The recent Solheim Cups have shown just how evenly matched Team Europe and Team USA have become, and there is little reason to expect this year’s showdown to break that pattern. Anna Nordqvist’s European squad will be looking to reclaim 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 – their first loss in the biennial competition since 2017 – and they are eager to reverse that outcome in front of a home crowd. Unlike the Ryder Cup, which has often produced decisive margins in recent editions (aside from the dramatic comeback by the United States at Bethpage Black last year), the Solheim Cup has tended to deliver nail‑biting finishes.
The last three Solheim Cups staged in Europe have produced the three closest results in the tournament’s history. In 2015 and 2019 the contest was decided by a single point, and the 2023 edition ended in a historic 14‑14 tie.
Each of those events offered its own brand of drama: Team USA staged a record‑breaking singles rally to win in 2015, while Suzann Pettersen’s clutch putt on the 18th green secured a European triumph at Gleneagles four years later. Europe’s resilience was also on full display in Spain, where after being swept in the opening Friday session, Pettersen’s side clawed back to reach the 14‑point threshold needed for victory.
Even earlier, the 2011 Dublin showdown was decided by just two points after an injury forced Cristie Kerr to withdraw from the singles matches. In total, the last four contests on European soil have produced a combined winning margin of only six points, underscoring how tightly contested the event has become.
When you compare the current line‑ups, the picture is equally balanced. Both teams feature players who are in top form, occupy high spots in the world rankings, and have substantial Solheim Cup experience. Predicting a winner on Sunday evening is therefore a challenge. Traditionally, Europe has often been cast as the underdog because the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings contain more American players in the upper echelons.
However, this year Europe actually boasts a larger contingent inside the top ten than the United States. Charley Hull is making her eighth consecutive appearance for Europe, while world No.
7 Lottie Woad, although technically a rookie, has already claimed two LPGA Tour victories in just over a year as a professional. Nordqvist can call upon five players from the world’s top 35: Esther Henseleit, fresh off a runner‑up finish at the AIG Women’s Open, and the consistently competitive Maja Stark and Celine Boutier, both regular threats on the LPGA Tour. Team USA, on the other hand, enjoys depth in the rankings with nine players inside the top 50. Their lowest‑ranked participant, rookie Lindy Duncan, sits at world No.
66, whereas five European players – including all four of the captain’s picks – are positioned outside that threshold. This contrast highlights the differing strategies each captain has employed in assembling their squads. "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 I think home advantage makes a huge difference." Her assessment captures the sentiment that the supportive Dutch crowd could tip the scales in Europe’s favour.
Beyond the rankings, recent form offers further clues. While Nelly Korda has enjoyed a spectacular start to the LPGA season – winning four tournaments and never finishing worse than eighth in a ten‑event stretch – very few other players from either side have secured victories in 2026. Lauren Coughlin’s triumph at the Aramco Championship stands as the sole LPGA win by an American Solheim Cup participant this year. From the European camp, only Boutier and Woad have managed to capture titles on American soil.
Hull, who captured the PIF Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour in February, entered the competition with the confidence of a recent winner and the bragging rights of having thumped Korda 6&4 in the Sunday singles two years prior. She already holds 15 Solheim Cup match wins – the most by any player before turning 30 – and only Annika Sörenstam boasts a higher winning‑points percentage among Europeans with comparable experience. Davies urged Hull to "step up and lead" Europe again, citing her powerful tee shots, relaxed demeanor, and extensive match‑play experience.
Nordqvist echoed this call, noting that Hull’s personality can energise the team room: "You’ve just got to let Charley be Charley. It was really nice to see how much she enjoyed the Solheim Cup last time – she lights up the team room just with her personality.
I can’t wait to see her tee it up." While some have speculated that Nordqvist might have named herself a captain’s pick after a strong summer, she dismissed the notion and instead selected four younger players to round out her roster. A tied‑seventh finish at the Evian Championship sparked those rumors, as did consecutive top‑30 finishes in subsequent events. Meanwhile, veteran Georgia Hall missed qualification for the first time since 2015, and Madelene Sagström sat out due to maternity. The squad also includes Leona Maguirе, the heroine of Europe’s 2021 victory on foreign soil, and rising talents such as Julia Lopez Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes, all of whom will be eager to prove themselves on the sport’s biggest stage.
"We have a lot of power in this group and I think we’ll be really strong this year," Nordqvist said. "It’s going to be a big change, but we have such a solid core of girls that will make the rest of the players feel comfortable and confident." Historically, Europe’s decision to select three rookies as captain’s picks – a strategy employed in 2011 and again in 2021 – has resulted in victories both times. Nordqvist hopes to complete a hat‑trick of wins by repeating that formula.
Who will ultimately lift the Solheim Cup? Fans can watch Team Europe’s quest to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports, with all three days of action (September 11‑13) broadcast on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also explore the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the competition without a contract via NOW.