Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist was quick to refute any notion that the Bernardus Golf course had been deliberately set up to favor the home side during the Solheim Cup. Her team secured a 15-13 triumph over Team USA after the singles matches on Sunday in the Netherlands.
The contest was dead‑locked at 8‑8 after the first two days, but USA captain Angela Stanford argued that her players were disadvantaged throughout the event because the greens were slower than she had anticipated. At the post‑tournament press conference, Stanford said, "Europe played well.
I don’t think we played badly; we just didn’t make enough putts. And if you listen to everything I’ve ever said, Europeans always putt better.
I don’t know why. I still don’t know why.
I have a theory, but I’m not going to reveal it now. Apparently I didn’t get to know the superintendent as well as I should have." She was clearly frustrated, hinting that the green speeds might have been a factor. "Even when we arrived in July, the greens were faster than expected," she added, "and I don’t think the rain had anything to do with it either.
It’s my responsibility to get the team ready. This is the one thing I’m kicking myself over – I didn’t push hard enough on the putting drill, which is incredibly difficult to change at the last minute.
I’m a little frustrated with myself for not driving that point home." When the topic was raised at Nordqvist’s own press conference, the Swedish star seemed surprised by the implication that the course had been tampered with. "We’re in Europe in September; we know how the weather can behave," she said.
"I’m not convinced anyone deliberately set up the course to suit Europe. These players compete week after week on the same venues, so they’re used to a range of conditions. We arrived in July during a hot, dry spell, which made the course play a bit firmer.
Then, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve had a lot of rain, and this week it’s been especially wet. So if anything the greens were softer than we expected, but that’s just weather – something we can’t control." The Americans had a dramatic moment on Saturday evening when Jennifer Kupcho sank two clutch putts to clinch a late win for the visitors, bringing the overall score to an even 8‑8 instead of trailing 9‑7 heading into the final day. Stanford dismissed any suggestion that the U.S.
team had reached an emotional high point too early. "It’s tricky because you never want to take away from those moments," she explained. "The worst thing I could do would be to tell them to come down from that high.
We’re never going to see anything like that again, and they handled it well. I spoke with Kupcho and the rest of the team, and they said they felt rested but it did take a minute to settle after such an intense surge." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open, which begins on Thursday at La Sella Golf Resort. Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour will pause for a week before resuming with 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. The controversy over the green speeds highlights a broader issue in elite match play: the subtle ways that course conditions can influence outcomes. While captains and players often attribute performance to preparation and execution, factors such as weather patterns, soil moisture, and even the timing of maintenance can shift the playing field dramatically.
In this case, Stanford’s comments suggest she felt the greens were slower than the European side anticipated, potentially affecting the U.S. team's putting rhythm. However, Nordqvist’s rebuttal underscores that the course was subject to the same unpredictable European weather that all competitors face, and that any perceived advantage was likely a product of natural conditions rather than intentional design. Both captains emphasized the importance of adaptability.
Stanford admitted that she could have done more to acclimatize her team to the slower surfaces, while Nordqvist pointed out that European players are accustomed to adjusting to varying conditions throughout the season. This exchange serves as a reminder that at the highest level of women's golf, success often hinges on how quickly a team can read and respond to the course, rather than solely on raw skill. In the aftermath of the event, fans and analysts will continue to dissect the strategic decisions made by both sides.
The Solheim Cup remains one of the sport’s most passionately contested events, and the dialogue surrounding course setup will likely reappear in future editions, especially as the competition moves to new venues with different climates and terrain. For now, the 2024 match will be remembered for its tight scoreline, dramatic finishes, and the spirited debate over whether the greens were truly a disadvantage for the United States. For those interested in following the upcoming tournaments, Sky Sports offers streaming options without a contract through NOW, and golf enthusiasts can book tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland via the provided search tool.