Team Europe’s captain, Anna Nordqvist, was swift to dismiss any insinuations that the Bernardus Golf course had been deliberately configured to favor the home side during the Solheim Cup. The Swedish veteran made it clear that the venue’s setup was not a tactical advantage for the United States, countering comments that had emerged after Europe clinched a 15-13 win over Team USA in the final singles matches held in the Netherlands.
The contest had been evenly poised after the first two days, with the teams deadlocked at 8‑8. However, USA captain Angela Stanford later voiced frustration, suggesting that her squad had been disadvantaged by the pace of the greens throughout the event.
Stanford’s remarks, delivered at the post‑tournament press conference, centered on putting performance rather than outright course bias. She said, "Europe played well. I don’t think we played badly; we simply didn’t make enough putts." Stanford went on to note a long‑standing belief that European players generally excel at putting, adding, "If you’ve heard anything I’ve ever said, I’ve always said Europeans putt better.
I still can’t explain why, though I have some ideas—I’m just not ready to share them now." She hinted that perhaps she had not forged a strong enough relationship with the course superintendent, the grounds manager responsible for green speed and maintenance. When pressed about whether she was referring to unexpected green speeds, Stanford explained that the greens had actually been faster than anticipated even when the teams arrived in July.
"Even when we arrived in July, the greens were faster than we expected, and I don’t think rain was a factor either. It’s my job to get my team ready for those conditions," she said, expressing personal disappointment.
"I wish I had pushed harder on the putting practice, because changing a player’s putting stroke mid‑tournament is extremely difficult. I’m frustrated with myself for not emphasizing that point more strongly." Nordqvist appeared taken aback by the suggestion that the greens were set up to hinder the Americans. In her own press briefing she responded, "We’re in Europe in September, and we know how variable the weather can be. I’m not convinced the course was tailored for Europe.
These players compete on the same courses week after week, so they’re accustomed to adjusting to different conditions." She continued, "We arrived in July during a hot, dry spell, so the course played a bit firmer then. Over the past few weeks there’s been a lot of rain, and this week it rained heavily. The greens likely ended up softer than we expected, but that’s simply the weather doing its work – something we can’t control." The Americans had a dramatic moment on Saturday evening when Jennifer Kupcho sank two clutch putts to secure a late win for the visitors, leveling the overall score at 8‑8 instead of trailing 9‑7 heading into the final day.
Stanford dismissed any notion that the team had reached an emotional high point too early. "It’s a delicate balance – you never want to dampen a great moment.
The worst thing I could do would be to tell the players to pull back from that high energy," she said. "We’re unlikely to see a moment like that again, and I think they handled it well." She added that after talking with Kupcho and the rest of the squad, the sentiment was that they felt rested but also needed a minute to settle after the intense surge of excitement.
"It was a very high high, and it took a little time to come down from it," Stanford noted. Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will shift its focus to Spain, with the La Sella Open set to begin 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 and will be hosted at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10. Fans can stay up to date on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream matches without a contract on NOW.
For those interested in playing the sport, the best rates and bookings are available at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. Simply enter a course name, city, or postal code to find options near you.