The atmosphere on the Team Europe bus on Sunday night was electric, with players chanting, "They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday!" after another home‑field victory in the Solheim Cup. Anna Nordqvist secured the decisive point on the final day, allowing Europe to reclaim the trophy from Team USA. Going into the rainy singles session at Bernardus Golf, the match was finely balanced. The United States had seemed to have the momentum after a dramatic Saturday fourball session that brought the score back to an 8‑8 tie.
Jennifer Kupcho’s spectacular finish—holing a 110‑foot putt on her last two holes—earned her a win alongside Lindy Duncan against Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier. Team USA captain Angela Stanford hailed that moment as a turning point in their favor.
However, a video that surfaced of the American team celebrating with beers on their bus proved to be a premature party. The footage served as a catalyst for the Europeans, who responded by winning six of the eight singles matches and ultimately seizing control of the competition. Lottie Woad’s point‑winning putt became the moment that clinched the Cup for Europe, pushing the team to 14 points.
Ciganda, who had already secured at least a half‑point, sealed her win and made the victory official. The celebrations continued well into the night, highlighted by a viral clip of Dame Laura Davies handing out beers to her teammates on the bus. The final score of 15‑13 did not fully reflect the dominance displayed by Nordqvist’s side on the last day. Team USA’s top order, apart from Nelly Korda and Alison Lee, could not sustain the excitement of the previous night and failed to apply sufficient pressure on the Europeans.
Carlota Ciganda embraced the Solheim Cup atmosphere more than anyone. She started the event as Europe’s first‑tee supporter on Friday and later delivered several clutch performances. Her dramatic par on the final hole of the opening session helped her partner Julia Lopez Ramirez secure a half‑point that prevented the United States from leading after day one.
Although she fell to Kupcho’s birdie‑birdie finish the following day, Ciganda redeemed herself in the singles, becoming only the second player in history to claim the clinching point in two separate Solheim Cups. "I was really happy to play against Kupcho," Ciganda said. "She’s a fighter, I’m a fighter. I knew she had no chance, I wanted to beat her, so I kept that focus." Charley Hull and Lottie Woad made history as the first pairing to compete together in all four sessions of a Solheim Cup.
Despite a difficult start that saw them lose 6&5 in the Saturday morning foursomes, they eventually found their rhythm, contributing crucial points in the singles. Hull described the week as "frustrating," noting that both she and Woad struggled with putting until their singles victories saved the day. Nordqvist faced criticism for keeping Hull together in the pairings and for sending her into the singles, a decision she called "a no‑brainer" after watching the 30‑year‑old secure Europe’s first point of the day.
"As captain, we knew Hull would deliver," Nordqvist explained. "It was early on the board, and Lottie was very steady throughout the week—finally seeing her sink those putts was great." Linn Grant emerged as Europe’s standout performer, becoming the first player to go from zero points in the previous Solheim Cup to at least four points in the next edition. Her 4‑0 record placed her among an elite group of only nine players to achieve such a sweep, with three wins alongside Maja Stark and a commanding 4&3 singles victory over Angel Yin. Grant’s resurgence was remarkable given her poor form leading into the event—she had missed the cut in five of her six recent starts.
Yet she finished as Europe’s top scorer, a testament to her resilience and the confidence placed in her by teammates. "Having a player like Linn on the team is a huge comfort," Stark noted.
"We knew Anna would pair us together, and it paid off." All of Europe’s captain’s picks contributed at least 1.5 points. Leona Maguire, in particular, set a new record by becoming the quickest player to reach ten Solheim Cup match wins, achieving the milestone in just 14 matches—one fewer than the previous record holder. She briefly held the highest winning percentage in Cup history before a loss with Celine Boutier in the fourballs. Team USA’s captain, Angela Stanford, praised her own selections, stating, "My picks were solid because this course demanded high‑ball hitters, and they delivered." The tournament also highlighted the rise of new talent.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen qualified via world rankings after Esther Henseleit’s runner‑up finish at Royal Lytham secured an extra captain’s pick. Meanwhile, rookie Nastasia Nadaud made an immediate impact, partnering with Maguire to win both foursomes matches—a first for a rookie duo in Solheim Cup history. Their 4&3 foursomes win on Saturday morning matched the largest margin ever recorded by a rookie pair.
Nadaud, who was ranked outside the top 150 just a year ago, described her experience as "absolutely crazy" and expressed excitement about earning three points for Europe. Her partnership with Lydia Rhodes, another newcomer, proved fruitful; Rhodes, initially a surprise selection, quickly found her footing and contributed a vital 3&2 singles win over Andrea Lee when the United States threatened to swing momentum back.
Looking ahead, many of Nordqvist’s victorious teammates are still under 30 and could return for the 2028 Solheim Cup in Virginia. The depth demonstrated by four impactful rookies underscores Europe’s robust talent pool, especially considering the absence of regulars such as Georgia Hall, Emily Kristine Pedersen, and Madelene Sågström. Although this was the first Solheim Cup since 2007 without Nordqvist as a player—she retired mid‑season and declined a captain’s pick—she hinted that a future return in a leadership role is possible. "You never say never," she said at the press conference.
"I don’t know what my future holds." When Europe last won on home soil in 2019, Catriona Matthew resumed captaincy and led the team to an away victory the following year. Whether Nordqvist or another leader will guide Europe in 2028, the goal remains the same: to reclaim the Cup.
The next Solheim Cup is scheduled for September 8‑10, 2028, at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. Fans can stay updated on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the event without a contract on NOW.