Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup on Sunday at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands, defeating the United States 15-13 in a decisive display of team strength. After entering the final day locked in an 8-8 stalemate, Europe’s top-ranked stars and rookie contingent rose to the occasion to secure the trophy.
Charley Hull set the tone for the final day by leading the team out and earning a 3&2 victory over American competitor Megan Khang. The win provided an essential early lift for Anna Nordqvist’s squad, maintaining Europe’s unbeaten record in the singles format since 2015.
Reflecting on the decision to lead with Hull, Captain Nordqvist noted, “It was the no-brainer to put Charley first.” She pointed to statistics showing Hull and her partner Lottie Woad were among the most prolific birdie-makers throughout the week, despite previously challenging matches. Nordqvist added that putting the team’s best players in high-pressure spots was a deliberate strategy to finish strong.
Lottie Woad further cemented her impact with a 2&1 win over fellow debutant Auston Kim, prompting celebrations on the 17th green. Hull was quick to congratulate her teammate, quipping, “Finally got our points, didn’t we, Lottie?” The success of the rookie class continued with Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, who defeated Yealimi Noh 3&2, and France’s Nastasia Nadaud, who secured a victory over Andrea Lee by the same margin.
Veteran Carlota Ciganda secured the winning point for Europe, triumphing over Jennifer Kupcho to push the home side past the 14½ threshold required for victory. Ciganda’s performance marked the second time in her career she has clinched the deciding point in the Solheim Cup, joining Catriona Matthew as the only other player to achieve that feat twice.
The victory was particularly meaningful given the intensity of the previous day’s play. On Saturday evening, the US team had celebrated Kupcho’s dramatic 91-foot putt on the 17th and a 30-foot conversion on the 18th with a social media post showing them with a crate of beer. Ciganda acknowledged the challenge, stating, “She’s a fighter, I’m a fighter, and what she did was amazing on 17 and 18. But [on Sunday] I knew she had no chance.”
US captain Angela Stanford noted the disparity in performance as her team struggled with the speed of the greens, which appeared slower than expected. “We don’t play on greens this slow usually,” Stanford remarked. “I’m a little frustrated with myself that I didn’t drive that point home.” She suggested the European team managed the wet conditions more effectively, noting that the Americans failed to convert enough putts.
While American players Nelly Korda, Lauren Coughlin, Lindy Duncan, and Alison Lee contributed points on Sunday, it was insufficient to reverse the deficit. Notably, Coughlin ended Leona Maguire’s unbeaten singles streak, and Alison Lee mounted the largest comeback in Solheim Cup history, rallying from four holes down to defeat Esther Henseleit 1UP. Despite these efforts, the United States remains without a win on European soil since 2015.
By the time Rose Zhang finished her match with a 2UP victory over Celine Boutier, the celebrations for the European team were already underway, marking a successful end to a hard-fought competition in the Netherlands. The report also notes that how Europe won the 2026 Solheim Cup. The report also notes that charley Hull got the ball rolling as Europe’s big names finally came to the fore in Sunday’s singles as they wrestled the Solheim Cup back from the USA with a 15-13 victory in the Netherlands. The report also notes that hull, who had garnered just half a point across the first two days in an unprofitable partnership with fellow Englishwoman Lottie Woad, led Europe out again on Sunday and claimed a 3&2 win over American livewire Megan Khang. The report also notes that woad, who alongside Hull is ranked among the top 10 players in the world, also delivered, with her 2&1 win over fellow debutant Auston Kim sparking wild celebrations on the 17th green at Bernardus Golf Club. The report also notes that it assured the hosts of reaching the 14½-point tally required to triumph in the biggest team competition in women’s golf, with Carlota Ciganda three holes up heading on to the 16th. The report also notes that any question marks over Nordqvist’s captaincy had revolved around repeatedly pairing her two star English players together over the first two days.
