Anna Nordqvist could not hide her delight after Team Europe clinched the Solheim Cup, praising every competitor on the field and explaining why she felt it was an obvious choice to let Charley Hull start the Sunday singles. The European side reclaimed the trophy on a damp final day at Bernardus Golf, capturing seven of the twelve points on offer to edge Team USA 15-13.
The momentum shift came after a dramatic finish on Saturday when Jennifer Kupcho’s late birdies forced a tie, but Europe responded with vigor to secure their first outright victory since 2021. "This win feels amazing," Nordqvist told Sky Sports. "We’ve put in a massive amount of work over the past week and the two years leading up to this, not just me but the entire support crew.
The staff have been incredible, making it easy for us to focus on our golf, and the atmosphere around the camp has been fantastic. Everyone has been a great teammate." She added that the energy on the first tee on Sunday was palpable.
"When we left the course yesterday we were buzzing for today, and I was genuinely impressed by every player and caddie who stepped up to that tee ready to compete. It was clear the board was blue early on, and we talked a lot about the fast starts we needed given the course conditions. I’m extremely proud of the team for both their strong opening and their finish." Hull’s performance in the singles reinforced Nordqvist’s decision. Two years earlier Hull had beaten Korda 6&4, and despite only half a point from the first four sessions, she delivered a full point on Sunday, beating Megan Khang 3&2 without ever falling behind.
"Putting Charley first was a no‑brainer," Nordqvist said. "The statistics from yesterday showed Charley and Lottie Woad were among the top four birdie makers for the week. Even though they hadn’t accumulated many points yet, they were playing very tough matches.
People often underestimate how good these players are and how high the overall level of golf has been over the last three days." Both English players were in danger of becoming the first Solheim participants to sit through five sessions without a win, after suffering a record‑tying 6&5 loss in the Saturday foursomes. Hull, however, turned the tide with a steady, green‑in‑regulation game despite the challenging weather.
"I’ve given myself many chances and it’s been frustrating at times," she admitted. "I didn’t finish a lot of putts today, but I stayed steady, hit a lot of greens, and the conditions were tough, so I just stuck with it." She recalled a pep talk from vice‑captain Mel Reid: "You’re the third player on both teams with the most birdies this week, and you’re up against Yealimi Noh, who has been sinking everything lately!" Hull acknowledged that match‑play can be cruel, but she was satisfied with the point she earned.
"It’s only one and a half points for me this week, but it’s better than none," she said. Lottie Woad also broke her personal drought, securing her first Solheim point by beating Auston Kim and pushing the hosts to 14 points, sparking jubilant celebrations.
She later added a decisive win over Carlota Ciganda, sealing the home victory. "Winning was crucial for me," Woad explained.
"I was disappointed, feeling like I was playing well but not scoring, and thought I was letting the team down. The captains reminded me I was third in birdies, so I just had to trust my game. In the end, I hit the winning putt." The tournament’s success sets the stage for upcoming events on the Ladies European Tour, which heads to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, while the LPGA will pause before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship later in September. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, scheduled for September 8‑10.
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