Europe saved its best golf for when it mattered most.
Entering Sunday tied with the United States, 8-8, Team Europe seized control of the singles session and reclaimed the Solheim Cup with a 15-13 victory at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Captain Anna Nordqvist’s European squad won seven of the 12 singles points on the final day, turning what had been a dead-even competition through two days into another memorable European victory on home soil.
Europe has now won four of the last five Solheim Cups, with the only American victory during that stretch coming in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
The teams had traded blows throughout the opening two days before finishing Saturday tied at 8-8, leaving all 12 Sunday singles matches to decide the Cup.
Europe quickly grabbed the momentum.
Charley Hull, sent out first by Nordqvist, delivered a 3-and-2 victory over Megan Khang to put Europe on the front foot. Linn Grant and rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez were also among the Europeans producing important wins as blue began filling the leaderboard.
Europe ultimately won six of the first eight completed singles matches, putting the United States in an increasingly desperate position as the afternoon unfolded.
Then came Lottie Woad.
The English star defeated Auston Kim, 2 and 1, with a short putt at the 17th hole, taking Europe to the brink of reclaiming the trophy as the remaining matches were still being decided.
Veteran Carlota Ciganda supplied another exclamation point.
Ciganda defeated Jennifer Kupcho, 4 and 2, ensuring Europe had the points necessary to reclaim the Cup and continuing her reputation as one of Europe’s most dependable performers in the event.
It was an especially fitting finish after Ciganda had already played a critical role earlier in the week. On Friday, she rolled in a pressure putt on the 18th hole to salvage a half-point alongside rookie Lopez Ramirez against Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin, helping Europe finish the opening day tied 4-4.
The Americans had appeared to grab momentum late Saturday.
Europe carried a 7-5 lead into Saturday afternoon four-ball, but the United States fought back to square the competition at 8-8 entering Sunday. That comeback ensured neither side had any margin for error in singles.
But Europe was simply better when the format shifted to head-to-head golf.
The Americans did produce several notable performances. Alison Lee completed a dramatic comeback against Esther Henseleit, rallying from four holes down to win 1 up — the largest comeback in Solheim Cup singles history.
It wasn’t enough.
Europe’s depth across the lineup proved decisive, allowing Nordqvist’s team to overwhelm an American squad captained by Angela Stanford during the most important session of the week.
For the United States, the loss also continued a lengthy drought on European soil. The Americans have not won an away Solheim Cup since 2015.
The victory marked Europe’s eighth Solheim Cup triumph overall and restored the trophy it surrendered to the Americans two years ago.
More importantly, it reinforced Europe’s recent command of the rivalry.
The Americans arrived in the Netherlands as defending champions and were level through 16 sessions of team play.
Then Sunday arrived.
And Europe took over.
