Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist was swift to reject any insinuations that the Bernardus Golf course had been deliberately configured to advantage the European side during the Solheim Cup. The Swedish veteran, who led Europe to a narrow 15-13 triumph over the United States after the final singles matches in the Netherlands, made it clear that the venue was not engineered to favor her team. The competition had been evenly poised at 8‑8 after the first two days of foursomes and four‑ball play, but USA captain Angela Stanford voiced frustration after the event, suggesting that the slower greens had put her side at a disadvantage throughout the tournament. Stanford’s comments, delivered at the post‑tournament press conference, hinted that the playing surface might have been a factor in the United States’ inability to close out the match.
"Europe played well. I don’t think we played badly; we just didn’t make enough putts," Stanford said. "If you listen to everything I’ve ever said, Europeans always putt better.
I don’t know why. I still don’t know why. I have a theory, but I’m not going to share it right now.
Apparently I didn’t get to know the superintendent as well as I should have." When pressed for clarification, Stanford added that the greens seemed faster than she had anticipated, even though they had been playing quickly when the teams arrived in July. She dismissed rain as a cause, noting that the weather had been dry earlier in the summer and only recently turned wet. Stanford took responsibility for the team’s preparation, saying, "It’s my job to get the team ready, and I’m kicking myself for not pushing harder on the putting fundamentals. Changing the way you putt is extremely difficult, and I wish I had emphasized that more." Nordqvist, who was asked about Stanford’s remarks during her own press conference, appeared mildly surprised by the suggestion that the greens were set up to benefit Europe.
"We’re in Europe in September, and we know how the weather can behave," she explained. "I don’t really buy the idea that the course was tailored for Europe. These players compete on the same courses week after week, so they’re used to a variety of conditions." She continued, "We arrived in July during an unusually hot and dry spell, which made the course play a bit differently.
The main challenge was managing firmness. Then, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had a lot of rain, and this week it’s been especially wet. If anything, the greens were softer than we expected, but that’s just the weather – something we can’t control." The American side had a moment of drama on Saturday evening when Jennifer Kupcho sank two clutch putts to clinch a late win for the visitors, tying the overall score at 8‑8 and preventing Europe from entering the final day with a 9‑7 lead.
Stanford, however, dismissed any notion that the U.S. team had reached an emotional peak too early. "It’s a delicate balance because you never want to dampen that high," Stanford said.
"The worst thing I could do would be to tell the players to pull back from that momentum. We won’t see a moment like that again, and I think they handled it well.
I spoke with Kupcho and the rest of the team, and they said they felt refreshed but also needed a minute to settle after such an intense finish." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will shift its focus to Spain for the La Sella Open, which begins on Thursday at La Sella Golf Resort. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will take a brief hiatus before resuming with the Walmart N Arkansas Championship scheduled for September 25‑27. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 and will be hosted at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream matches without a contract on the NOW platform.
Golf enthusiasts are also invited to book tee times at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the provided booking service. Overall, the 2026 Solheim Cup highlighted the fine margins that separate victory from defeat. While the United States raised concerns about course conditions, Europe’s captain emphasized adaptability and the inevitable influence of weather.
Both teams displayed resilience and skill, setting the stage for future editions of the prestigious biennial competition.