Another tight contest is expected at this week’s Solheim Cup, but who will end up lifting the trophy and which players are set to impress at Bernardus Golf?
Team USA arrive in the Netherlands as defending champions and look to claim their first victory on European soil since 2015, two years on from their 15.5-12.5 home victory in Virginia.
Angela Stanford has world No 1 Nelly Korda among a strong line-up that contains 10 players with past Solheim Cup experience, with Team USA looking to overcome recent near-misses in away editions.
English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad headline Anna Nordqvist’s European side, which contains six members of the team that salvaged a dramatic 14-14 tie in the 2023 edition on home soil.
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Starting from a 17-year old debutant all the way to one of Europe’s superstars, watch the best moments from Charley Hull’s Solheim Cup career
Each of the last four Solheim Cups on European soil – along with the 2021 edition in America – have seen the teams separated by two points or less, with few reasons to suggest why this week’s contest will be any different.
Who do the Sky Sports and Golf Channel pundits think will win the 2026 Solheim Cup? Who could be the star of the European team and which players could be ones to have key roles? We asked them for their predictions…
Who will win the 2026 Solheim Cup?
Team USA are chasing back-to-back wins for the first time since 2017, with Alison Lee the only player in their side that feature in their dramatic 14.5-13.5 comeback win in Germany two years earlier.
Home teams historically have the edge in the Solheim Cup, with five of Europe’s seven wins in this event – including a 15-13 success in Ireland 2011 and a dramatic 14.5-13.5 win at Gleneagles in 2019 – coming at home.
“This is more of a European golf course than the one in Spain, which will maybe lean towards the Europeans,” Sky Sports’ Sophie Walker said. “But it looks a little bit like a Walton Heath to me and the Americans did all right there at the AIG Women’s Open!”
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Charley Hull praises Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist and looks ahead to her eighth Solheim Cup
- Dame Laura Davies – Team Europe 14.5-13.5 Team USA
- Catriona Matthew – Team Europe 16-12 Team USA
- Morgan Pressel – Team Europe 13-15 Team USA
- Karen Stupples – Team Europe 14.5-13.5 Team USA
- Tom Abbott – Team Europe 15-13 Team USA
- Grant Boone – Team Europe 14-14 Team USA
- Kay Cockerill – Team Europe 15-13 Team USA
- Richard Kaufman – Team Europe 14.4-13.5 Team USA
- Paige Mackenzie – Team Europe 15-13 Team USA
- Iona Stephen – Team Europe 15.5-12.5 Team USA
- Sarah Stirk – Team Europe 15-13 Team USA
- Sophie Walker: Team Europe 15-13 Team USA
- Ali Whittaker – Team Europe 15.5-12.5 Team USA
Who will impress for Team Europe?
Hull thrashed Korda 6&4 in the Sunday singles and top-scored for Team Europe in their 2024 defeat, with the world No 8 returning for her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance.
Woad is expected to shine as one of Europe’s four young rookies, while Solheim Cup stalwart Carlota Ciganda won all four of her matches in Spain during the historic 2023 tie.
Lottie Woad is one of four rookies in the European team this week
- Dame Laura Davies – Lottie Woad
- Catriona Matthew – Esther Henseleit
- Morgan Pressel – Lottie Woad
- Karen Stupples – Maja Stark
- Tom Abbott – Esther Henseleit
- Grant Boone – Leona Maguire
- Kay Cockerill – Esther Henseleit
- Richard Kaufman – Lottie Woad
- Paige Mackenzie – Esther Henseleit
- Iona Stephen – Charley Hull
- Sarah Stirk – Charley Hull
- Sophie Walker – Lottie Woad
- Ali Whittaker – Lottie Woad
Who can be one to watch for a big week?
Both two previous occasions that a captain has named three rookies among their picks, that side has gone on to win.
Team Europe did it 2011 and 2021, with the hosts now looking to continue that streak as Nastasia Nadaud, Julia Lopez Ramirez and Mimi Rhodes join Woad in making their debuts.
- Dame Laura Davies – Nastasia Nadaud
- Catriona Matthew – Nastasia Nadaud
- Morgan Pressel – Auston Kim
- Karen Stupples – Mimi Rhodes
- Tom Abbott – Alison Lee
- Grant Boone – Julia Lopez Ramirez
- Kay Cockerill – Mimi Rhodes
- Richard Kaufman – Auston Kim
- Paige Mackenzie – Auston Kim
- Iona Stephen – Mimi Rhodes
- Sarah Stirk – Mimi Rhodes
- Sophie Walker – Andrea Lee
- Ali Whittaker – Julia Lopez Ramirez
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Geraint Hughes and Sophie Walker explain the controversy at the 2015 Solheim Cup and discuss whether we could see another contentious moment at this year’s event
When is the Solheim Cup live on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports Golf will have at least 12 hours of live coverage from the first two days, with coverage getting under way at 6am on Friday and Saturday ahead of the opening foursomes match teeing off at 6.40am (7.40am local time).
The afternoon fourballs are scheduled to start at 12.05pm (1.05pm local time) on both days, with coverage continuing until after the final putt is holed, while Sunday singles coverage begins at 9am ahead of the opening tee shot at 10.10am.
Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch Team Europe’s bid to regain the trophy exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all three days live from Friday on Sky Sports Golf. Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.
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