Golf Apr 19, 2026

Solheim Cup - Anna Nordqvist captain's column: Early Team Europe decisions and why excitement is building ahead of 2026 contest

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Solheim Cup - Anna Nordqvist captain's column: Early Team Europe decisions and why excitement is building ahead of 2026 contest

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.

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!

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 ahead of the Solheim Cup, live from September 11-13 on Your Site. or .

Tags:

golf news

Share this article

Related Posts

Tiger Woods Q&A: What we know about car crash with 15-time major champion to miss The Masters while 'seeking treatment'

Tiger Woods Q&A: What we know about car crash with 15-time major champion to miss The Masters while 'seeking treatment'

A look at the key questions about Tiger Woods’ car crash in Florida on March 27, following a sheriff's office report revealing more details about the...

Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris among the winners on star-studded night at Laureus World Sport Awards

Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris among the winners on star-studded night at Laureus World Sport Awards

Rory McIlroy and Lando Norris were among the winners on star-studded night at the prestigious Laureus World Sport Awards on Monday.McIlroy completed a...

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil says competition is "funded through the season" amid reports breakaway league could fold

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil says competition is "funded through the season" amid reports breakaway league could fold

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil said the series is "funded through the season" and would "work like crazy" to keep it going amid speculation its Saudi backe...

RBC Heritage LIVE! Reaction, scores, highlights as Matt Fitzpatrick beats Scottie Scheffler in PGA Tour play-off

RBC Heritage LIVE! Reaction, scores, highlights as Matt Fitzpatrick beats Scottie Scheffler in PGA Tour play-off

Forrest wants to stay at CelticJames Forrest does not want to play for anyone other than Celtic but he is happy to focus on winning a double ahead of...

Jon Rahm takes six-shot victory in Mexico as LIV Golf insists it will continue amid speculation about financial future

Jon Rahm takes six-shot victory in Mexico as LIV Golf insists it will continue amid speculation about financial future

Jon Rahm capped off a chaotic week on LIV Golf when he closed with a seven-under 64 on Sunday for a six-shot victory in LIV Golf Mexico City, his seco...

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick pips Scottie Scheffler in play-off to claim second PGA Tour victory of the season

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick pips Scottie Scheffler in play-off to claim second PGA Tour victory of the season

Matt Fitzpatrick secured a second PGA Tour win of the season after overcoming a final-round wobble to claim play-off victory over world No 1 Scottie S...