Team Europe has once again seized the Solheim Cup, edging out Team USA 15-13 after a dramatic singles day on Dutch soil. Entering the final round at Bernardus Golf on a rain‑soaked Sunday, the competition was dead‑locked at 8-8, meaning Europe needed just 6.5 points from the remaining matches to clinch the trophy. Two years after a heartbreaking loss to the Americans, the Europeans entered with confidence, spearheaded by Charley Hull, who opened the singles session with a decisive 3&2 victory over Megan Khang, instantly putting Europe on the board. The early momentum shifted quickly.
Anna Nordqvist’s side briefly held a lead in eight of the twelve singles matches, and the advantage widened when Linn Grant defeated Angel Yin, completing a flawless week for the Swede. Grant’s win not only added a crucial point but also cemented her place in Solheim Cup history as only the ninth player ever to finish a campaign with a perfect 4-0-0 record. However, the Americans were not ready to surrender. Alison Lee staged a remarkable comeback, erasing a four‑hole deficit to defeat Esther Henseleit 1 up, injecting fresh hope into the U.S.
camp. World No. 1 Nelly Korda responded by beating rookie Mimi Rhodes 4&3, leveling the overall tally. Subsequent wins from France’s Nastasia Nadaud, Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, and Spain’s Julia López Ramírez nudged Europe closer to the target.
Lottie Woad’s triumph over Auston Kim lifted the hosts to 14 points, sparking jubilant celebrations among the European contingent. Meanwhile, veteran Carlota Ciganda secured at least a half‑point, and later delivered the decisive blow by defeating Jennifer Kupcho, sealing the victory on home soil. The day’s drama unfolded against a backdrop of technical prompts urging viewers to use Chrome for a more accessible video player – a reminder of the modern, digital nature of today’s sports coverage.
Earlier on Saturday, Kupcho’s spectacular late‑round birdies had convinced Team USA captain Angela Stanford that the tide had turned in their favor. Yet Europe rebounded with vigor on the final day, demonstrating why they are a force to be reckoned with. Hull, who had previously thrashed Korda 6&4 in the 2022 singles, was again entrusted with the opening match.
She opened with a par on the first hole and never relinquished the lead, matching Khang’s birdie on the eighth and then conquering both back‑nine par‑fives to secure a full point. Hull reflected on her performance, saying, "I’ve given myself many chances throughout the week, and today I finally found consistency – hitting plenty of greens and staying steady, even if I didn’t make a lot of birdies." Grant’s flawless 4&3 victory over Yin placed her among an elite group of Solheim Cup players with an unbeaten record. Alison Lee mirrored Grant’s resilience, rallying from four down with just seven holes left to defeat Henseleit, a comeback that underscored the unpredictable nature of match play.
Lee noted, "The front nine was tough with rain pouring down, limiting my birdie opportunities, but once the weather cleared my game found its rhythm." Korda’s 4&3 win over Rhodes was hailed as her performance of the week, but Europe’s other rookies also delivered. Nadaud beat Andrea Lee 3&2 for her third win in her debut, while López Ramírez capped an unbeaten start by overcoming Yealimi Noh. Madsen, having previously bested Allisen Corpuz, and Woad, who recovered from three consecutive lost holes on the back nine to defeat Kim, kept Europe on the brink of victory.
Ciganda, after building an early lead against Kupcho, clinched the winning point, prompting her jubilant comment, "I’m so happy – this team has been fantastic all week, perhaps one of the best squads we’ve assembled in recent years." Team USA’s rookie Lindy Duncan halted Maja Stark’s perfect run, and Lauren Coughlin handed Leona Maguire her first Solheim singles loss, slightly narrowing the margin. Meanwhile, Rose Zhang defeated Celine Boutier 2 up, leaving the Frenchwoman without a point for the week. European captain Anna Nordqvist praised the collective effort, stating, "The amount of hard work from the players and the entire support staff over the past two years has paid off. The atmosphere has been positive, everyone has been a great teammate, and we focused on strong starts given the course conditions.
I’m incredibly proud of how we began and finished the competition." U.S. captain Angela Stanford acknowledged Europe’s tenacity: "We made many right decisions leading up to the event and fought hard, staying on the same page.
The Europeans played brilliantly today – they had nothing to lose, and that freedom allowed them to perform at their best. Congratulations to them." Looking ahead, the Ladies European Tour will travel to Spain for the La Sella Open at La Sella Golf Resort, commencing Thursday. The LPGA Tour will observe a brief hiatus 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.
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