Anna Nordqvist will be the captain of the Europe team at the Solheim Cup 2026 scheduled in the Netherlands. The Swede, three-time Major champion, the only non-American to have won Slams in three different decades, will take the place of the Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, who led the Old Continent in the challenges to the USA in 2023 and 2024. Nordqvist, 37 years old from Eskilstuna, has been part of the European team in the last nine editions of the Solheim Cup and, in the last two, has played the double role of player-vice-captain.
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Solheim Cup, news
Her record is four wins, as many losses and one draw (two years ago when Europe, as defender, retained the trophy). In the history of the Ryder in pink, she has collected 17 victories in 35 matches played.
"In defeat and in victory, this event has always played a special role in my career since my debut in 2009 in Chicago. The friendships I have made and the relationships created make the opportunity to lead the Europe team in my tenth Solheim Cup unique", Nordqvist was happy about. The Swede, at the Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, will have the task of redeeming the defeat suffered by the European team last year in Virginia (USA).
Created in 1990 by Karsten and Louise Solheim, creators of the Ping brand, the Solheim Cup is a competition that follows the same format as the Ryder Cup, its men's equivalent. Played in even years from 1990 to 2002, it has been played in odd years since 2003.
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It pits the best Europeans, determined by the ranking of earnings since the last Solheim Cup on the Ladies European Tour (LET), the European circuit, against the best American players on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the American circuit.
The event lasts three days, from Friday to Sunday. The first team to reach a score of 14 and a half points is declared the winner of the trophy.
The first two days are competitions in teams of two:
Foursomes: the two players of the same team play the same ball alternately. At each new hole, the player giving the start is swapped.
Fourball or 4 balls, best ball: Each player plays his own ball. The best player of the four competitors wins the point for his team.
The scoring system used to determine the winner of a match in this competition is match play. This is based on the winners of each hole. The winner of a hole takes a point. The results of a match are presented as follows:
