Team Europe emerged victorious in the Solheim Cup, overturning a tie and clinching a 15‑13 win over Team USA following a dramatic singles day in the Netherlands. The competition, held at Bernardus Golf, entered Sunday’s final round level at 8‑8, meaning Europe needed at least 6.5 points from the singles to secure the trophy. Two years after a defeat to the United States, the Europeans responded emphatically, with Charley Hull opening the day by defeating Megan Khang 3&2, giving her side an early lead. The momentum swung back and forth throughout the twelve singles matches.
Anna Nordqvist’s squad briefly held the advantage in eight of the contests, and the gap widened when Linn Grant dispatched Angel Yin, completing a flawless week for the Swede. However, the United States kept hope alive when Alison Lee mounted a remarkable comeback, erasing a four‑hole deficit to edge Esther Henseleit 1 up. World No.
1 Nelly Korda then levelled the score by beating rookie Mimi Rhodes 4&3, but subsequent wins by France’s Nastasia Nadaud, Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez nudged Europe ever closer to the target. Lottie Woad’s victory over Auston Kim pushed the hosts to 14 points, prompting jubilant celebrations among the European camp.
Veteran Carlota Ciganda, who had already secured at least a half‑point, sealed the triumph by overcoming Jennifer Kupcho, confirming a home‑soil victory for Europe. The day’s drama was underscored by a series of compelling narratives. Kupcho’s late‑night birdies on Saturday had convinced Team USA captain Angela Stanford that the tide was turning in America’s favour, yet Europe seized control on the final day.
Hull, who had previously thrashed Korda 6&4 in the 2022 singles, was again entrusted with the opening match. Despite sharing only half a point with Woad in the earlier sessions, Hull justified Nordqvist’s confidence by delivering a full point.
She opened with a par on the first hole, never relinquished the lead, matched Khang’s birdie on the eighth, and then claimed both par‑fives on the back nine to close the match. Hull reflected on her performance, saying, “I’ve given myself many chances and it’s been frustrating at times. I didn’t make many birdies today, but I stayed steady and hit a lot of greens.” Her composure set the tone for the Europeans. Linn Grant made history by becoming only the ninth player to finish a Solheim Cup with a 4‑0‑0 record, after a dominant 4&3 win over Yin.
Alison Lee mirrored that achievement for the United States, rallying from four down with seven holes left to defeat Henseleit in a stunning turnaround. “Consistency was my goal,” Lee explained. “The front nine was tough with rain pouring down, limiting my birdie opportunities, but the weather improved and my game followed suit.” Korda delivered what many called the performance of the week against Rhodes, yet Europe’s other three rookies also contributed vital points.
Nadaud bested Andrea Lee 3&2 for her third win in her debut, while Lopez Ramirez capped an unbeaten start by beating Yealimi Noh. Madsen had already overcome Allisen Corpuz, and Woad recovered from three consecutive lost holes on the back nine to defeat Kim, keeping Europe on the brink of victory. Ciganda, meanwhile, built an early lead against Kupcho and clinched the decisive point.
Ciganda expressed her delight: “I’m so happy. We had a fantastic team all week, arguably one of the best squads we’ve fielded in recent years.” The United States also saw moments of resilience. Rookie Lindy Duncan halted Maja Stark’s perfect record, while Lauren Coughlin handed Leona Maguire her first Solheim singles loss, narrowing the margin.
Rose Zhang defeated Celine Boutier 2‑up in the final match, leaving the Frenchwoman without a point for the week. Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist praised the collective effort: “There has been immense hard work this week and over the past two years, not just from me but from the entire support staff. The helpers have been incredible, allowing the players to focus solely on their game. We maintained a great vibe throughout, everyone was supportive, and we emphasized strong starts given the course conditions.
I’m extremely proud of the players for both starting and finishing strong.” Team USA captain Angela Stanford acknowledged the quality of the competition: “We did many things right leading up to this event, and the players fought hard. The Europeans played superbly today. When you have your backs against the wall and nothing to lose, you play with freedom, and that’s exactly what they did.
Well done to them.” Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, commencing Thursday. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will pause for a week before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship scheduled for September 25‑27. The next Solheim Cup is slated for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, set for September 8‑10.
Fans can stay updated on Sky Sports deals or stream the action on NOW without a contract, and can also explore discounted tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.