Esther Henseleit has done it! For the first time, the German top golfer, with Team Europe, has claimed the Solheim Cup. Despite a Sunday slump by the Olympic runner-up, the Europeans staged a true final surge in the prestigious duel against the USA, reclaiming the title after two years – a trophy they had previously held from 2019 to 2024. The trophy is back where it belongs.
What a setup it was: With a thrilling 8-8 tie, the teams headed into the decisive twelve singles matches at the Bernardus Golf Club in the Dutch province of North Brabant. Every shot counted. Esther Henseleit, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2024 during the 12.5-15.5 loss in Gainesville/Virginia, suddenly found herself under immense pressure in her early match against Alison Lee after a significant lead had evaporated. However, Henseleit had performed exceptionally well on the two preceding days.
Her European teammates, however, left nothing to chance and dominated their pairings. Then, England's Lottie Woad sealed the victory, securing the decisive point for a 15-11 triumph. It was then clear: the US girls could no longer reach the 14 points needed to defend the title in the remaining two matches. In the Solheim Cup, a tie is indeed enough for the defending champion to retain the coveted trophy. That was a dagger to the heart for the USA! With this triumph in the 20th edition of this counterpart to the prestigious men's Ryder Cup, the Europeans significantly improved their overall record. Eight victories for Europe now stand against eleven wins for the Americans – and one contest ended with tied points.
