Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist was quick to reject the notion that the Bernardus Golf course had been deliberately set up to favor the European side during the Solheim Cup. After a tightly contested event in the Netherlands, Nordqvist’s team clinched a narrow 15‑13 win over the United States in the final singles matches. The competition had been dead‑locked at 8‑8 after the first two days, with each side sharing the morning foursomes and afternoon four‑ball sessions. When the pressure shifted to the singles on Sunday, Europe managed to edge ahead, securing the decisive points that handed them the trophy.
In the post‑tournament press conference, U.S. captain Angela Stanford expressed frustration over what she perceived as an unfair disadvantage caused by the slower greens.
"Europe played well. I don’t think we played badly; we simply didn’t convert enough putts," she said.
"If you listen to my record, I’ve always said that European players putt better. I still can’t explain why that is, though I have a theory I’m not ready to share." Stanford also hinted that she had not built a strong relationship with the course superintendent, which she believed might have contributed to the unexpected green speeds.
When asked if the greens were playing slower than expected, she replied, "Even when we arrived in July, they were faster than we had anticipated. It wasn’t the rain either. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility to have the team prepared for those conditions." She added a note of self‑criticism, admitting that she had not emphasized the need for a more aggressive putting approach enough.
"I’m kicking myself for not pushing the team harder on that point. Adjusting a putting technique on the fly is extremely difficult, and I wish I had driven that message home more forcefully," Stanford lamented. Nordqvist was taken aback by the implication that the course set‑up was skewed against the Americans.
"We are playing in Europe in September, and we all know how the weather can change the playing conditions," she explained. "I don’t buy the idea that the course was manipulated to suit Europe.
These athletes compete on the same venues week after week on the tour, so there’s no advantage to be had through set‑up alone." She described how the course had felt during the tournament. "When we arrived in July it was an exceptionally hot and dry summer, which made the fairways and greens firmer than usual.
Over the past couple of weeks it rained heavily, and this week we saw even more rain, which softened the surface considerably. If anything, the greens were playing softer than any of us had expected, but that’s a function of the weather, not any intentional course preparation." The Americans had a moment of jubilation on Saturday evening when Jennifer Kupcho sank two spectacular putts to win a crucial match, leveling the overall score at 8‑8 heading into the final day instead of trailing 9‑7. Stanford was careful not to suggest that the team had reached an emotional high point too early. "It’s a delicate balance.
You never want to dampen a team’s momentum after a big win," she said. "The worst thing I could have done would be to tell the players to pull back and lose that energy." She noted that the team needed to manage the emotional high responsibly.
"We’ve never experienced a surge like that again, but the players handled it well. After talking with Kupcho and the rest of the group, they acknowledged they got a good rest but also admitted it took a moment to settle because the excitement was so intense," Stanford added.
Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, which begins on Thursday. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will take a brief hiatus before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship scheduled for September 25‑27.
The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 and will be hosted by Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10. Fans can stay up to date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract on the NOW platform.
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