Anna Nordqvist could not hide her delight after Team Europe clinched the Solheim Cup, praising every competitor on the field and confirming that putting Charley Hull out first in the Sunday singles was an obvious decision. The European side reclaimed the trophy on a damp final day at Bernardus Golf, securing seven of the twelve points on offer to edge Team USA 15-13.
After a dramatic finish the previous afternoon, when Jennifer Kupcho’s late birdies forced a tie and kept the contest alive, Europe rallied and delivered their first outright victory since 2021. "This win feels amazing," Nordqvist told Sky Sports. "We have worked incredibly hard all week and over the past two years, not just me but the entire support crew.
The staff have been phenomenal, making it easy for us to focus on our game, and the atmosphere in the camp has been fantastic. Everyone has been a great teammate." She added that the mood on the first tee was electric. "Walking off the course yesterday, we were buzzing for today’s matches.
I was genuinely impressed with every player and caddie who stepped up to the tee. It was a sea of blue on the leaderboard early on, and we talked a lot about the quick starts we needed given the course conditions.
I’m incredibly proud of the team for hitting the ground running and staying strong to the very end." The captain also addressed criticism from USA captain Angela Stanford regarding the set‑up of the course, dismissing the comments as irrelevant to the European performance. Nordqvist highlighted that the statistics from the previous day clearly pointed to Hull and Lottie Woad as the most prolific birdie‑makers, which justified their placement at the top of the singles order.
"Putting Charley first was a no‑brainer," Nordqvist explained. "The numbers from yesterday showed that Charley and Lottie were among the top four in birdies for the week.
Even though they hadn’t accumulated many points yet, they were playing the toughest matches and their form was undeniable. People often overlook how strong the field is and how high the level of golf has been over the last three days." Hull’s performance lived up to the captain’s confidence.
She opened the singles with a 3&2 win over Megan Khang, securing her first full point of the competition and contributing to Europe’s historic achievement of winning six of the first eight singles matches. Hull reflected on her own experience, acknowledging the frustration of missed opportunities earlier in the week but emphasizing her steady play in the decisive match. "I’ve given myself a lot of chances and it’s been frustrating at times," Hull said.
"I didn’t finish many holes today, but I kept my composure, hit a lot of greens and managed the tough weather. After talking to vice‑captain Mel Reid, I realized I was one of the top three birdie‑makers this week, even though I was up against Yealimi Noh, who has been on fire lately. In match play you can play well and still miss the putts, but I’m happy to have contributed a point.
It’s better than none!" Lottie Woad also broke her personal drought, defeating Auston Kim to move Europe to 14 points and sparking jubilant celebrations among the home crowd. She later secured the decisive point by beating Jennifer Kupcho, sealing the victory for the hosts. "Winning was crucial for me," Woad admitted. "I was feeling disappointed because I was playing solid golf but not getting the points, and I thought I was letting the team down.
The captains reminded me that I was third on birdies, so I knew I was playing well. Golf can be unpredictable, but in the end I made the winning putt." The tournament also featured notable moments such as Hull’s dominant 6&4 victory over Korda in the previous year’s singles, and the English pair’s narrow escape from becoming the first Solheim players to appear in five sessions without a win. Their earlier defeats, including a record‑tying 6&5 loss in the Saturday foursomes, added extra pressure to deliver on Sunday.
Beyond the Solheim Cup, the Ladies European Tour will head to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, while the LPGA Tour takes a brief hiatus before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship in late September. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, scheduled for September 8‑10. Fans can stay updated on Sky Sports offers or stream the action on NOW without a contract.