Solheim Cup 2026: What we learned at Bernardus

Momentum swings, inspired captaincy, standout rookies and a tense final day all played their part as Team USA were narrowly defeated 15-13 by Team Europe.

With the scores tied at 8–8 heading into Sunday’s singles, Team USA pushed all the way, however 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 and without a doubt gave Team USA fans all the hope they need that their team can regain the cup in 2028. 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.

Team USA may have left Bernardus without the trophy, but it never allowed Europe to take control of the contest without answering back.

That resilience was clearest late on Saturday. With Europe threatening to carry a lead into the final day, Jennifer Kupcho produced two clutch birdies over the closing holes to help the Americans draw level at 8–8.

The fight continued during Sunday’s singles. Several American players recovered from early deficits, forcing Europe to earn every point before eventually completing its 15–13 victory.

With the next Solheim Cup taking place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, Team USA will have both home support and plenty of motivation. The determination displayed at Bernardus suggests the foundation for a strong response is already in place.

Anna Nordqvist entered the week as a first-time captain, just weeks after bringing her outstanding playing career to a close. By Sunday evening, despite Team USA throwing everything they had at her, she 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.

Alison Lee provided one of Team USA’s biggest success stories, completing the week with a perfect 4–0–0 record.

Her most dramatic contribution came in Sunday’s singles. Four down to Esther Henseleit with seven holes remaining, Lee produced a remarkable comeback to win 1 up and keep American hopes alive.

The victory captured everything Team USA showed throughout the week: resilience, belief, and a refusal to concede when the scoreboard appeared to be moving in Europe’s favor.

Lee’s performance was not enough to change the final result, but going unbeaten in four matches placed her among the outstanding players of the tournament, and gave US fans a memorable moment to celebrate.

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 organized 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.

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 arriving as holders and Team USA determined to win the trophy back on home soil you can be there for every shot with Golfbreaks.

Europe left Bernardus with the trophy, but the 2026 Solheim Cup also offered plenty of encouragement for Team USA. Alison Lee completed a perfect week, Jennifer Kupcho delivered under pressure, and the Americans remained in contention until the closing stages of Sunday’s singles.

Attention now turns to Valhalla, where Team USA will have the opportunity to answer this defeat in front of a home crowd. If Bernardus was any indication, the 2028 rematch should be one of the most anticipated golf events on the US sporting calendar.