Team USA arrives in the Netherlands with a clear mission: to shake off the sting of recent near‑misses in overseas Solheim Cups and to successfully defend the trophy on foreign soil this week, with live coverage on Sky Sports. Led by captain Angela Stanford, the American squad lands at Bernardus Golf as the reigning champions after a 15.5‑12.5 victory over Europe in Virginia two years ago. This sets the stage for a rare chance at back‑to‑back titles, something the United States has not achieved since the 2017 campaign. The last time the Americans lifted the Solheim Cup in Europe was eleven years ago, when a dramatic comeback on the final day erased a 10‑6 deficit and secured a one‑point win in Germany.
Since then, the U.S. team has fallen agonisingly short in both of the most recent overseas editions.
In 2019 at Gleneagles, a single putt by Norway’s Suzann Pettersen in the singles matches handed Europe a one‑point victory. Two years later, at Finca Cortesin in Spain, the United States entered the final day with a commanding lead, only to see it evaporate and finish in a 14‑14 tie, allowing Europe to retain the cup. "Winning on foreign soil is always a huge challenge," said American golfer Andrea Lee during the pre‑tournament press conference.
"We played very well in Spain and came within a whisker of victory. It was heartbreaking to end in a tie and see Europe keep the cup, but many of us from that team are back this week.
We're highly motivated to keep the Solheim Cup and finally win abroad again." The American contingent travelled together, caddies included, from Atlanta to the Netherlands on Saturday. They spent the following day sight‑seeing in Amsterdam before turning their full attention to Solheim Cup preparations.
The camp’s attention to detail is evident in the design of their apparel and golf bags, which echo the styles that brought them success on foreign courses in 2007 in Sweden and 2015 in Germany. Alison Lee highlighted the competitive fire that the European players bring to the event. "The format seems to draw out the best in the European girls; they play spectacular golf and are fierce opponents. That's something we are preparing for," she explained.
"Traveling to Europe is always tough. I rarely play in rain or wind, but we expect those conditions.
If we can stay focused, play solid golf and develop good chemistry, we have a strong chance this year." Andrea Lee added a historical perspective: "If we win this week, it will be the fourth time the United States has captured the Solheim Cup on foreign soil. We're determined to add our name to that short list." Recent Solheim Cups have been tightly contested.
The margin of victory across the last four editions totals just six points, a stark contrast to the 24‑point swing seen in the last four Ryder Cups. This narrowness underscores how difficult it has been for Team USA to close out away matches. World No. 1 Nelly Korda reflected on the disappointment in Spain, noting that the tie allowed Europe to retain the cup.
"We played well, but the momentum never fully shifted our way while we were in Europe," she said. "Our captain, Ang Stanford, and the assistants have emphasized the need to rely on each other. When things get tough, we have to remember we’re here for one another, and we have a huge support network behind us." Veteran Angel Yin echoed that sentiment, saying, "We often come down to the final putt. Even though the situation is unfamiliar, we always put up a strong fight and continue learning." On the European side, the team room has been buzzing with off‑course activities such as ping‑pong, darts, and a quirky quiz featuring baby photos of the caddies.
Personalized gifts have been exchanged, adding a light‑hearted touch to the intense competition. Sweden’s captain, Annika Sorenstam, has assembled a youthful lineup that includes four rookies, while half the squad has never experienced a home Solheim Cup. Charley Hull, making her eighth consecutive appearance, remains a cornerstone for Europe. Hull noted, "When you're away, the pressure feels a bit less.
Both venues attract huge crowds, but the home atmosphere adds an extra layer of expectation." Only Carlota Ciganda matches Hull’s number of Solheim Cup appearances, having played for both Europe and the United States over her career. Ciganda expressed a personal wish to see her teammate Linn Grant (referred to as Nordqvist in the original text) retire from the LPGA Tour on a high note by winning for Europe.
"I would love to win for her, especially now that she’s announced her retirement. It would be a wonderful gift," Ciganda said. "She’s already achieved everything—multiple Solheim Cups, majors, and countless clutch putts—so a victory now would be special." Sky Sports Golf will broadcast at least twelve hours of live action over the first two days, beginning at 6 a.m. local time on Friday and Saturday, with the opening foursomes tee‑off at 6:40 a.m.
(7:40 a.m. local). The afternoon four‑ball sessions start at 12:05 p.m. (1:05 p.m.
local) on both days, and coverage will continue through the final putt. Sunday’s singles matches commence at 9 a.m., with the first tee‑off at 10:10 a.m. Sky Sports+ will stream the closing ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
on Sunday, while the opening ceremony on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. will reveal the first‑day pairings. Fans can watch Team Europe’s attempt to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports, with all three days of competition airing from September 11‑13.
For those looking to combine golf with travel, Sky Sports offers deals on booking rounds at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. By entering a city, course name, or postcode, golfers can find the best prices and secure a tee time for their next round. The question remains: who will emerge victorious in this tightly contested Solheim Cup?
With Team USA eager to erase past heartbreak and Europe determined to defend their home advantage, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown that promises high‑stakes golf, national pride, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.