Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup with a 15-13 victory over the USA on Sunday, and the defining moment came when Lottie Woad holed the putt that sealed the trophy against Auston Kim. It was a close contest that went to the wire, but Anna Nordqvist’s side found the points they needed when it mattered most.
Europe entered the final day tied 8-8 after four sessions, so the singles carried the weight of the whole match. They delivered, winning the singles 7-5 to edge clear and deny the USA a first win on foreign soil since 2015.
Nordqvist’s emotional first triumph as captain
For Nordqvist, the result carried obvious personal meaning. She announced her retirement from competitive golf at 39 last month, yet still led Europe through one of the most intense weeks in the match.
“I think there has just been so many emotions bottled up,” she said. “It’s just been such a long road. It’s been a lot of hard work.”
She added that it had been “really hard retiring weeks ago, then doing this and doing them both at the same time,” before describing the experience as living her dream and saying she was forever grateful for everything that has happened.
That emotional charge was easy to understand. Nordqvist also spoke about the family support around her, saying it had been a family affair for years, and that she was able to share the moment with nieces, nephews and siblings in a way that made the occasion even more meaningful.
Charley Hull and Lottie Woad set the tone
Europe needed strong starts in singles, and Charley Hull delivered one of them by beating Megan Khang 3&2 in the opening match. Nordqvist called it a no-brainer to put Hull out first, pointing to the numbers behind Hull and Woad’s week and the fact both had been among the top birdie-makers.
That decision mattered because Europe did not simply grind out the final day. They produced quality in the moments that counted, and the pressure of leading a tight contest never seemed to rattle them.
Nordqvist said people do not always understand how good the players are or how strong the golf has been across the week. That was evident again on Sunday, with Europe dealing with the pressure of a level match and then pushing on when the trophy was in sight.
Why this win felt different
Carlota Ciganda also played her part, completing the points needed to take Europe to 15. Earlier, she said she was very happy to do it for Anna, which summed up the team feel around the whole week.
There was also a message of encouragement for Ciganda from José María Olazábal on Saturday evening, another sign of the wider support around Europe as the match moved toward its decisive moments.
In the end, though, the image that will stand out is Woad’s winning putt. Nordqvist said Woad had been playing so well all week without always getting the rewards, but that holing the winner was something she would never forget. She was almost certainly right.
Europe have their trophy back, Nordqvist has delivered as captain, and the USA’s wait for a foreign victory goes on. In a match that stayed close until the end, Europe proved again that when the pressure rises, the best teams find one more point.
