Solheim Cup 2026: What we learned at Bernardus

Momentum swings, inspired captaincy, standout rookies and a tense final day all played their part as Europe reclaimed the trophy with a 15–13 victory over the USA.

With the scores tied at 8–8 heading into Sunday’s singles, Anna Nordqvist’s side produced its best golf when it mattered most, winning seven of the twelve available points in the rain on Sunday, to complete a memorable home victory at Bernardus Golf.

Beyond the final score, the first Solheim Cup staged in the Netherlands showed why this event continues to hold such a special place in the game. Here are our biggest takeaways from Bernardus.

Few tournaments can match the Solheim Cup for sustained drama, and this year’s contest was almost perfectly poised throughout.

Friday ended level at 4–4 before Europe opened a 7–5 advantage in Saturday morning’s foursomes. Just when it appeared the hosts might take control, Jennifer Kupcho produced two brilliant late birdies as the USA fought back to make it 8–8 heading into the final day.

That left everything resting on Sunday’s 12 singles matches. Europe briefly led in eight of them and, despite several American fightbacks, eventually secured the seven points required to win 15–13.

Similarly to the Ryder Cup, the beauty of the Solheim Cup is that every hole feels important. One putt can change the momentum of an entire session, while one player finding form at the right moment can transform the scoreboard. Bernardus provided another reminder that match play creates a type of pressure and excitement that is difficult to reproduce anywhere else in golf.

Anna Nordqvist entered the week as a first-time captain, just weeks after bringing her outstanding playing career to a close. By Sunday evening, she had added another memorable chapter to her remarkable Solheim Cup story.

Her biggest decisions centred on Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The English pair played together in all four opening sessions but collected only half a point, leaving Nordqvist with a difficult call ahead of the singles.

She responded by sending Hull out first, trusting one of Europe’s most experienced players to set the tone. Hull delivered a composed 3&2 victory over Megan Khang, giving the home side the fast start it needed.

Woad also justified her captain’s confidence, defeating Auston Kim 2&1 to move Europe to 14 points and the brink of victory. Nordqvist backed her players when the pressure was highest, and they repaid that belief when it mattered most.

Every successful Solheim Cup team needs a player who seems capable of delivering in any format. For Europe, that player was Linn Grant.

The Swede won all four of her matches to finish with a perfect 4–0–0 record, becoming only the ninth player in Solheim Cup history to achieve that feat. Her week ended with an emphatic 4&3 victory over Angel Yin in Sunday’s singles, helping Europe establish early control of the scoreboard.

Grant’s performance was even more impressive given that she had lost all four of her matches at the 2024 event. Two years later, she returned as Europe’s leading points scorer and one of the central figures in a winning team.

It was a brilliant example of how quickly fortunes can change in this competition and why previous Solheim Cup records never tell the full story.

There were questions before the event about how Europe’s four rookies would handle the intensity of a Solheim Cup. By the end of the week, those doubts had disappeared.

Nastasia Nadaud was outstanding on debut, winning three of her four matches before beating Andrea Lee 3&2 in the singles. Mimi Rhodes also collected two points, while she and Nadaud became the first rookie pairing in competition history to win two matches together.

Julia López Ramírez completed an unbeaten debut with victory over Yealimi Noh on Sunday, and Woad overcame a difficult start to the week to earn the point that moved Europe within touching distance of the trophy.

The four newcomers contributed across every format and looked completely at home on one of golf’s biggest stages. That should encourage Europe not only for this victory, but for the future of the team too.

If you wanted to explain the appeal of match play to someone new to the format, this week provided several perfect examples.

Kupcho’s finish on Saturday was one of them. With Europe threatening to take an advantage into Sunday, the American produced two huge birdie putts across the closing holes to complete a dramatic victory and pull the USA level at 8–8.

Alison Lee delivered another remarkable turnaround in the singles. Four down to Esther Henseleit with seven holes remaining, Lee won the match 1 up to complete her own perfect 4–0–0 week and give the visitors fresh hope.

Neither moment was ultimately enough to keep the trophy in American hands, but both changed the mood around the course and forced Europe to respond. That unpredictability is exactly what makes the Solheim Cup such compelling viewing.

The first Solheim Cup held in the Netherlands felt different from the moment spectators began arriving at Bernardus.

Thousands of fans embraced the local cycling culture, using the specially organised route from Den Bosch to reach the course by bike. It was a practical and memorable part of the experience, as well as a visible example of the event’s sustainability ambitions.

The atmosphere away from the fairways also reflected the host nation. Dutch food, live entertainment, family activities and interactive golf experiences helped turn the spectator village into far more than somewhere to pass the time between matches.

Around 80,000 spectators from more than 40 countries had been expected across the week, demonstrating the international pull the event now commands. Bernardus combined that scale with a welcoming, energetic atmosphere and proved an excellent first-time host.

When Europe needed someone to finish the job, it was no surprise to see Carlota Ciganda at the centre of the celebrations.

Woad’s victory had taken Europe to 14 points, with Ciganda already guaranteed at least a half in her match against Jennifer Kupcho. The Spaniard went one better, completing a 4&2 win to confirm that the trophy was returning to European hands.

It was the second time Ciganda had secured the point that decided the destination of the Cup, following her unforgettable singles victory in Spain in 2023. She is now only the second European player, after Catriona Matthew, to deliver multiple Cup-clinching points.

Some players simply seem to grow when representing their team. Ciganda’s passion, resilience and ability to perform under pressure have made her one of the defining European players of the modern Solheim Cup era.

Bernardus once again showed why the Solheim Cup belongs on every golf fan’s bucket list.

The atmosphere is passionate without losing its welcoming feel, spectators can follow the matches closely and the format produces drama from the opening tee shot to the final putt. It offers the chance to see many of the world’s best players while experiencing the colour, noise and emotion that only team golf can create.

The next edition heads to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from 8–10 September 2028. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course has already hosted multiple PGA Championships and the 2008 Ryder Cup, making it a fitting stage for the next chapter of this rivalry.

After everything we witnessed in the Netherlands, Valhalla is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting tournament experiences of 2028. With Europe will arrive as holders and the USA determined to win the trophy back on home soil you can be there for every shot with Golfbreaks.

The 2026 Solheim Cup was about far more than Europe regaining the trophy. It was a celebration of women’s golf, a showcase for a new generation of players and another reminder of what makes team golf so special.

Nordqvist’s leadership, Grant’s flawless record, Europe’s fearless rookies and Ciganda’s decisive finish will all be remembered. So too will the colour of the Dutch crowds and a host venue that gave the competition an identity of its own.

If Bernardus taught us anything, it is that the Solheim Cup continues to grow without losing the closeness, tension and personality that make it unique. Valhalla now has plenty to live up to.