Europe secured a 15-13 victory over the United States in the 2026 Solheim Cup held at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, extending their strong recent record in the biennial women’s team golf event. The competition was closely contested, with the two teams tied at 8-8 heading into the decisive singles matches on the final day. Europe’s team, captained by Anna Nordqvist, overcame underdog status to clinch the cup on home continent soil, marking their first win abroad since 2015.
Nordqvist, 39, who announced her retirement from competitive golf just weeks before the event, led Europe to a notable comeback, drawing on a mix of experienced players and four rookies. Despite doubts about some of her captaincy choices early in the tournament, Nordqvist’s faith in players such as Charley Hull and Lottie Woad was ultimately vindicated. Hull, ranked eighth in the world, delivered a strong start by defeating Megan Khang 3&2 in the opening singles match without dropping a hole, setting a confident tone for the European side.
Woad, ranked seventh, also made a significant contribution by securing the winning point for Europe with a 2&1 victory over Auston Kim. Her final tap-in putt went unnoticed by Woad as the match-winning stroke, but it sent the European team past the threshold for retaining the cup. Spanish golfer Carlota Ciganda added to Europe’s tally with a 4&2 win against Jennifer Kupcho to formalize the victory, completing a singles session dominated by the home continent.
The United States, led by captain Angela Stanford, faced challenges in mounting a consistent response during the final day’s singles matches. Stanford acknowledged Europe’s strong play and expressed no regrets over her team’s performance, though she suggested there may be changes to future captaincy as part of long-term planning.
Europe’s comeback was marked by notable performances beyond Hull and Woad, including wins from Linn Grant, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Nastasia Nadaud in her Solheim debut, and Julia López Ramírez. The event also produced one of the biggest comebacks in Solheim Cup history, as Alison Lee rallied from large deficits to win her match on the final hole, although the broader momentum favored Europe.
The tournament unfolded in a spirit of competitive respect, with minor tensions arising only once when American player Nelly Korda engaged with an enthusiastic member of the crowd supporting Europe. Overall, Bernardus Golf provided a fitting stage for the dramatic conclusion of the 2026 Solheim Cup.
For Nordqvist, the victory was a fitting and emotional capstone to her playing career and captaincy, marked by gratitude for family support and pride in the group she led. The European team’s resilience under pressure and success in singles secured their place atop women’s team golf for another two years.