Europe regained the Solheim Cup after producing a superb final-day singles performance to beat the United States 15-13 at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Anna Nordqvist’s side began a rain-hit Sunday tied at 8-8 with Angela Stanford’s American team and needing 6½ points from the 12 singles matches to reclaim the trophy they lost two years ago.
With the contest finely balanced, Nordqvist sent Charley Hull out first and the Englishwoman immediately rewarded her captain’s faith.
Hull had collected only half a point during the opening two days alongside fellow Englishwoman Lottie Woad, but rediscovered her best golf when it mattered, beating Megan Khang 3&2 to put the first European point on the board. It set the tone for a team that has not lost a Solheim Cup singles session since 2015.
Linn Grant added another European victory with a win over Angel Yin, completing a perfect week, although Alison Lee provided an early American response with a remarkable comeback against Esther Henseleit. Lee recovered from four holes down to win 1up, completing the biggest singles comeback in Solheim Cup history.
Hull and Woad finally deliver
Woad then ensured her difficult opening two days ended on a high. The highly rated rookie defeated fellow debutant Auston Kim 2&1, sparking huge celebrations around the 17th green, as it took Europe’s tally to 14 points, with Carlotta Ciganda, playing in the final match, already guaranteed a half-point being 3up with three holes to play.
Hull was among the first to congratulate her, joking: “Finally got our points, didn’t we Lottie?”
Any questions over Nordqvist’s decision to repeatedly pair two of her highest-ranked players over the first two days were ultimately answered by their singles performances.
“It was the no-brainer to put Charley first,” said Nordqvist. “We saw the stats and Charley and Lottie were actually top-four players that made the most birdies for the week. They just played really tough matches.”
Rookies to the fore
Europe’s rookies proved particularly important. Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez beat Yealimi Noh 3&2, while France’s Nastasia Nadaud defeated Andrea Lee by the same margin. Both had already impressed during the foursomes and fourballs and again demonstrated their ability to perform under the pressure of Solheim Cup golf.
Mimi Rhodes was unable to add another European point, losing 4&2 to world number one Nelly Korda, but the contribution of Europe’s four debutants across the week proved crucial.
The honour of securing the trophy, however, belonged to Carlota Ciganda. The Spaniard headed to the 16th three holes up against Jennifer Kupcho, guaranteeing Europe would reach the 14½ points required for victory. Ciganda then completed the job to officially put Europe over the winning line.
It was a particularly fitting conclusion after the drama of Saturday evening, when Kupcho had holed an extraordinary 91-foot putt on the 17th before adding a 30-footer at the last to snatch a fourballs point from Ciganda. Less than 24 hours later, the Spaniard had her revenge.
Ciganda also joined an exclusive group by becoming only the second player to secure the decisive Solheim Cup point twice, having previously delivered the winning point in 2023. Catriona Matthew is the only other player to achieve the feat, doing so for Europe in 2003 and 2013.
US flattered by final score
The Americans continued to fight. Lauren Coughlin ended Leona Maguire’s unbeaten singles record, Lindy Duncan defeated Maja Stark and Korda overcame Rhodes, while Rose Zhang beat Celine Boutier in the final match on the course.
But the damage had already been done and the United States’ wait for a first Solheim Cup victory on European soil since 2015 was extended.
“The Europeans played great, and that’s the way it goes,” admitted Stanford. “Their backs were against the wall, they had nothing to lose, and that’s exactly what they did, they came out and played well.”
For Nordqvist, victory provided the perfect conclusion to two years of preparation and vindicated her selections and strategy.
“We just had a really good vibe all week. Everyone’s been really good team-mates,” the winning European captain said. “We talked a lot about the fast starts this week with the way the golf course was. I’m just really, really proud of the players for starting strong and even finishing strong.”
She added: “There’s just been so much hard work this week and in the last two years leading up to this from not only me, but all the background team. The helpers have been amazing this week, making it easy for the players just to play.”
On a dramatic afternoon at Bernardus, that work paid off as Europe reclaimed women’s golf’s biggest team prize and once again celebrated Solheim Cup glory on home soil.
For all the scores at the 2026 Solheim Cup, click here.
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