Solheim Cup - Anna Nordqvist captain's column: Early Team Europe decisions and why excitement is building ahead of 2026 contest
Team Europe's Anna Nordqvist will offer a regular captain's column, in partnership with the Ladies European Tour, ahead of the Solheim Cup against Team USA in the Netherlands; watch the Solheim Cup live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports Golf
Monday 23 February 2026 11:19, UK
Welcome to my first blog, called Captain's Corner! This year, you can follow my journey as the European Solheim Cup Captain all the way up to the biennial event - taking place in the Netherlands for the first time - in September.
It is hard to believe that 2026 is already here and the season just got started in the last few weeks for the players. The Solheim Cup is "only" seven months away and it will be here before we know it.
As a player, I always felt more inspired in the off season leading up to a Solheim Cup year and it was always the one tournament I was looking forward to the most.
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I know there are a lot of players having put in a lot of work in the last couple of months, who are looking forward to a great year with aspirations of making the 12-player line-up.
European golf is really strong and I am really looking forward to following the girls fighting for the spots this year. I don't know if we have ever had this many players with a chance of making the team.
It was exciting to see Charley Hull get off to a good start and continue showing great form by winning the first Ladies European Tour event of the season at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Three of the current top players on the LET Solheim Cup rankings - Chiara Tamburlini, Mimi Rhodes and Helen Briem - are all coming off strong 2025 seasons and will all be rookies on the LPGA Tour this year, so I look forward to following their play throughout the season.
So far, I've really enjoyed the whole captaincy process. It's been a lot of work, a lot more than I expected, I am not going to lie! But I've embraced this journey, and it's an honour of a lifetime, so I will put my whole heart into it.
There are so many decisions having to be made and you realise how much that really goes into an event like this. Thankfully, I have a great team around me and Vicky Cox and Eva Lotta Strömlid with the LET have been amazing to work with and open to making a lot of my ideas happen.
We work together to create a great environment for Team Europe!
Solheim Cup plans gather momentum
One of my vice captains, Caroline Hedwall, and I have been to Bernardus twice, doing everything from scouting the golf course to looking at logistics, picking the team room, designing our team room and media.
Another one of my vice captains, Mel Reid, and I have had a lot of fun designing the team outfits. This has probably been the most enjoyable task as a captain so far and I can't wait for these outfits to be revealed closer to the event.
The golf bag has been designed and ordered and we are currently in the process of working on our shoes and sorting out our gala dinner and opening ceremony outfits for the team.
I am planning on playing a full schedule myself this year, starting my season in mid-March, because I wanted to do this journey alongside the team. It will be nice to be there with the girls through the season, and I think it will only be a positive being out there with them.
I've gathered a lot of feedback, thoughts and ideas from previous captains and from the players and I have really enjoyed having longer conversations with the players and understanding what they need to play their best, so that's what my current focus is.
My vice captains and I will come up with a game plan for the week - I always believed in structure and preparation, so that is something I hope to bring in September. Stay tuned for more updates soon!
Anna Nordqvist's column was provided by the Ladies European Tour ahead of the Solheim Cup, live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
