Solheim Cup 2026: Europe captain Anna Nordqvist dismisses USA captain Angela Stanford’s ‘dig’ at course set-up | Golf News

Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist was quick to shut down suggestions the Bernardus Golf course set-up had been tailored to suit the home team at the Solheim Cup.

Nordqvist’s side completed a 15-13 victory over Team USA after prevailing in Sunday’s singles in the Netherlands.

The scores were tied at 8-8 following the opening two days, but USA captain Angela Stanford felt her side had been at a disadvantage throughout the tournament due to the slowness of the greens.

Stanford said at her post-tournament press conference: “Europe played well. I don’t think we played bad. I think we just didn’t make enough putts.

“And if you listen to everything I’ve ever said, Europeans always putt better. I don’t know why. I still don’t know why. I mean, I have a good idea, but I’m not going to say it right now.

“Apparently I didn’t get to know the superintendent [grounds manager] as well as I should have.”

When pressed further about whether she was referring to the green speeds being different to what she had been expecting, Stanford added: “Even when we showed up in July here, they were faster.

“And I don’t think it had anything to do with the rain either. Now, saying that, it’s my responsibility to get the team ready.

“This is the one thing I am kicking myself is that I just didn’t keep pushing, you know, we got to figure out how to hit our putts a little bit harder, which is really difficult, to change the way you putt.

“So I’m a little frustrated with myself that I didn’t drive that point home.”

‘We’re in Europe in September’

Nordqvist was a little surprised by the apparent dig at the greens when it was put to her at her own press conference.

“We’re in Europe and in September. We know how the weather can be,” she said.

“I’m not sure I believe a lot in setting up a way to fit Europe because these girls play the same golf courses week-in and week-out competing.

“We came here in July, it was a very hot and dry summer, so the course played a little bit different then.

“So if anything it was just really trying to manage firmness. But then it’s obviously been raining a lot in the past couple weeks and then this week we saw a lot of rain.

“So if anything they were probably just playing a little bit softer than we all thought coming here. But that’s obviously the weather, we can’t control that.”

Stanford: You don’t want to take away those moments

The Americans were pictured celebrating on Saturday evening after Jennifer Kupcho had sunk two brilliant putts to snatch a late victory for the visitors and level the match at 8-8 rather than going into the final day trailing 9-7.

But Stanford dismissed suggestions they had reached an emotional high too early.

“That’s kind of tricky because you don’t ever want to take away from that moment,” she said.

“The worst thing I could have done is go in there and be like, ‘okay, y’all. Come off this high’. So you don’t want to take away from those moments.

“We’re never going to see anything like that again. I think they handled it very well.

“But I talked to Kupcho and everybody and they’re like, ‘yeah, we got good rest but, yeah, it did take a minute to come off because it was a pretty high high’.”

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.

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