Team Europe’s captain, Anna Nordqvist, was swift to refute any insinuations that the Bernardus Golf course had been deliberately arranged to favor the European side during the recent Solheim Cup. The Swedish star, who led her team to a 15-13 triumph over the United States after the final singles matches in the Netherlands, made it clear that the venue’s setup was not a partisan ploy. The contest had been evenly poised after the first two days, with both sides deadlocked at 8‑8.
However, USA captain Angela Stanford entered the post‑tournament press conference with a note of frustration, arguing that the slower greens had placed her players at a disadvantage throughout the event. Stanford said, "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 still don’t know why.
I have a theory, but I’m not ready to share it now. Apparently I didn’t get to know the superintendent as well as I should have." When pressed about whether she was referring to green speeds that differed from her expectations, Stanford elaborated: "Even when we arrived in July, the greens were faster than we anticipated, and I don’t think the rain was the cause either. It’s my responsibility to prepare the team, and I’m kicking myself for not pushing harder on the putting fundamentals. Changing a player’s putting stroke mid‑tournament is extremely difficult, and I wish I had emphasized that point more." Nordqvist appeared mildly surprised by the implied criticism of the greens when Stanford raised the issue at her own press conference.
"We’re in Europe in September, and we all know how the weather can behave," Nordqvist replied. "I’m not convinced the course was set up to suit Europe. These players compete on the same venues week after week, so there’s no reason to tailor conditions for one side. We arrived in July during an unusually hot and dry spell, which made the course play a bit firmer.
Then, in the weeks leading up to the event, we experienced a lot of rain, and the greens softened considerably. That’s simply the climate doing its job; we can’t control it." The American side had a dramatic moment on Saturday evening when Jennifer Kupcho sank two spectacular putts to clinch a late win for the United States, leveling the overall score at 8‑8 instead of falling behind 9‑7 heading into the final day. Stanford dismissed any suggestion that the Americans had peaked emotionally too early. "You never want to dampen a team’s high‑point moment," she said.
"The worst thing I could do would be to tell them to pull back from that energy. Those feelings are fleeting, and you can’t recreate them on demand. The players themselves told me they felt a bit of a let‑down after the high, but they also recognized the importance of staying focused for the final singles." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open, which begins Thursday at La Sella Golf Resort.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will pause for a week before resuming with the Walmart N Arkansas Championship from September 25‑27. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, scheduled for September 8‑10.
Beyond the immediate tournament narrative, the episode highlights a broader discussion in professional golf about course preparation, green speed management, and the impact of weather on play. Green speeds are typically measured by the Stimpmeter, and even small variations can affect putting performance dramatically.
Captains and players often arrive weeks in advance to practice, but they must adapt to evolving conditions—especially in regions like the Netherlands where autumn weather can swing from dry heat to heavy rain within days. Stanford’s comments also underscore the psychological pressure on a captain to anticipate every variable. While she acknowledged her own shortfall in building a stronger relationship with the course superintendent, she also emphasized that the responsibility ultimately lies with the players to adjust their techniques.
In contrast, Nordqvist’s response reflects a confidence in her team’s ability to handle diverse conditions, a sentiment that resonates with many European players accustomed to a wide range of course setups across the continent. The Solheim Cup, a biennial competition pitting Europe against the United States, often becomes a microcosm of transatlantic rivalry, not only on the fairways but also in the media narrative surrounding each event.
The 2024 edition, held at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, will be remembered for its tight scoreline, dramatic singles matches, and the post‑event dialogue about course conditions. Whether the greens were truly “slower” for the Americans or simply reflective of natural weather patterns remains a point of debate, but both captains have used the discussion to highlight the importance of preparation, adaptability, and mental resilience in elite women’s golf.
In summary, Anna Nordqvist firmly rejected any implication that the Bernardus course was engineered to favor Europe, pointing to the unpredictable September weather as the primary factor influencing green speed. Angela Stanford, while expressing frustration over putting performance, took responsibility for her team’s preparation and acknowledged that the greens may have been faster than anticipated. The episode adds another chapter to the ongoing conversation about how course conditions shape outcomes in international golf competitions, and it sets the stage for future Solheim Cups, where both sides will undoubtedly scrutinize every element of the playing environment in pursuit of victory.