The top LPGA (and LET) players from the United States and Europe will tee it up this week at Bernardus Golf GC in the Netherlands for the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup.
Team USA enters the match-play tournament as the defending champs, having won in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. The Euros have won or retained five of the last eight matches.
Overall, the USA leads the biennial series, which launched in 1990, 11-8.
The Skinny
Tournament: Solheim Cup
Tournament Debut: 1990
Dates: Sep. 11-13, 2026
Where: Cromvoirt, Netherlands
Venue: Bernardus Golf Club
Architect: Kyle Phillips
Format: Team Match Play
Field Size: 24 (12 per team)
Trophy: Solheim Cup
Captains: Angela Stanford (USA), Anna Nordqvist (EUR)
2024 Champion: USA
How to Follow the Solheim Cup
Television/Streaming:
Thu, Sep 12
Opening Ceremonies
4-6 p.m. (GOLF)
Fri, Sep 13
Morning Foursomes (4 matches)
7 a.m.-12 p.m. (GOLF)
Afternoon Fourball (4 matches)
12-6 p.m. (GOLF)
Sat, Sep 14
Morning Foursomes (4 matches)
7 a.m.-12 p.m. (GOLF)
Afternoon Fourball (4 matches)
12-3 p.m. (GOLF)
3-6 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
6-6:30 p.m. (GOLF)
Sun, Sep 15
Sunday Singles (12 matches)
8:45 a.m.-12 p.m. (GOLF)
12-3 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
3-4 p.m. (GOLF)
Links:
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Solheim Cup History
The event is named after the Karsten Solheim, the golf equipment manufacturer, and founder of PING Golf, who was the brainchild of the event.
The Norwegian immigrant was working as an engineer at General Electric when he took up golf at the age of 42 and brought science to the game, coming up with the idea of perimeter weighting, first with the putter then with irons, eventually establishing the revolutionary equipment company PING.
A staunch supporter of women’s golf and the LPGA, Solheim saw the rise in popularity of the Ryder Cup after Europe ended America’s long domination with victories in 1985 and ’87 and a halve in 1989. In 1990, he put his name and his money behind the women’s version of the Ryder Cup. The first competition was thrown together in less than six months and held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club with no TV coverage, and sparse galleries.
The inaugural U.S. team was captained by Kathy Whitworth, leader in career LPGA victories (88). The American team was comprised of five future Hall of Fame members: Betsy King, Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, Beth Daniel, and Patty Sheehan — each of whom would go on to captain an American Solheim Cup team. The U.S. women won in a blowout, 11.5 to 4.5.
The Americans dominated the Solheim Cup matches early on, winning eight (8) of the first eleven (11) editions. But the Euros have claimed the trophy in five of the last eight.
History: Recent Winners
2024: USA 15.5-12.5 (Viginia, USA)
2023: EUR 14-14 (Spain)
2021: EUR 15-13 (Ohio, USA)
2019: EUR 14.5-13.5 (Scotland)
2017: USA 16.5-11.5 (Iowa, USA)
2015: USA 14.5-13.5 (Germany)
2013: EUR 18-10 (Colorado, USA)
2011: EUR 15-13 (Ireland)
History: Records
Largest Margin of Victory
8 – 18-10 Europe (2013)
Closest Margin of Victory
Tie – 14-14 Europe retains (2023)
Appearances
12 – Laura Davies (EUR) 1990-2011
Career Points
25 – Laura Davies (EUR) Total
11.5 – Cristie Kerr (USA) Fourball
11.5 – Annika Sorenstam (EUR) Foursome
7 – Juli Inkster (USA) Singles
Oldest Player
51Y/91D – Juli Inkster (USA) 2011
Youngest Player
17Y/149D – Charley Hull (EUR) 2013
2026 Solheim Cup Teams
The 2026 Solheim Cup will feature captains Angela Stanford (USA) and Anna Nordqvist (EUR).
Stanford will have a more experienced Solheim Cup roster with just two rookies: Auston Kim and Lindy Duncan. Team Europe will have four rookies: Lottie Woad, Mimi Rhodes, Nastasia Nadaud, and Julia Lopez Ramirez.
American stars with the most Solheim Cup appearances include Nelly Korda (4), Megan Khang (4), Angel Yin (3) and Jennifer Kupcho (3).
The European squad, despite four rookies, will also feature four players with at least three prior Solheim Cup appearances: Charley Hull (7), Carlota Ciganda (7), Celine Boutier (4), and Leona Maguire (3).
In total, the Euros have 27 Solheim Cup appearances under their belts while the Americans have 24. In terms of match wins, the Europeans combine for 50 victories while the Americans can claim 44.
In terms of a winning percentage, the American players boast an impressive 60.5% W clip, while the Euro roster’s collective victory percentage is 52.5%.
Team USA features the four top-25 ranked players in the world: Nelly Korda (No. 1), Lauren Coughlin (17), Auston Kim (22), and Angel Yin (25). The Euros, meanwhile, have three players ranked in the top 25 but two are in the top 10: Lottie Woad (7), Charley Hull (8) and Esther Henseleit (21).
Team USA Roster
Captain Angela Stanford
- Served as vice-captain in 2021, 2023, and 2024
- 7-time winner on LPGA Tour, 1 major win
- Has appeared in six (6) Solheim Cups as a player
- Asst Captains: Kristy McPherson, Paula Creamer and Brittany Lang
Nelly Korda (28)
Cup Experience: 4 (2019-)
Record: 10-5-1
Rolex Rank: 1st
Native: Bradenton, FL
College: N/A
Lauren Coughlin (33)
Cup Experience: 1
Record: 3-0-1
Rolex Rank: 17th
Native: Minneapolis, MN
College: Virginia
Auston Kim (26)
Cup Experience: Rookie
Record: 0-0-0
Rolex Rank: 22nd
Native: St. Augustine, FL
College: Vanderbilt
Angel Yin (27)
Cup Experience: 3 (2021-)
Record: 5-3-1
Rolex Rank: 2nd
Native: Fountain Valley, CA
College: UCLA
Allisen Corpuz (28)
Cup Experience: 2 (2023-)
Record: 5-2-1
Rolex Rank: 32nd
Native: Honolulu, HI
College: USC
Jennifer Kupcho (29)
Cup Experience: 3 (2021-)
Record: 3-5-2
Rolex Rank: 33rd
Native: Littleton, CO
College: Wake Forest
Yealimi Noh (25)
Cup Experience: 1 (2021)
Record: 2-1-0
Rolex Rank: 43rd
Native: Concord, CA
College: N/A
Andrea Lee (28)
Cup Experience: 2 (2023-)
Record: 3-2-2
Rolex Rank: 45th
Native: Los Angeles, CA
College: Stanford
Rose Zhang (23)
Cup Experience: 2 (2023-)
Record: 4-2-1
Rolex Rank: 47th
Native: Arcadia, CA
College: Stanford
Alison Lee (31)
Cup Experience: 2 (2015, 2024)
Record: 2-5-0
Rolex Rank: 58th
Native: Los Angeles, CA
College: UCLA
Lindy Duncan (35)
Cup Experience: Rookie
Record: 0-0-0
Rolex Rank: 66th
Native: Fort Lauderdale, FL
College: Duke
Megan Khang (28)
Cup Experience: 1 (2019-)
Record: 7-3-3
Rolex Rank: 82nd
Native: Brockton, MA
College: N/A
Team USA: By the Numbers
Average Age: 28.4
Youngest: Rose Zhang (23)
Oldest: Lindy Duncan (35)
Combined Record: 44-28-12
Combined Winning Pctg: 60.5%
Combined Appearances: 24
Average Rolex Ranking: 39.25
Highest Ranked Player: Nelly Korda (1)
Solheim Cup Rookies: 2
Team Europe Roster
Captain Anna Nordqvist
- Served as vice captain in 2023 and 2024
- 3-time major winner
- Has appeared in nine (9) Solheim Cups with 17-15-3 record
- One of Europe’s all time great successful players
- Asst Captains: Caroline Hedwall, Mel Reid, and Ann van Dam
Lottie Woad (22)
Cup Experience: Rookie
Record: 0-0-0
Rolex Rank: 7th
Native: Surrey, ENG
Nationality: England
Charley Hull (30)
Cup Experience: 7 (2013-)
Record: 15-9-3
Rolex Rank: 8th
Native: Kettering, ENG
Nationality: England
Esther Henseleit (27)
Cup Experience: 1 (2024)
Record: 1-1-1-
Rolex Rank: 21st
Native: Varel, GER
Nationality: Germany
Maja Stark (26)
Cup Experience: 2 (2023-)
Record: 3-3-2
Rolex Rank: 29th
Native: Skurup, SWE
Nationality: Sweden
Céline Boutier (32)
Cup Experience: 4 (2019-)
Record: 7-6-1
Rolex Rank: 35th
Native: Montrouge, FRA
Nationality: France
Carlota Ciganda (36)
Cup Experience: 7 (2013-)
Record: 12-11-4
Rolex Rank: 60th
Native: Pamplona, ESP
Nationality: Spain
Linn Grant (27)
Cup Experience: 2 (2023-)
Record: 3-6-0
Rolex Rank: 61st
Native: Helsingborg, SWE
Nationality: Sweden
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (31)
Cup Experience: 1 (2021)
Record: 1-1-0
Rolex Rank: 68th
Native: Copenhagen, DEN
Nationality: Denmark
Leona Maguire (31)
Cup Experience: 3 (2021-)
Record: 8-3-1
Rolex Rank: 80th
Native: County Cavan, IRE
Nationality: Ireland
Nastasia Nadaud (21)
Cup Experience: Rookie
Record: 0-0-0
Rolex Rank: 90th
Native: Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains, FRA
Nationality: France
Julia López Ramírez (23)
Cup Experience: Rookie
Record: 0-0-0
Rolex Rank: 98th
Native: Málaga, ESP
Nationality: Spain
Mimi Rhodes (24)
Cup Experience: Rookie
Record: 0-0-0
Rolex Rank: 107th
Native: Somerset, ENG
Nationality: England
Team Europe: By the Numbers
Average Age: 27.5
Youngest: Nastasia Nadaud (21)
Oldest: Carlota Ciganda (36)
Combined Record: 50-40-13
Combined Winning Pctg: 52.5%
Combined Appearances: 27
Average Rolex Ranking: 55.3
Highest Ranked Player: Lottie Woad (7)
Solheim Cup Rookies: 4
Sources/Credit: LPGA Communications, Solheim Cup, Getty Images
