Anna Nordqvist could not hide her admiration for the entire field after Team Europe clinched the Solheim Cup, and she made it clear that putting Charley Hull out first in the Sunday singles was an obvious choice. Europe reclaimed the trophy on a damp final day at Bernardus Golf, securing seven of the twelve points on offer and edging Team USA 15‑13. The comeback was dramatic. After a thrilling penultimate round in which Jennifer Kupcho’s late birdies forced a tie, the Europeans rallied to capture their first outright victory since 2021.
Nordqvist, speaking to Sky Sports, described the win as "so good" and praised the relentless effort put in over the past two years by both the players and the support staff. "The whole team has been fantastic this week, making it easy for us to focus on our golf.
The atmosphere was positive from the start, and everyone was a great teammate," she said. "When we left the course yesterday we were buzzing for today’s matches, and I was genuinely impressed by every player and caddie who stepped up to the first tee.
The early part of the competition was dominated by Europe, with a series of fast starts that set the tone. Nordqvist highlighted how proud she was of the squad for not only beginning strongly but also maintaining that intensity through the closing stages. In the singles, Hull delivered a decisive 6&4 win over Korda two years earlier and was again trusted to open the European lineup, despite having contributed only half a point in the first four sessions alongside Lottie Woad.
Nordqvist explained that the decision was data‑driven: "When we looked at the statistics, Charley and Lottie were among the top four birdie‑makers of the week. Even though they hadn’t amassed many points yet, they had played the toughest matches and showed the quality we needed. "People often underestimate how good these players are and how high the level of golf has been over the last three days," Nordqvist added.
Both Hull and Woad were under pressure, flirting with a dubious Solheim Cup record: they risked becoming the first participants to appear in five sessions without a win, having suffered a record‑tying 6&5 defeat in the Saturday foursomes. Hull, however, never fell behind in her 3&2 victory over Megan Khang, securing her first full point of the week and helping Europe win six of the opening eight singles matches – a historic first for the team. Hull reflected on her performance, admitting frustration at missed opportunities but emphasizing her steadiness: "I didn’t sink a lot of putts today, but I kept hitting greens and stayed composed despite the poor weather. Mel [Reid] reminded me that I was the third‑most birdie‑rich player this week, and that gave me confidence.
"Match play can be unforgiving, but I’m happy to have contributed a point. It may be just one and a half points for me, but it’s better than none." Woad also broke her personal drought, beating Auston Kim to give Europe its 14th point and igniting jubilant celebrations among the hosts. She later secured the decisive putt against Carlota Ciganda, sealing the victory for Europe.
"Winning was crucial for me," Woad said. "I was disappointed earlier, feeling like I was playing well but not translating that into points. The captains reminded me I was third in birdies, so I trusted my game and eventually made the winning putt. That's the nature of golf – sometimes you just have to believe in the process." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, while the LPGA Tour pauses for a brief break before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship later in September.
The next Solheim Cup is scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, set for September 8‑10. The victory underscores Europe’s depth and resilience, with Nordqvist’s leadership and strategic choices, such as the early deployment of Hull, proving decisive. As the teams reflect on a tightly contested weekend, the triumph will be remembered not only for the scores but also for the collective belief that every player, from the seasoned captain to the emerging rookie, contributed to a memorable Solheim Cup narrative.