Anna Nordqvist could not hide her enthusiasm after Team Europe secured the Solheim Cup, praising every participant and confirming that putting Charley Hull out first in the Sunday singles was an obvious choice. The Swedish veteran highlighted the collective effort that propelled Europe to a 15‑13 victory over the United States at the rain‑soaked Bernardus Golf Club, where the European side captured seven of the twelve points on offer in the final day’s matches. The win marked Europe’s first outright Solheim Cup success since 2021 and came after a dramatic climax on Saturday. Jennifer Kupcho’s late‑round birdies had briefly levelled the contest, but Europe rallied, turning the tide and ultimately sealing the trophy.
Nordqvist, speaking to Sky Sports, described the triumph as "a feeling that’s incredibly rewarding after weeks of relentless work by the players and the support staff behind the scenes." She continued, "The backing crew this week made everything smoother for us on the course, and the atmosphere in the team camp was fantastic. Everyone was supportive, and the camaraderie was evident from the moment we stepped onto the first tee." When asked about the decision to send Hull out first, Nordqvist said, "It was a no‑brainer.
The statistics from Saturday showed Charley and Lottie Woad were among the top four birdie‑makers of the week. Even though they hadn’t accumulated many points yet, they were playing very tough matches and demonstrated the kind of resilience we needed in the opening singles." She added that many spectators underestimate how strong the field was and how high the standard of golf had been throughout the three‑day event. Hull, who had previously thrashed Klara Korda 6&4 in the 2022 singles, was again entrusted with the opening point for Europe.
Despite having only half a point from the first four sessions alongside Woad, Hull validated Nordqvist’s confidence by delivering a full point with a 3&2 win over Megan Khang. Her performance was steady, hitting a high percentage of greens despite challenging weather conditions, and she managed to stay ahead for the entire match.
Reflecting on her own play, Hull admitted, "I’ve given myself many chances throughout the tournament, and it’s frustrating when they don’t materialise. The weather was tough today, but I kept my composure, hit a lot of greens and stayed consistent. I spoke with vice‑captain Mel Reid, who reminded me that I was one of the top three birdie‑makers this week, even though I’d faced a very strong opponent in Yealimi Noh, who has been putting in a lot of work lately." Hull emphasized that match play can be unforgiving: "We were playing well, but sometimes you just don’t finish the putts.
I’m pleased to have secured a point for the team, even if it’s only a half‑point more than I had before. Anything is better than nothing in this format." Woad, who had struggled to convert her solid play into points earlier in the competition, finally broke through by beating Auston Kim, moving Europe to 14 points and igniting jubilant celebrations among the European camp. She later added a winning putt against Carlota Ciganda, who had just defeated Jennifer Kupcho to seal the overall victory.
Woad explained, "I was disappointed for a while, feeling like I was playing good golf but not contributing to the scoreboard. The captains reminded me that I was third on the birdie list, which gave me confidence. Golf can be a mental game, and that reassurance helped me deliver the winning putt when it mattered most." The Solheim Cup’s success in Belgium sets the stage for the next edition, scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
Meanwhile, the Ladies European Tour will head to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, and the LPGA Tour will pause before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship later in September. Overall, Nordqvist’s remarks underscored the depth of talent across both teams, the importance of strategic lineup decisions, and the collective spirit that drives Europe’s resurgence in the Solheim Cup. Her praise for every player and caddie, combined with the strategic insight behind Hull’s opening slot, paints a picture of a team that not only possessed skill but also the cohesion and confidence necessary to reclaim the trophy in a tightly contested battle.