The chant "They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday!" reverberated through 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 in the final singles matches. The contest had been finely balanced heading into a rain‑soaked singles session at Bernardus Golf, with the Americans appearing to have the momentum after a thrilling Saturday fourball round that knotted the score at 8‑8.
Jennifer Kupcho’s heroic finish – sinking a 110‑foot putt on the 17th and another birdie on the 18th – secured a win for the United States alongside Lindy Duncan, a result that Team USA captain Angela Stanford hailed as a turning point in their favor. A video later surfaced showing the American squad raising glasses on their bus that evening, a celebration that proved premature and gave Europe a psychological boost. Europe responded emphatically, winning six of the eight singles matches and reclaiming the lead.
Lottie Woad’s decisive point sealed the Cup for Europe, pushing the team to 14 points, while Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, already assured of at least a half‑point, closed out her match to make the victory official. The celebrations spilled over onto the course and into the trophy ceremony, highlighted by a viral clip of Dame Laura Davies handing beers to the European players on their bus, extending the revelry well into the night. The final tally of 15‑13 does not fully convey the dominance displayed by Nordqvist’s side on the last day. The United States’ top‑order, aside from Nelly Korda and Alison Lee, could not sustain the euphoria of the previous evening and failed to apply sufficient pressure on the Europeans.
Carlota Ciganda embodied the spirit of the Solheim Cup. From opening the competition as Europe’s first‑tee representative to delivering clutch performances throughout the week, she emerged as a key figure. On Friday, a dramatic par on the final hole secured a half‑point for her and partner Julia Lopez Ramirez, preventing the United States from taking the early lead.
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 play against Kupcho," Ciganda said after her victory.
"She’s a fighter, I’m a fighter. I knew she had no chance, I wanted to beat her, so I kept that clear in my mind." Charley Hull and Lottie Woad made history as the first pair to play together in all four sessions of a Solheim Cup. Despite a disappointing start – including a record‑tying 6&5 loss in the Saturday morning foursomes – they finished the tournament with a combined 0.5 points, showing resilience after early setbacks. Hull later described the week as "frustrating," noting that both she and Woad struggled with putting until their singles victories, which saved them from the ignominy of playing five sessions without a win.
Nordqvist faced criticism for not rotating her partners on day two and for sending Hull into the singles, a decision she later called a "no‑brainer" after Hull secured Europe’s first point of the day. "As the leader, I knew Hull would deliver," Nordqvist explained.
"It was blue on the board early, and Lottie has been very steady all week – it was great to see her finally sink some putts." The standout performer for Europe was Linn Grant, who transformed from a zero‑point player in the previous Solheim Cup to a four‑point hero this year. Her 4‑0 record – three wins alongside Maja Stark and a 4&3 singles triumph over Angel Yin – placed her among only nine players ever to achieve a 4‑0 or better record in a Solheim Cup. Grant’s resurgence was remarkable given she entered the event after missing the cut in five of her last six tournaments.
Stark praised Grant’s reliability: "Having a player like Linn on the team gives you confidence – you know her game inside and out. For Anna it was a no‑brainer to pair us together." The all‑Swedish partnership echoed the successful pairing from 2023 and is likely to reappear in future editions. All of Europe’s captain’s picks contributed meaningfully, each scoring 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.
Although she briefly held the highest winning percentage in Cup history, a loss with Celine Boutier in the fourballs tempered that statistic. Meanwhile, newcomer Nastasia Nadaud, who had been ranked outside the world’s top 150 a year earlier, partnered with Maguire to become the first rookie duo to win two matches together at a Solheim Cup, delivering a 4&3 foursomes victory that matched the largest margin ever recorded by a rookie pair. Nadaud’s performance was a revelation.
"Getting three points for Europe is just absolutely crazy – I have no words," she exclaimed after her 3&2 singles win over Andrea Lee, which came at a crucial moment when the United States threatened to claw back control. Her rapid ascent underscores the depth of Europe’s talent pool, especially as the team succeeded without several recent regulars such as Georgia Hall, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Madelene Sagström. The tournament also marked the first Solheim Cup since 2007 without Anna Nordqvist as a player; she announced her mid‑season retirement and declined a captain’s pick.
Yet she left the press conference with a hint of future involvement: "You never say never. I don’t know what my future holds," she said when asked about a possible captaincy in 2028. Looking ahead, the next Solheim Cup will be contested in 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10. Europe’s youthful core – many of whom will still be under 30 – offers a promising prospect for defending the title on foreign soil, just as Catriona Matthew led the team to an away victory after captaining the 2019 home win.
Whether Nordqvist returns as captain or a new leader steps up, the focus will be on maintaining the momentum generated by this year’s remarkable comeback and the emergence of a new generation of European stars.