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The Solheim Cup 2026: All you need to know as Europe host US
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The 20th edition of the Solheim Cup takes place between 11-13 September as Europe host the United States at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Europe are looking to regain the trophy after losing 15½-12½ in Virginia two years ago in the biggest team competition in women’s golf.
BBC Sport will have live radio commentary on 5 Live Sports Extra 3 across all three days – which is now also available via most smart speakers – and daily highlights on television.
There will also be live text commentary, video highlights, reaction and analysis on the BBC Sport website and mobile app.
What is the Solheim Cup?
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Solheim Cup is a biennial match that is played over three days, between two teams of 12 women from Europe and the United States.
It is named in honour of the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim and his wife Louise, who have sponsored the event since its inaugural contest in 1990, and have also played a huge part in supporting the women’s game over the past 50 years.
The US have won the trophy 11 times, Europe have won seven and there has been one tie – the dramatic 14-14 draw at Finca Cortesin in Spain in 2023.
Who will captain Europe & the United States?
Image source, Getty ImagesBoth teams are under new leadership, with Anna Nordqvist captaining Europe and Angela Stanford, who has served as an assistant captain three times, taking the helm for the United States.
Three-time major champion Nordqvist, who announced her retirement as a player in August, will be assisted by fellow Swede Caroline Hedwall and Dutch golfer Anne van Dam.
Mel Reid also be part of Nordqvist’s staff after previously taking on a similar role for Catriona Matthew in 2019 at Gleneagles and Suzann Pettersen at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, two years ago.
Kristy McPherson, Paula Creamer and Brittany Lang, who all played in the 2009 edition with Stanford, make up the backroom team for the United States.
Who is playing in the Solheim Cup?
With English pair Lottie Woad and Charley Hull in their ranks Europe go into the contest boasting more players inside the top 10 in the world than their opponents.
Woad and Hull were among the eight automatic qualifiers for Europe’s team.
They are joined by France’s Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda of Spain, Germany’s Esther Henseleit and Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Mimi Rhodes compete the line-up for Europe.
In Nelly Korda, the United States can field the current world number one, who has won two major championships this season.
Korda, who triumphed at the Chevron Championship in April and the US Women’s Open in June, was an automatic qualifier for the 12-strong team alongside Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho, Yealimi Noh, Auston Kim, Lauren Coughlin and Allisen Corpuz.
Andrea Lee and Alison Lee will also feature for the US by virtue of their places in the world rankings, while Stanford named Megan Khang, Rose Zhang and Lindy Duncan as her captain’s picks.
What’s the Solheim Cup format and scoring?
There will be 28 matchplay matches over three days in foursomes, fourballs and singles. Each match is worth one point with half a point awarded to both teams if they are tied.
The team who gets to 14½ points first wins the Solheim Cup outright. As current holders, the US will retain the trophy if the contest was to end in a 14-14 draw.
Foursomes – there are four matches, played in pairs, on Friday and Saturday. Each pair uses one ball hitting alternate shots with the lowest score on each hole winning.
Fourballs – there are four matches, played in pairs, on Friday and Saturday. All four players use their own ball The lowest scoring ball on each hole from each side is taken.
On Sunday all 24 players from both teams compete in 12 singles matches.
What is the weather forecast?
Temperatures will peak at around 21C over the three days of competition on the heathland course that only opened in 2018.
However, there is also a strong likelihood of showers and breezy conditions which will provide an added layer of difficulty on a course that demands precision.
Bernardus Golf hosted the DP World Tour’s KLM Open between 2021-2023.
How to follow the Solheim Cup on the BBC
Thursday, 10 September
19:30-20:00 BST: Solheim Cup preview programme on BBC Radio 5 Live
Friday, 11 September
06:30-17:00: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app, with updates on BBC Radio 5 Live
13:00: Live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sport website and app
20:00: Highlights on Red Button
00:45-01:45: Highlights on BBC Two
Saturday, 14 September
06:30-17:00: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app, with updates on BBC Radio 5 Live
13:00: Live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sport website and app
20:00: Highlights on BBC Four
Sunday, 15 September
10:00-close of play: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app
11:00-close of play: Live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 and BBC Sport website and app
19:00-20:00: Highlights on Red Button
00:20-01:20: Highlights on BBC Two
You can also follow live and uninterrupted on most smart speakers.
On Friday, just tell your device to ‘ask BBC Sounds to play Solheim Cup – day one’. For Saturday’s coverage, you’ll need to ask for ‘day two’, and on Sunday ask for ‘day three’.
