Team Europe has reclaimed the Solheim Cup after an impressive singles display saw them beat Team USA 15-13 on an eventful day in the Netherlands.
Europe went to a rainy Sunday at Bernardus Golf tied 8-8 and required at least 6.5 points to win, two years after losing to Team USA, with Charley Hull leading from the front to beat Megan Khang 3&2 and put the early Blues on the board.
Anna Nordqvist’s side briefly led in eight of 12 games and went further when Linn Grant beat Angel Yin, capping her perfect week, but Alison Lee gave Team USA hope with a record four-down comeback to beat Esther Henseleit 1 up.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda leveled the contest when she saw off rookie Mimi Rhodes 4&3, but wins for Nastasia Nadaud, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Julia Lopez Ramirez moved Europe closer to victory.
Lottie Woad beat Auston Kim to take the hosts to 14 points and ignited European celebrations, with Ciganda guaranteed at least half a point, before the veteran – whose 2023 singles win saw them stay in Spain – beat Jennifer Kupcho to confirm home victory.
How Team Europe claimed Europe to Solheim Cup glory
Kupcho’s sensational late night on Saturday left Team USA captain Angela Stanford feeling like they had ‘turned the tide’ in their favour, only for Team Europe to quickly take charge on the final day.
Hull defeated Korda 6&4 in the singles two years ago and was tipped to top Europe again, despite recording 0.5 points with Woad over the first four sessions, with the Englishwoman proving Nordqvist’s decision by claiming a full point.
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Charley Hull and Megan Khang both asked the Solheim Cup crowd to make some noise before the singles began.
The eight-time Solheim Cup player won the opening hole with a par and never trailed behind Khang, with Hull matching the American’s birdie at the eighth and then winning both bogeys on the back nine to seal victory.
“I’ve given myself so many chances so it’s been quite frustrating,” Hull admitted. “Obviously I didn’t make a lot of holes today, but I was just very consistent, hit a lot of greens.”
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Charley Hull beat Megan Khang 3&2 during the Solheim Cup singles session, ensuring Europe got off to a winning start
Grant became the ninth player in history to post a 4-0-0 record or after a dominant 4&3 win over Yin, with American Lee matching the Swede’s record by coming back from four down with seven holes to stun Henseleit in the second game.
“I just did my best to stay consistent,” Lee said. “That front nine was very difficult with the rain coming down. I couldn’t give myself any chances for birdies and I put myself in a good spot. “Thankfully the weather turned around, and so did my golf game.”
Korda produced her performance of the week against Rhodes, but the other three European rookies all returned points, with Nadaud beating Andrea Lee 3&2 for a third win on her debut before Lopez Ramirez capped an unbeaten debut by beating Yealimi Noh.
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French rookie Nastasia Nadaud earned a vital point for Europe after beating Andrea Lee 3&2, her third win in four matches.
Madsen had matched Allisen Corpuz before Woad recovered from three holes in a row on the back nine to beat Kim and put Europe on the brink after a brief period of Team USA momentum, while Ciganda quickly built an early lead against Kupcho and earned the winning point.
“I’m very happy,” Ciganda said. “I think we’ve had a great team all week. I think it’s been one of the best teams we’ve had in years.”
Team USA rookie Lindy Duncan ended Maja Stark’s perfect record and Lauren Coughlin handed Leona Maguire her first ever defeat at Solheim to narrow the margin of victory, while Rose Zhang beat Celine Boutier 2 up in the final game to leave the Frenchwoman pointless for her week.
Nordqvist relishes ‘amazing’ win as Stanford praises Europe
Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist:
“There’s been a lot of hard work this week and in the last two years leading up to this not only from me but from the whole backroom team. The assistants have been great this week, making it easy for the players to play.
“We’ve just had a really good atmosphere all week. Everyone’s been really good teammates. We talked a lot about the fast starts this week with the way the golf course was. I’m very, very proud of the players who started strong and even finished strong.”
US team captain Angela Stanford:
“I think we did a lot of things leading up to it and I know we did. They fought hard and we always seemed to be on the same page.
“The Europeans played brilliantly today and that’s the way it goes. Their backs were against the wall, they had nothing to lose, and that’s exactly what they did. They came out and played well, so good for them.”
More to follow…
What’s next?
The Ladies European Tour heads to Spain after the La Sella Open, which begins Thursday at La Sella Golf Resort, while the LPGA Tour takes a week off before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship Sept. 25-27.
The next edition of the Solheim Cup will be in 2028 and will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8-10 of that year. Get the latest Sky Sports offers OR transmission without contract in TANI.
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