Solheim Cup 2026: Anna Nordqvist savours Team Europe win and explains 'no-brainer' call to put Charley Hull out first
Charley Hull went out first for Team Europe in the Solheim Cup Sunday singles, beating Megan Khang 3&2 as Anna Nordqvist's side claimed a 15-13 over Team USA at Bernardus Golf; Nordqvist paired Hull with Lottie Woad for each of the first four sessions
Sunday 13 September 2026 19:13, UK
Anna Nordqvist says she was impressed "with every single player" during Team Europe’s Solheim Cup victory and insists it was a 'no-brainer' to send Charley Hull out first in the Sunday singles.
Europe regained the trophy after an exciting final day at a rainy Bernardus Golf, where Nordqvist's side won seven of the 12 points available to claim a 15-13 win over Team USA.
The visitors felt they had 'turned the tide' in their favour after a sensational finish the previous evening, where Jennifer Kupcho's sensational late birdies levelled the biennial contest, but Europe bounced back to earn a first outright win since 2021.
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"This [winning] feels so good!" Nordqvist told Sky Sports. "There's just been so much hard work this week and in the last two years leading up to this from not only me, but all the background team.
"The helpers have been amazing this week, making it easy for the players just to play, and we just had a really good vibe all week. Everyone's been really good team-mates.
"Leaving the course yesterday, we were really excited for coming here today and, wow, was I impressed with every single player and caddie showing up to that first tee ready to play.
"It just seemed to be a lot of blue early on the board. We talked a lot about the fast starts this week with the way the golf course was and I'm just really, really proud of the players for starting strong and even finishing strong."
Hull thrashed Korda 6&4 in the singles two years and was trusted to lead out Europe again, despite registering 0.5 points with Lottie Woad over the first four sessions, with the Englishwoman validating Nordqvist's decision by claiming a full point.
"This was the no-brainer to put Charley [Hull] first," Nordqvist added. "We saw the stats yesterday, and Charley and Lottie [Woad] were actually top-four players that made the most birdies for the week.
"Hadn't scored really many points, but they just played really tough matches. People don't understand how good all these players are and how good the golf has been all day in the last three days."
Hull and Woad deliver after 'frustrating' week
The English duo were in danger of becoming the first players in Solheim Cup history to participate in five sessions and not have any wins, with their defeats including one by a record-equalling margin of 6&5 in the Saturday foursomes.
Hull never trailed during her 3&2 victory over Megan Khang, her first full point of the week, with Europe winning six out of the first eight singles matches for the first time in their history to close towards victory.
"I've been giving myself so many chances, so that's been quite frustrating," Hull admitted. "Obviously didn't hole a lot today, but I was just very steady, hit a lot of greens. The weather was pretty bad, so I just kept in there.
"I spoke to Mel [Reid, vice-captain] and she was like 'you know that you're the third player on both teams who have made the most birdies this week. You've just come against Yealimi Noh, who literally holed everything the last few days!'
"To be fair, we were playing well, we just weren't holing enough putts. I think that's match play for you. I'm happy that I've got a point this week, even though it's only one and a half points that I got, but it's better than none!"
Woad also claimed her first Solheim victory by beating Auston Kim and moving the hosts to 14 points, sparking wild European celebrations, before Carlota Ciganda defeated Jennifer Kupcho to confirm home victory.
"It [winning] was really important," Woad said. "I was pretty disappointed. Felt like I was playing good golf and not getting the points and felt like I was kind of letting everyone down.
"Then the captains kind of spoke to me and said the stat that I was third on birdies, so I was playing good golf and just had to trust that. That's golf sometimes - ends up I got the winning putt."
What's next?
The Ladies European Tour heads to Spain next for La Sella Open, beginning Thursday and held at La Sella Golf Resort, while the LPGA Tour takes a week off before the Walmart N Arkansas Championship from September 25-27.
The next edition of the Solheim Cup will be in 2028 and take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8-10 that year. Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.
