The atmosphere on the Team Europe bus on Sunday night was electric, with players chanting, "They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday!" The chant captured the mood after another decisive home victory in the Solheim Cup, a win that saw Anna Nordqvist defeat Team USA on the final day and secure the trophy for Europe once more. Going into the final singles matches at Bernardus Golf, the competition had been finely balanced. A rain‑soaked singles session threatened to tip the scales, and after a dramatic Saturday four‑ball round the United States had clawed the score back to an 8‑8 tie, giving the impression that momentum was swinging in their favor.
Jennifer Kupcho, playing for the United States, produced a remarkable finish, holing a series of putts that stretched over 110 feet in the last two holes. Her birdie‑birdie burst, combined with Lindy Duncan’s strong play, gave the Americans a narrow win over Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier. Team USA captain Angela Stanford hailed Kupcho’s performance as the moment that "turned the tide" for the United States. However, a video that quickly went viral showed the American squad celebrating on their bus that evening, raising beers and toasting what they believed was a decisive victory.
The premature celebration proved to be a powerful motivator for the Europeans, who responded by winning six of the eight singles matches on Sunday, reclaiming control of the competition. Lottie Woad’s decisive point will be remembered as the clincher that sealed the Solheim Cup for Europe, pushing the team to 14 points. Carlota Ciganda, already assured of at least a half‑point, finished her match to make the win official. The celebrations continued long after the final putt, with a memorable social‑media clip showing Dame Laura Davies handing out beers to the European team on the bus, the revelry echoing well into the night.
The final tally of 15‑13 in Europe’s favour did not fully convey 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 exuberance of their earlier celebrations, and they struggled to apply pressure on the Europeans. Carlota Ciganda, perhaps the most passionate ambassador for the Solheim Cup, transformed from a supportive presence on the opening tee into a clutch performer throughout the week.
She was instrumental on Friday, securing a half‑point with a dramatic par on the final hole alongside Julia Lopez Ramirez, which prevented the United States from leading after day one. The following day, she was on the receiving end of Kupcho’s birdie‑birdie finish, but she exacted revenge in the singles, delivering a decisive win that marked her eighth Solheim Cup appearance. Her achievement placed her among a very exclusive group, becoming only the second player ever to clinch the winning point in two separate Solheim Cups. "I was really happy to see that I was playing against Kupcho," Ciganda said after her victory.
"She’s a fighter, I’m a fighter. I knew she had no chance. I was like, ‘I want to kill you,’ so I kept that mindset clear." 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 included a record‑tying 6&5 loss in the Saturday morning foursomes, both players showed resilience. They ranked among the top four Europeans for birdies during the first two days, yet they returned only half a point from those sessions. Nordqvist faced criticism for not rotating her pairings on day two and for sending Hull into the singles, a decision she later described as a "no‑brainer" after watching the 30‑year‑old secure Europe’s first point of the day.
Hull admitted the week had been "frustrating," noting that both she and Woad struggled with putting until their singles victories. She warned that, without those wins, they could have become the first players to compete in five sessions without a single point.
"Being the leader of this team, we knew she [Hull] was going to deliver," Nordqvist explained. "It was blue on the board early. Lottie has been very steady this week – it was nice to see her finally hole some putts." The standout performer for Europe was Linn Grant, who achieved a remarkable turnaround by moving from zero points in the previous Solheim Cup to at least four points this time. Grant joined an elite list as only the ninth player to record a 4‑0 or better performance in a Solhem Cup, notching three victories with Maja Stark and then delivering a commanding 4&3 win over Angel Yin in the singles.
The all‑Swedish partnership echoed the successful duo from the 2023 edition and suggests a continued Swedish presence in future Cups. Grant’s resurgence was especially notable given her pre‑event struggles, which included five missed cuts in six starts. Stark praised Grant’s reliability, saying, "Having a player like her on the team gives you confidence that you can just go out and play your game. For Anna, it was a no‑brainer to put us together." All of Europe’s captain’s picks contributed at least 1.5 points each.
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. Although she briefly held the highest winning percentage in Solheim Cup history, a loss alongside Celine Boutier in the four‑balls prevented her from extending that lead. Meanwhile, Julia Lopez Ramirez, who was omitted from the Saturday line‑up, finished unbeaten in her two matches, underscoring the depth of the European squad.
Team USA captain Angela Stanford defended her selections, noting that her three picks delivered five points and were well‑suited to the course, which demanded powerful ball‑striking. The tournament also highlighted emerging talent. After a strong showing at the AIG Women’s Open, a player named Rhodes became a prominent option for future Solheim Cups.
Her performance at the final qualifying event, where she finished runner‑up at Royal Lytham, helped her teammate Nanna Koerstz Madsen secure qualification via world rankings, freeing an extra captain’s pick. Rhodes instantly made an impact, thriving under the pressure of the first‑tee spotlight and forming a winning partnership with Nastasia Nadaud. Their duo became the first rookie pair to win two matches together at a Solheim Cup, delivering a 4&3 foursomes victory that matched the largest winning margin ever recorded by a rookie team.
"A lot of people questioned why we would send out two rookies, but I said why not?!" Nordqvist explained. "And they delivered. I never felt like they were rookies." Nadaud, who was ranked just inside the world’s top 150 a year earlier, continued her rapid ascent with a memorable debut. Her 3&2 singles win over Andrea Lee came at a crucial moment when Team USA was threatening to regain momentum.
"Getting three points for Europe is just absolutely crazy – I have no words for that," she said, already looking ahead to future Solheim Cup appearances. Looking forward, many of Nordqvist’s victorious teammates are still under 30 and could form the core of the European squad for the 2028 edition in Virginia. The impact of the four rookies this year underscores the depth of Europe’s talent pool, especially considering the absence of recent regulars such as Georgia Hall, Emily Kristine Pedersen, and Madelene Sagström. This Solheim Cup also marked the first time since 2007 that Anna Nordqvist did not play as a competitor, having announced her mid‑season retirement and ruling herself out of a captain’s pick.
When asked whether she might consider a captaincy role for 2028, Nordqvist responded, "You never say never. I don’t know what my future holds." When Europe last won on home soil in 2019, Catriona Matthew returned as captain to lead the team to an away victory the following year. Whether Nordqvist or another leader will guide the Europeans in Virginia, 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 follow the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the event without a contract on NOW.