the central narrative remains clear: Europe’s young golfers, under Van Dam’s spirited leadership, are determined to fight every shot, every hole, and every putt until the final flag falls. Whether they can overturn the United States’ historical advantage remains to be seen, but the commitment to battle "to the last putt" promises a thrilling, closely contested showdown that could very well set the tone for the senior Solheim Cup that follows.