Team Europe’s captain, Anna Nordqvist, was swift to dismiss any insinuations that the Bernardus Golf Club’s setup was engineered to favor the host side during this year’s Solheim Cup. After a tightly contested event in the Netherlands, Europe edged the United States 15‑13, clinching the victory in the final singles matches on Sunday.
The competition had been dead‑locked at 8‑8 after the first two days of foursomes and four‑ball play, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown on the final day. However, U.S. captain Angela Stanford voiced concerns in her post‑tournament press conference that the playing conditions, particularly the speed of the greens, had placed her team at a disadvantage throughout the tournament.
Stanford remarked, "Europe played well. I don’t think we played badly; we simply didn’t convert enough putts. If you’ve ever heard me speak, you’ll know I always say Europeans putt better.
I still can’t pinpoint why that is. I have a theory, but I’m not ready to share it yet.
It seems I didn’t spend enough time getting to know the superintendent, the grounds manager, as I should have." When pressed about whether she was referring to the greens being slower than expected, Stanford added, "Even when we arrived in July, the greens were faster than what we’re used to. It wasn’t the rain either. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility to prepare the team for whatever conditions we face. I’m kicking myself for not pushing harder on the putting practice, for trying to adjust our stroke on faster surfaces – a change that’s notoriously difficult.
I’m a bit frustrated that I didn’t emphasize that point more forcefully." Nordqvist seemed taken aback by the suggestion that the course had been manipulated. At her own press conference she responded, "We’re in Europe in September, and we all know how fickle the weather can be. I’m not convinced anyone deliberately set up the course to benefit Europe. Our players compete on the same venues week after week on the LET, so they’re accustomed to a range of conditions." She continued, "We arrived in July after an unusually hot and dry summer, which made the course play a bit firmer than usual.
In the weeks leading up to the Cup, we’ve seen a lot of rain, and this week the weather was particularly wet. That naturally softened the greens, perhaps more than anyone anticipated.
Weather is beyond anyone’s control, and the course simply responded to the precipitation we experienced." The American side had a moment of jubilation 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, however, brushed off any notion that the team had peaked emotionally too early.
She explained, "It’s a delicate balance. You never want to diminish a team’s morale after a big moment. The worst thing I could do would be to tell them to dial it back.
Those high‑energy moments are rare, and the players handled them exceptionally well. I spoke with Kupcho and the others, and they admitted they felt a surge of adrenaline but also needed a brief pause to settle back into the competition." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will shift its focus to Spain, where the La Sella Open begins Thursday at La Sella Golf Resort. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will take a brief hiatus before resuming with the Walmart N Arkansas Championship scheduled for September 25‑27.
The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, set for September 8‑10. Fans can stay up‑to‑date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract on NOW.
Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to explore booking options at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, with easy search tools available for location‑based queries. In summary, while the U.S. captain highlighted concerns about green speed and preparation, Europe’s captain maintained that the course conditions reflected natural weather patterns rather than any intentional bias.
The close nature of the match, culminating in a 15‑13 Europe win, underscores the high level of competition and the fine margins that decide outcomes in elite team golf events like the Solheim Cup.