Team Europe restored its hold on the Solheim Cup on a dramatic Sunday at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, edging Team USA 15‑13 after a day of gripping singles play. The competition entered the final day tied at eight points each, meaning Europe needed at least 6.5 points from the twelve singles matches to clinch the trophy.
Two years after a defeat on American soil, the Europeans entered the showdown with confidence, and Charley Hull set the tone early by defeating Megan Khang 3&2, giving Europe the first point of the day and an early psychological edge. The singles sessions proved to be a roller‑coaster of momentum swings. Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, who captained the side, saw her team briefly surge ahead in eight of the twelve matches. Linn Grant added to the lead by beating Angel Yin 4&3, completing an unbeaten week and becoming only the ninth player in Solheim Cup history to finish 4‑0‑0.
Grant’s victory pushed Europe further ahead, but the United States refused to surrender. Alison Lee produced a remarkable comeback, overturning a four‑hole deficit to win 1 up against Germany’s Esther Henseleit, injecting fresh hope into the American camp. World No.
1 Nelly Korda, who had been a dominant force for the USA throughout the tournament, leveled the score when she comfortably beat rookie Mimi Rhodes 4&3. However, Europe’s depth shone through as Nastasia Nadaud, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Julia Lopez Ramirez each secured crucial points, narrowing the gap and keeping the pressure on the Americans. Host nation player Lottie Woad delivered a pivotal win over Auston Kim, taking the European total to 14 points and sparking celebrations among the crowd. Her victory also guaranteed that veteran Carlota Ciganda would secure at least a half‑point.
Ciganda, who had helped Europe retain the Cup in 2023 with a decisive singles win in Spain, lived up to expectations by defeating the United States’ top‑ranked player Jennifer Kupcho, sealing the overall victory for Europe on home soil. The day’s drama was amplified by the weather. Earlier on Saturday, Kupcho’s clutch birdies had convinced Team USA captain Angela Stanford that the tide was turning in America’s favor.
Yet the rain‑soaked conditions on Sunday seemed to favor the Europeans, who quickly regained control. Hull’s performance was a masterclass in consistency. After contributing half a point in the first four sessions alongside Woad, she was entrusted with the opening singles match.
Hull opened with a birdie‑free par, then matched Korda’s birdie on the eighth hole and proceeded to dominate the two back‑nine par‑fives, ultimately winning 6&4. "I’ve been giving myself a lot of chances and it’s been frustrating when they don’t pay off," Hull reflected. "I didn’t make many birdies today, but I stayed steady and hit a lot of greens." Grant’s flawless record was highlighted by her 4&3 triumph over Yin, making her only the ninth player ever to finish a Solheim Cup with a perfect 4‑0‑0 score. Lee matched that record on the American side by rallying from four down with seven holes to play, ultimately winning 1 up against Henseleit.
"I just tried to stay consistent," Lee said. "The front nine was tough with the rain, and I couldn’t create birdie chances, but the weather cleared and my game improved." Korda’s 4&3 win over Rhodes was the standout performance for the United States, yet Europe’s three other rookies also delivered points. Nadaud defeated Andrea Lee 3&2, marking her third win of a debut, while Lopez Ramirez capped an unbeaten debut by beating Yealimi Noh. Madsen had already bested Allisen Corpuz earlier, and Woad recovered from a three‑hole losing streak on the back nine to secure her win over Kim, keeping Europe on the brink of victory.
Ciganda, who had built an early lead against Kupcho, sealed the decisive point for Europe. "I’m so happy," she exclaimed. "We had a great team all week, probably one of the best in recent years." The United States saw a few setbacks in the final matches. Rookie Lindy Duncan halted Maja Stark’s perfect record, and Lauren Coughlin handed Leona Maguire her first Solheim singles loss, narrowing the margin.
Rose Zhang beat Celine Boutier 2 up in the bottom match, leaving the Frenchwoman without a point for the week. Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist praised the collective effort: "There’s been a tremendous amount of hard work over the past two years, not just from me but from the whole support staff. The helpers made it easy for the players to focus on golf.
We had a great vibe all week, everyone was a true teammate. We talked a lot about fast starts because of the course conditions, and I’m incredibly proud of the players for starting strong and finishing even stronger." Team USA captain Angela Stanford acknowledged Europe’s resilience: "We did a lot of things right leading up to this, and the players fought hard.
The Europeans played great today; they had their backs against the wall, nothing to lose, and that’s exactly what they did. They came out and played well, so good for them." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort beginning Thursday, while the LPGA Tour pauses for a brief hiatus before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship scheduled for September 25‑27. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, set for September 8‑10.
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