Anna Nordqvist could not hide her delight after Team Europe’s dramatic victory in the Solheim Cup, saying she was impressed by "every single player" who took part. The Swedish star explained that it was an obvious decision to let Charley Hull start the Sunday singles, describing the choice as a "no‑brainer" given Hull’s form throughout the week.
The competition concluded at the rain‑soaked Bernardus Golf, where Europe clinched the trophy with a 15‑13 win over the United States, securing seven of the twelve points on the final day. After a thrilling finish on Saturday – when Jennifer Kupcho’s late‑round birdies forced a tie and kept the biennial contest alive – the Europeans rallied to claim their first outright victory since 2021.
"This win feels amazing," Nordqvist told Sky Sports. "We’ve put in a massive amount of work over the past two years, not just me but the whole support crew.
The staff have been phenomenal this week, making it easy for us to focus on our golf, and the atmosphere in the camp has been fantastic. Everyone has been a great teammate." She added that the energy on the first tee on Sunday was electrifying. "Leaving the course yesterday we were buzzing for today, and I was genuinely impressed by every player and caddie who stepped up.
The board was blue early on, and we talked a lot about the fast starts we needed given the course conditions. I’m incredibly proud of the team for hitting the ground running and staying strong to the very end." Hull’s performance was a key factor in Europe’s success. Two years after thrashing Korda 6&4 in the singles, Hull was again entrusted to open the European line‑up. Although she had only contributed half a point in the first four sessions alongside Lottie Woad, her decisive 3&2 win over Megan Khang delivered a full point and validated Nordqvist’s confidence in her.
"Putting Charley first was a no‑brainer," Nordqvist explained. "The stats from Saturday showed that Charley and Lottie were among the top‑four birdie makers of the week.
They hadn’t accumulated many points yet, but they played extremely tough matches. People often overlook how good these players are and how high the overall level of golf has been over the past three days." Both English players were under pressure, facing the prospect of becoming the first Solheim Cup participants to appear in five sessions without a win. Their earlier defeats, including a record‑tying 6&5 loss in the Saturday foursomes, added to the drama.
Hull, however, never fell behind in her match, securing a 3&2 victory and giving Europe its sixth point out of the first eight singles – a historic first for the team. After the match, Hull reflected on her experience. "I’ve given myself a lot of chances this week, and it’s been frustrating at times. I didn’t make many long putts today, but I was steady, hitting a lot of greens despite the poor weather.
I spoke with Mel Reid, our vice‑captain, and she reminded me that I was one of the top three birdie makers this week, even though I faced Yealimi Noh, who has been on fire lately." Hull continued, "Match play can be cruel – you can play well and still lose holes. I’m happy to have earned a point, even if it’s only half a point, because it’s better than none." Woad also broke her personal drought, beating Auston Kim to claim her first Solheim Cup point and pushing the European total to 14.
Her victory sparked a wave of celebration among the home crowd, and shortly after, Carlota Ciganda sealed the win by defeating Jennifer Kupcho. Woad described the emotional roller‑coaster of the day. "Winning was crucial for me. I felt disappointed earlier, playing good golf but not getting the points, and I thought I was letting the team down.
The captains reminded me that I was third on the birdie list, so I knew I was playing well. Golf is sometimes about trusting the numbers, and in the end I made the winning putt." The Ladies European Tour now heads to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, starting Thursday, while the LPGA will take a brief hiatus before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship from September 25‑27. The next Solheim Cup is scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, set for September 8‑10.
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