Team Europe’s captain, Anna Nordqvist, was swift to dismiss any insinuations that the Bernardus Golf Club had been configured to favor the home side during the recent Solheim Cup. The Swedish star, who led Europe to a 15‑13 triumph over the United States in the final singles matches held in the Netherlands, made it clear that the course set‑up was not engineered to give Europe an unfair edge. The competition had been dead‑locked at 8‑8 after the first two days of play, but the United States, under the stewardship of captain Angela Stanford, felt that the slower greens were working against them throughout the event.
Stanford addressed the issue during the post‑tournament press conference, saying, "Europe played well. I don’t think we played badly; we simply didn’t convert enough putts.
If you listen to everything I’ve ever said, Europeans always putt better. I don’t know why. I still don’t know why.
I have a theory, but I’m not going to reveal it now. Apparently I didn’t get to know the superintendent as well as I should have." When pressed for clarification, Stanford suggested that the green speeds were faster than she had anticipated. "Even when we arrived in July, the greens were quicker than expected, and I don’t think rain was the cause either. It’s my responsibility to prepare the team for those conditions," she added.
She went on to express personal frustration, noting, "I wish I had pushed harder on the putting practice. Changing a player’s putting technique on short notice is extremely difficult, and I’m disappointed I didn’t emphasize that point more aggressively." Nordqvist, taken aback by the implied criticism of the greens, responded at her own press conference with a measured explanation.
"We’re in Europe in September, and we know how variable the weather can be," she said. "I’m not convinced the course was set up to suit Europe. These players compete on the same courses week after week, so they’re accustomed to a range of conditions.
We arrived in July during an unusually hot and dry spell, which made the course play harder. In the weeks leading up to the event, however, we experienced a lot of rain, and the greens softened considerably. That’s simply weather, not a deliberate attempt to tilt the playing field." The American side had a dramatic moment on Saturday evening when Jennifer Kupcho sank two clutch putts to secure a late win for the United States, leveling the overall score at 8‑8 instead of trailing 9‑7 heading into the final day. Stanford cautioned against the notion that the U.S.
team had reached an emotional high too early. "You never want to dampen those moments," she explained. "The worst thing I could do would be to tell the players to pull back after such a surge. We’ve never seen anything like that before, and they handled it admirably.
I spoke with Kupcho and the rest of the squad, and they acknowledged they felt a surge of energy but also needed a brief recovery period." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open, which begins Thursday at the La Sella Golf Resort. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will take a short break before resuming with the Walmart N Arkansas Championship scheduled for September 25‑27.
The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 and will be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10. In summary, Nordqvist’s remarks underscore the belief that the Bernardus course was simply a product of natural conditions rather than a strategic ploy. She highlighted the shift from a dry, firm layout in July to a softer, wetter surface in September, emphasizing that such changes are beyond anyone’s control.
Stanford, on the other hand, accepted responsibility for the team's preparation and expressed regret over not emphasizing putting practice more forcefully. Both captains demonstrated professionalism, focusing on the competitive spirit rather than assigning blame. Fans can stay updated on upcoming events, secure the best deals on Sky Sports streaming, or book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
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