The chant that reverberated through the Team Europe bus on Sunday evening—"They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday!"—captured the spirit of a dramatic Solheim Cup comeback. After Anna Nordqvist secured the decisive point on the final day, Europe reclaimed the trophy from Team USA, turning a closely contested match into a jubilant victory.
Going into the rain‑soaked singles session at Bernardus Golf, the competition was finely balanced. The Americans had seemed to gain momentum after a thrilling Saturday four‑ball round that pulled the overall score back to an 8‑8 tie. Jennifer Kupcho’s remarkable finish—holing a 110‑foot putt over her last two holes—paired with Lindy Duncan’s win over Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier, prompted Team USA captain Angela Stanford to declare that the tide had turned in the United States' favor. However, a video of the American squad raising beers on their bus that evening proved to be a premature celebration.
The footage ignited a fire under the Europeans, who responded by winning six of the eight singles matches, ultimately seizing control of the contest. Lottie Woad’s point‑winning putt will be remembered as the clincher, pushing Europe to 14 points and guaranteeing a half‑point for Ciganda, who then sealed the win with her own victory. The celebration continued long after the final putt, with a viral clip showing Dame Laura Davies handing out beers to the victorious Europeans on their bus, the revelry spilling into the night.
The final tally—15‑13—does not fully convey the dominance displayed by Nordqvist’s side on the last day. Team USA’s top‑order, aside from Nelly Korda and Alison Lee, failed to sustain the optimism of the previous night, allowing Europe to press their advantage.
Carlota Ciganda, perhaps the most passionate Solheim Cup participant, transitioned from being Europe’s first‑tee supporter on opening day to delivering clutch performances throughout the week. She was instrumental on Friday, sharing a half‑point with Julia Lopez Ramirez after a dramatic final‑hole par that prevented the United States from leading after day one.
Though she fell to Kupcho’s birdie‑birdie finish the next day, Ciganda avenged that loss in the singles, becoming only the second player in history to secure the winning point in two separate Solheim Cups. "I was really happy to see that I was playing against Kupcho," Ciganda said.
"She’s a fighter, I’m a fighter. I knew she had no chance.
I was like, ‘I want to kill you,’ so I kept that in my mind." Charley Hull and Lottie Woad made history as the first pairing to compete together in all four sessions, breaking several unwanted records despite playing better than their scores suggested. Both ranked among the top four Europeans for birdies during the early sessions, yet they returned only half a point, highlighted by a record‑equalling 6&5 loss in the Saturday morning foursomes.
Nordqvist faced criticism for not rotating her pairings on day two and for sending Hull into the singles—a decision she later called a "no‑brainer" after Hull earned Europe’s first point of the day. Hull described the week as "frustrating," noting that both she and Woad struggled with putting until their singles victories, nearly becoming the first players to compete in five sessions without a win. "As the leader of this team, we knew she would deliver," Nordqvist explained. "It was blue on the board early.
Lottie has been very steady this week—nice to see her finally hole 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 leader in this edition. Grant joined an elite group as only the ninth player to achieve a 4‑0 or better record, securing three wins alongside Maja Stark and a commanding 4&3 singles victory over Angel Yin. The all‑Swedish partnership between Grant and Stark echoed the successful pairing from 2023 and suggests a continued collaboration in future Cups. Grant’s resurgence was remarkable given her pre‑event struggles—five missed cuts in six starts—yet she finished as Europe’s top scorer.
"Having a player like her on the team is a huge confidence boost," Stark said. "For Anna, it was a no‑brainer to pair us together." All of Europe’s captain’s picks contributed at least 1.5 points each. 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 alongside Celine Boutier in the four‑balls prevented her from extending that mark. Ramirez, left out of Saturday’s line‑up, responded by remaining unbeaten in her two matches, underscoring the depth of Europe’s roster.
Team USA captain Angela Stanford defended her selections, noting that her three picks delivered five points and that the course demanded high‑ball hitters—a criterion she believed her choices met. If the final round of the AIG Women’s Open had unfolded differently last month, the Netherlands might not have produced another strong European option for future Cups. Instead, the tournament’s outcome elevated players like Henseleit, who finished runner‑up at Royal Lytham, allowing her to overtake Chiara Tamburlini in the European points list and secure a captain’s pick for the Solheim Cup.
Nastasia Nadaud, a rookie who entered the world rankings just inside the top 150 a year ago, made an immediate impact. Paired with Maguire, she became 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 achieved by a rookie pair. Her surprise at being selected turned into a standout performance, culminating in a 3&2 singles win over Andrea Lee when Team USA threatened to regain momentum.
"Getting three points for Europe is just absolutely crazy—I have no words," Nadaud exclaimed, already setting her sights on future Solheim Cups. Looking ahead, many of Nordqvist’s victorious teammates will still be under 30 for the 2028 edition in Virginia, suggesting that a core group could return to challenge on foreign soil. The impact of four rookies in this Cup highlighted Europe’s depth, especially given the absence of recent regulars such as Georgia Hall, Emily Kristine Pedersen, and Madelene Sagström.
This was also the first Solheim Cup since 2007 in which Anna Nordqvist did not compete as a player, having announced her mid‑season retirement and ruling herself out of a captain’s pick. When asked about a potential future captaincy, she replied, "You never say never.
I don’t know what my future holds." When Europe last won on home soil in 2019, Catriona Matthew returned as captain to guide the team to an away victory the following year. Whether Nordqvist or another leader will steer the Europeans in 2028, the next target is set.
The 2028 Solheim Cup will be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10. Fans can follow the action through Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract on NOW.