Team Europe seized the Solheim Cup back from the United States with a dramatic singles session that ended 15‑13 in their favour on a rain‑soaked Sunday at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Entering the final day the teams were dead‑locked at eight points each, meaning Europe needed at least 6.5 points from the singles matches to clinch the trophy. Two years after a defeat on American soil, the Europeans entered the day with confidence, bolstered by Charley Hull’s early lead as she defeated Megan Khang 3&2, putting the first point on the board for the continent.
The singles action unfolded with a flurry of momentum swings. Anna Nordqvist’s side briefly surged ahead in eight of the twelve matches, and the lead widened when Sweden’s Linn Grant beat Hong Kong’s Angel Yin, capping a flawless week for Grant. However, Team USA never gave up; Alison Lee staged a remarkable comeback, overturning a four‑hole deficit to edge out Germany’s Esther Henseleit 1 up, injecting fresh hope for the Americans. World No.
1 Nelly Korda responded for the United States, beating rookie Mimi Rhodes 4&3 and restoring parity. Yet Europe continued to pile on points as France’s Nastasia Nadaud, Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez each secured victories, nudging the Europeans ever closer to the required total. The pivotal moment arrived when England’s Lottie Woad defeated South Korea’s Auston Kim, lifting the host nation to 14 points and sparking jubilant celebrations among the European camp. Veteran Spanish player Carlota Ciganda, who had already guaranteed at least a half‑point, then delivered the decisive blow by beating American star Jennifer Kupcho, sealing a home‑soil triumph for Europe.
Earlier in the tournament, Kupcho’s spectacular birdies on Saturday night had convinced Team USA captain Angela Stanford that the tide was turning in their favor. The final day, however, saw Europe seize control. Hull, who had previously thrashed Korda 6&4 in the 2022 singles, was again entrusted with the opening match.
She opened with a birdie‑free par on the first hole, never relinquished the lead, matched Korda’s birdie on the eighth, and then dominated both back‑nine par‑fives to close out a convincing win. Hull reflected on her performance, saying, “I’ve given myself a lot of chances this week, which has been frustrating at times. I didn’t make many birdies today, but I stayed steady and hit a lot of greens.” Her consistency proved vital for Europe’s overall success. Grant’s 4&3 victory over Yin placed her among an elite group of eight‑time Solheim Cup participants who have recorded a perfect 4‑0‑0 record in the event.
Lee matched Grant’s record by rallying from four down with just seven holes left, stunning Henseleit and keeping the United States in contention. Korda’s win over Rhodes was hailed as her best showing of the week, yet Europe’s three other rookies also delivered points.
Nadaud dispatched Andrea Lee 3&2, marking her third win in her debut, while Lopez Ramirez capped an unbeaten first appearance by defeating Yealimi Noh. Madsen had earlier bested Allisen Corpuz, and Woad recovered from a three‑hole losing streak on the back‑nine to clinch her match against Kim, leaving Europe perched on the brink of victory.
Ciganda, who had built an early lead against Kupcho, secured the winning point and expressed her delight: “I’m so happy. We had a fantastic team all week, arguably one of the best squads we’ve fielded in recent years.” Team USA’s rookie Lindy Duncan halted Maja Stark’s perfect record, while Lauren Coughlin handed Leona Maguire her first Solheim singles loss, narrowing the margin. In the bottom match, Rose Zhang beat Celine Boutier 2 up, leaving the Frenchwoman without a point for the tournament. European captain Anna Nordqvist praised the collective effort: “There’s been immense hard work over the past two years, not just from me but from the entire support staff.
Everyone made it easy for the players to focus on golf. The vibe was great all week, teammates were supportive, and we emphasized fast starts given the course conditions. I’m incredibly proud of how we started strong and finished even stronger.” U.S.
captain Angela Stanford acknowledged Europe’s resilience: “We did many things right leading up to this event, and the players fought hard. The Europeans played superbly today.
When you have your backs against the wall and nothing to lose, you play with freedom, and that’s exactly what they did.” Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, commencing Thursday. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will pause for a brief intermission before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship slated for September 25‑27.
The next Solheim Cup is scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, set for September 8‑10. Fans can stay updated on Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract on NOW, and golfers can find the best rates for tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.