The European Women saved their best for last Sunday, overpowering the United States in singles to reclaim the Solheim Cup with a 15-13 victory at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Tied at 8-all after two intense days, Europe needed 6½ points from the 12 singles matches to take back the trophy.
Captain Anna Nordqvist’s side delivered seven, drawing energy from a fast start, a flawless week by Linn Grant and a closing surge that brought the home crowd to life even in the Dutch rain.
The result ended the Americans’ two-year hold on the Cup after their 2024 victory in Virginia and gave Europe another memorable triumph on home soil. The U.S. has not won a Solheim Cup in Europe since 2015.
Charley Hull was smokin’ in setting the tone from the opening match. After a frustrating week alongside rookie Lottie Woad in the team sessions, Hull was sent out first by Nordqvist and responded with the kind of attacking, emotional performance for which she is known. Hull beat Megan Khang, 3 and 2, supplying the first European point and immediately turning the scoreboard blue.
Europe’s early advantage was reinforced by Grant, who capped a perfect 4-0-0 week with a commanding 4-and-3 victory over Angel Yin.
Grant was the steadiest player on either side throughout the week, winning all four of her matches and emerging as the centerpiece of a European team that found its form when the Cup was on the line. Maja Stark also continued her strong week, finishing with three overall points.
The Americans were far from done. Alison Lee produced one of the day’s most remarkable reversals, rallying from 4 down to defeat Esther Henseleit, 1 up. Lee’s comeback briefly offered Angela Stanford’s U.S. team a way back into a contest that was beginning to tilt toward Europe.
But the European side had too many answers in the middle and late portions of the lineup. The home team was in front in as many as eight singles matches at one point, a reflection of the pressure it applied across the board rather than through one isolated burst.
Woad, Europe’s highly regarded rookie, had endured a difficult opening two days. She and Hull had failed to win in their four partner matches, and Woad entered Sunday still seeking her first Solheim Cup victory. But the 22-year-old delivered at the most important moment, defeating Auston Kim, 2 and 1.
Woad’s short par putt at the 17th moved Europe to the 14½-point mark required to regain the Cup. It was the decisive mathematical moment, touching off celebrations from the European players as fans gathered around the green.
Carlota Ciganda then supplied the emphatic finishing touch. Ciganda, who had already played a vital role in Europe retaining the Cup in her native Spain in 2023, defeated Jennifer Kupcho, 4 and 2, to officially seal the trophy. Ciganda’s win lifted the final margin to 15-13 and gave Europe a seventh point from singles.
The U.S. took five singles points, but its rally came too late. Lauren Coughlin beat Leona Maguire, 2 and 1, while Rose Zhang won the final match to reduce the eventual margin. Still, the Americans could not overcome Europe’s strength at the top and bottom of the order.
For Nordqvist, the result validated a bold Sunday lineup that put Hull out first and trusted Woad in a pivotal late match. For Europe, it was a victory built on composure, depth and a surge when the format shifted from partnerships to being individual woman in the arena.
Grant’s unbeaten 4-0 record led the way, while rookies Nastasia Nadaud and Woad helped deliver crucial contributions. In the end, Europe turned a perfectly balanced contest after 16 matches into a familiar scene: champagne on the green and the Solheim Cup back in European hands.
