The chant "They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday!" rang out across the Team Europe bus on Sunday night after a dramatic home victory in the Solheim Cup, where Anna Nordqvist clinched the trophy for Europe by defeating Team USA on the final day. The match had been finely balanced heading into a rainy singles session at Bernardus Golf, with the Americans appearing to have the momentum after a tense Saturday four‑ball round that brought the score back to an 8‑8 tie. Jennifer Kupcho’s spectacular finish, sinking putts of more than 110 feet on her last two holes, gave her and Lindy Duncan a win over Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier.
Team USA captain Angela Stanford hailed that result as the moment that "turned the tide" in their favour. However, a video that surfaced later showing the American squad raising beers on their bus turned out to be a premature celebration, providing a psychological boost for the Europeans, who went on to win six of the eight singles matches and seize control of the competition. Lottie Woad’s decisive point is likely to be remembered as the clincher, pushing Europe to 14 points while Ciganda had already secured at least a half‑point. The Spaniard sealed her victory and made the final tally official.
The celebrations spilled over onto the course and into the trophy ceremony, highlighted by a viral clip of Dame Laura Davies handing out beers to the European team on their bus, with the revelry continuing well into the night. The final score of 15‑13 does not fully capture the dominance displayed by Nordqvist’s side on the last day. Team USA’s top‑order, aside from Nelly Korda and Alison Lee, failed to sustain the exuberance of the previous evening, leaving Europe largely untroubled. Carlota Ciganda, perhaps the player most enamoured with the Solheim Cup, evolved from cheering for Europe in the opening session to delivering clutch performances throughout the week.
She was instrumental on Friday, securing a half‑point with a dramatic final‑hole par alongside Julia Lopez Ramirez, preventing the United States from leading after day one. The following day, she fell victim to Kupcho’s birdie‑birdie finish, but she exacted revenge in the singles, becoming only the second player in Solheim history to clinch the winning point in two separate editions. "I was really happy to see that I was playing against Kupcho," Ciganda said.
"She’s a fighter, I’m a fighter. I knew she had no chance. I was like, ‘I want to kill you,’ so I had it very clear in my mind." Charley Hull and Lottie Woad made history as the first pairing to compete together in all four sessions, though the duo endured a difficult start, posting a record‑equalling 6&5 loss in the Saturday morning foursomes and earning just half a point despite being among the top four European birdie‑makers.
Nordqvist faced criticism for keeping the pair together on day two and for selecting Hull in the singles, a choice she later described as a "no‑brainer" after watching the 30‑year‑old earn Europe’s first point of the day. Hull described the week as "frustrating," noting that she and Woad struggled with putting until their singles victories saved the day.
"Being the leader of this team, we knew she [Hull] was going to deliver," Nordqvist added. "It was blue on the board early.
Lottie has been very steady this week – it was nice to see her finally hole some putts." The standout performer for Europe was Linn Grant, who transformed from a zero‑point player in the previous Solheim Cup to a minimum of four points in this edition, joining an elite group of only nine players to record a 4‑0 or better result. Grant’s three wins alongside Maja Stark and a commanding 4&3 singles victory over Angel Yin highlighted her remarkable turnaround after a season that saw her miss five of six cuts. Stark praised Grant’s consistency, saying, "Having a player like her on the team gives you confidence – you know exactly what she can do. For Anna, it was a no‑brainer to pair us together." All of Europe’s captain’s picks contributed at least 1.5 points.
Leona Maguire, in particular, set a new record by becoming the fastest player to reach ten Solheim Cup match wins, achieving the milestone in just 14 matches, one fewer than the previous record holder. Maguire briefly held the highest winning percentage in Solheim history until a loss with Celine Boutier in the four‑balls.
Meanwhile, Julia Lopez Ramirez, left out of Saturday’s lineup, finished unbeaten in her two matches. Stanford defended her own selections, noting that her three picks delivered five points for the United States and that the course demanded high‑ball hitters, which her choices provided.
The tournament also showcased the emergence of new talent. After a strong showing at the AIG Women’s Open, Danielle Rhodes became a viable option for future Solheim Cups. Her runner‑up finish at Royal Lytham secured a captain’s pick for Europe, and she immediately made an impact, forming a winning partnership with Nastasia Nadaud – the first rookie duo to claim two victories together at a Solheim Cup. "People questioned sending out two rookies, but I said why not?" Nordqvist explained.
"They delivered. I never felt like they were rookies." Nadaud, who was ranked just inside the world’s top 150 a year ago, contributed a 4&3 foursomes win with Rhodes and a 3&2 singles triumph over Andrea Lee, earning three points for Europe. "Getting three points for Europe is just absolutely crazy – I have no words," she said, already looking ahead to future selections.
Four rookies making an immediate impact underscored Europe’s depth, especially as the home victory came without recent Solheim regulars such as Georgia Hall, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Madelene Sagstrom. This was also the first Solheim Cup since 2007 in which Anna Nordqvist did not play, having announced her mid‑season retirement and ruling herself out of a captain’s pick.
When asked if she might consider returning as captain for the 2028 edition, she replied, "You never say never. I don’t know what my future holds." When Europe last won on home soil in 2019, Catriona Matthew returned as captain to lead them to an away victory the following year. Whether Nordqvist will steer the ship in Virginia or a new leader will emerge, the next Solheim Cup, scheduled for September 8‑10, 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, promises another chapter of fierce competition and unforgettable moments.