This is the premier biennial team match-play event in women’s professional golf (teams of 12 LPGA-affiliated players each), not a standard individual LPGA Tour stroke-play event. The United States are defending champions after a 15½–12½ win in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. Europe hosts for the first time in the Netherlands and seeks to reclaim the Cup on home soil. Captains are Angela Stanford (USA, first-time captain after prior vice-captain roles) and Anna Nordqvist (Europe).
Venue and location
Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt (near ’s-Hertogenbosch / Den Bosch), North Brabant, Netherlands. The course is a relatively modern heathland-style layout (opened around 2018, designed with strategic elements) that previously hosted the DP World Tour’s KLM Open (Dutch Open) from 2021–2023. It features water hazards, bunkers, heather, trees, undulating greens, and a mix of risk-reward holes. Official Solheim setup is typically listed around 6,500–6,600+ yards (some references note up to ~7,000 yards) as a par 72. Key characteristics include accuracy demands off the tee, reachable par 5s, a drivable par 4, and dramatic finishing holes (notably a tough closing par 4 with water and a small green). Spectators are expected to arrive largely by bike or shuttle; car parking is heavily restricted.
Schedule, format, and starting times
Competition runs Friday–Sunday, September 11–13, 2026 (practice rounds and opening ceremony earlier in the week; opening ceremony was Thursday, September 10).
Format (28 points total; similar to the Ryder Cup):
Friday & Saturday: Morning foursomes (alternate shot, 4 matches) + afternoon fourballs (better ball, 4 matches).
Sunday: 12 singles matches.
USA needs 14 points to retain the Cup; Europe needs 14½ to win it. A 14–14 tie would see USA retain.
Key times (local CEST; ET is 6 hours behind): Morning foursomes start ~7:40 a.m. local (1:40 a.m. ET) on Friday and Saturday; fourballs in the early afternoon; Sunday singles start mid-morning local (~5:10 a.m. ET range in U.S. coverage). Broadcast windows include extensive Golf Channel coverage in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the UK/Europe.
Friday morning foursomes pairings (announced; USA listed first in some reports; times approximate local):
~7:40 a.m.: Allisen Corpuz / Nelly Korda vs. Charley Hull / Lottie Woad
~7:52 a.m.: Alison Lee / Lauren Coughlin vs. Nanna Koerstz Madsen / Céline Boutier
~8:04 a.m.: Andrea Lee / Lindy Duncan vs. Esther Henseleit / Leona Maguire
~8:16 a.m.: Rose Zhang / Jennifer Kupcho vs. Linn Grant / Maja Stark
Fourball pairings follow after the morning session. Korda-Corpuz is a strong, previously successful U.S. foursomes pairing; Hull-Woad is a high-profile European top pairing.
Weather conditions
Expect unsettled September weather typical for the Netherlands: mild temperatures peaking around 19–21°C (66–70°F), cloudy skies, breezy conditions, and a strong chance of showers or rain across the three competition days (higher probability Sunday, with possible gustier winds). Recent heavy rain earlier in the week (including Wednesday) has already impacted the site. Layers and rain gear will be essential; conditions could affect scoring and strategy.
Course conditions
Recent storms and rain have softened the layout, reducing the fast-running heathland/links-like character and making surfaces more receptive. Accuracy off the tee remains critical due to water, bunkers, and trouble; greens are undulating. The course rewards strategic play and should produce match-play drama (birdie opportunities mixed with big numbers). Drainage is generally good, but wet conditions will influence club selection and risk-taking.
Teams and key player notes / recent form
Team USA (defending; generally stronger on paper by combined rankings in some analyses): Nelly Korda (world No. 1, multiple 2026 wins including majors), Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho, Yealimi Noh, Auston Kim, Lauren Coughlin, Allisen Corpuz, Andrea Lee, Alison Lee, plus captain’s picks Lindy Duncan, Megan Khang, Rose Zhang. Korda has been the standout with major titles, but overall team form has been described as mixed/mediocre relative to expectations, with limited recent LPGA winners beyond Korda and Coughlin. Depth and experience are strengths; Korda-Corpuz foursomes success is a key asset.
Team Europe (hosts): Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit, Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Carlota Ciganda, Céline Boutier, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Linn Grant, plus captain’s picks Leona Maguire, Julia López Ramírez, Nastasia Nadaud, Mimi Rhodes. Hull and rising star Woad provide top-end firepower (both ranked highly). Europe has home advantage and recent strong home performances historically, though overall 2026 form across the team has also been viewed as uneven (few winners). Four rookies add some inexperience but energy.
Match-play dynamics, pairings chemistry, and crowd energy (expected strong home support, with bike-friendly access) often outweigh pure ranking form.
Tournament history
The Solheim Cup began in 1990. Through 2024, the United States leads the series 11–7–1 (Europe retained via the 2023 14–14 tie as holders). Recent results: USA 15½–12½ in 2024 (Virginia); 14–14 (Europe retain) in 2023 (Spain); Europe wins in 2021 and 2019. Home teams have often held an edge; Europe has a strong record on home soil in recent cycles, while USA’s last away win was in 2015. Contests are typically close.
Betting trends
Home advantage, course fit, and weather are key factors in markets. Correct-score and session-specific markets (foursomes/fourballs) are also popular. Expert/pundit predictions have been split, with many expecting a close result decided by a point or two.
