2026 Solheim Cup Preview

The 20th edition of the Solheim Cup takes place this week outside of Amsterdam at Bernardus Golf. The biennial competition between the U.S. and Europe — which was initially turned down by former LPGA Commissioner John Laupheimer for the sake of it potentially being too one-sided in favor of the Americans — has evolved into one of the biggest events in women’s golf. And it is anything but one-sided. The Americans still lead the series overall with an 11-7-1 record, but the Europeans have recently won three cups in a row from 2019-2023. The U.S. rebounded in 2024 with a much-needed win at home, and this year’s cup feels very much up for grabs. Expect a tightly contested affair coming down to the last few singles matches. 

The Golf Course

Golf’s big-time team events have been growing at such a clip, and require such a massive corporate buildout, that the course and the holes themselves hardly feel relevant to the event. Golf strategy, and presenting an exciting-but-fair challenge to the competitors, has taken a backseat to how many grandstands and hospitality tents can be constructed on site. It’s turned into an arms race, with each side upping the ante every two years. 

I wouldn't call the Solheim Cup an intimate affair by any means, but there was an opportunity to play these major events at sites with slightly fewer constraints from a logistics side, and the Ladies European Tour group has largely missed of late with their venue selections. Bernardus Golf, however, might be the best European venue to host the Solheim Cup. It might not jump off the page for many, but it is up there with Inverness and Colorado Golf Club as the best to ever host the Cup.

SOLHEIM CUP ROSTERS: Team USA | Team Europe

It’s the vision of billionaire Robert Van der Wallen, who was attempting to build the first great modern golf experience in the Netherlands. Usually rich entrepreneurs skip the idea of making sure the golf course is actually of value when building a destination club that focuses on the experience, but thankfully Van der Wallen hired designer Kyle Phillips to transform the flat agricultural land into something memorable. Phillips calls Bernardus a “restoration of the historic landscape,” which feels a little dramatic for something that was once just a cornfield. But instead of imposing something forced and modern on the land, Phillips drew inspiration from the great historic Dutch heathland courses and nearby Loonse and Drunense Duinen National Park — a landscape characterized by sand, heath, gorse, and pine. The result is a course with rolling landforms, sandy waste areas, heather, and dramatic modern bunkering along a meandering burn. 

The Solheim Cup isn't Bernardus’s first go at hosting a big event. The course was the site of the DP World Dutch Open from 2021-2023, so we do have some idea of how it will play. A slight shift in the routing for the Solheim Cup leads to the strong finish in what would normally be the middle of the back nine. Many of the matches will be decided on a stretch of holes that includes a long par 4 (the 14th), a short and dramatic par 3 with water in play (the 15th), and a reachable par 5 (the 16th). The start of the course will also set the tone for the matches with a set of strong par 4s alongside a few beefy par 3s until the drivable eighth. 

Key Holes 

No. 1, par 4, 345 yards

The short opener will give the ladies the opportunity to show off some strategy from the start. A centerline bunker sits in the middle of the fairway, around 270 yards off the tee, and is set alongside a ridge that runs down the middle of the fairway. Players can shade the left side or right side of the ridge off the tee, creating a favorable second shot with a better angle based on the hole location. The green features a steep fall-off on the left, adding to the strategy. A large tree near the tee is largely out of play, but it could inspire some anxiety for players who draw the ball, as no one wants to be the first to hit it under the gun. 

No. 9, par 4, 412 yards

The eighth hole — a short and reachable par 4 — will get all the attention, but the ninth requires more strategic thought. The fairway is divided by a heather-laden waste area. Players can choose to lay back for the ideal angle around a large bunker fronting the green, but they can also play farther out to the right, which brings in the risk of being blocked off by a group of pines. There is a kicker slope left of the green for players out of position off the tee. It could be a key hole to hold momentum in the middle of a volatile stretch of the course where matches start to shift in either direction. 

No. 16, par 5, 480 yards

What played as a long par 4 finisher for the Dutch Open will serve as a reachable par 5 for the matches, and everyone watching will benefit. The smallish green is protected by a burn which will tempt players who can find the fairway to give it a go. I will predict the small bailout fairway right of the green will be a popular area for third shots. The green isn't simple and while you may see eagles and birdies, I won’t be shocked if a number of players short-side themselves, leading to short-game blunders that decide several matches coming down the stretch.

Storylines to Watch

Stanford’s Sisters: When I saw Lilia Vu getting off the Team USA bus early the week — as an alternate for Team USA in case Angel Yin or any other player can't give it a go — I was shocked. Why would American captain Angela Stanford take the 235th-ranked player in the world on the trip, especially considering she has missed eight straight cuts? It could very well be a sign that she believes Yin will be able to tee it up this week, but to me it reflects the direction that Angela has taken with her team and some of her picks. She’s leaning heavily on players who have Solheim Cup experience, especially in an away game. Some might call it Ladies Club or Gal Pals, but it’s clear Stanford wanted players she was comfortable with over rookies. I haven't fully come around on the idea of taking a player like Megan Khang as a captain’s pick (she doesn’t have a top 10 all year and she’s missed the cut in seven of her last nine tournaments), but on some level, I understand it. Let's be honest, the other options weren't great. No one else jumped off the page except Kiara Romero. 

This could be a boom-or-bust strategy for the USA. If Khang earns a point or two, it's a success. I also think for these team events that examining recent form as the only metric for selection isn't the best strategy. In team events and in match play, often the sum of a player’s skills is greater than her individual strengths and weaknesses. 

{{inline-article}}

Angel Yin: Yin has been the bedrock of some successful American teams in past Solheim Cups. But this year, she's the major question mark on the U.S. side. No one knows what her form will be this week; she’s been dealing with an unfortunate stomach issue that has sidelined her for most of this summer after a strong 2025. A missed cut at the FM Championship two weeks ago, her only start in the last two months, wasn't the strongest sign, either. I know personally how much this event means to her, and I’ve seen first-hand in 2017 and 2019 while caddying for her what she’s capable of in these situations. I hope for the sake of the U.S. side she’s able to play to her potential this week. 

Euro Rookies: Captain Anna Nordqvist has four rookies in the squad this year, the most since six rookies made their debut in 2013. Two of those players, however, feel like rookies in name only. Lottie Woad is Europe’s highest-ranked player and she’s had significant team match play experience at the Curtis Cup with fellow rookie Mimi Rhodes, both from England. They could be a formidable pairing for Europe. 

The long-hitting Julia Lopez Ramirez should also be a force, especially in fourball. She’s capable of putting up lots of birdies. Newcomer Natasha Nadaud is a true wild card. She’s coming in as a relatively unknown player having spent most of her time on the LET. I will be very curious to see who Nordqvist pairs her with in the team portion of the matches. 

Team Europe is in a bit of transition. Nordqvist — one of Europe’s greatest performers in this event with 18.5 career points — likely would have been justified in picking herself after she finished seventh at the Evian this summer. But she made the decision to retire so she could focus solely on being the captain. Her experience will be missed, as Europe has only one point from 2024 pairings returning to the team this year. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the stalwarts of the European side in the near future.

Quick Chat with Auston Kim

This is your first Solheim Cup. What has been your pinch-me moment of the week so far? 

I believe the entirety of Monday was probably one of the best days of my life, and definitely a core memory for me. I don't think I'm ever going to forget that entire practice round. I wasn't planning on playing 18 the day before, but as soon as I woke up, I was ready to go. I was running on three hours of sleep because of jet lag, but I was so excited and ready to go. And I'm really glad that I played all 18, not just to see the course, but to really take in the entire experience, take in as much as I could, and again, I'm probably going to remember that day for the rest of my life. 

Playing in the Solheim Cup comes with a lot of fun goodies and gear. What's your favorite thing that you've gotten so far? 

I really like the Stanley Cups. Nelly (Korda) came in clutch with that, and we just got some painted tiles the other day, so a lot of really cool mementos of the week. 

Two years of work and dedication went into making it here this week. What went through your head when you clinched your spot on the team? 

I was really, really proud of myself for doing so. I missed out on the Palmer Cup and the Curtis Cup when I was in college, and for me to play that much good golf when it really mattered and when I really, really wanted it, I felt extremely vindicated, but also extremely proud of myself. This is the first time I've ever achieved something on such a scale, and I was so proud of myself and really made sure to stay in that moment and encourage myself. Just because I know that I belong out here and I really want to win with these girls. 

When was the last time you played in some sort of team match play or alternate shot event? Are there any strategies that you're potentially taking into the week? 

Last time was the Dow Championship, and I actually learned a lot from Angel (Yin) for the past couple of days. She's given me a lot of really good advice. I am part of the camp where I believe fourball is easier, but she was explaining to me how foursomes may not be as challenging as people might think. For her to give me all that advice and tell me how she thinks about that part of the competition, it was really cool to kind of get her opinion. 

You had a quick scouting trip in the summer to the golf course. What holes this week do you think will play a key role in the matches? 

I think all the par 3s, for sure. This entire course is a really good match play course. There are a couple of holes that are a little tighter than the other ones, but it's nice knowing that you have somebody backing you all the time. I don't think there are any holes that are particularly more challenging than the other. I think it's just a matter of staying in it and maintaining pressure on the opposing team. 

Is there a hole out there that's your favorite? 

No favorites. I like the entire place.