CROMVOIRT, Netherlands – Let’s just get the obvious out first: neither Solheim Cup team is in particularly great form.
Each team has only two winners apiece on the LPGA in 2026: Nelly Korda (4) and Lauren Coughlin (1) for the U.S. and Lottie Woad (1) and Celine Boutier (1) for the Europeans. Charley Hull also won on the LET back in February.
No one in this field has won a tournament since Korda took her second major title of the year in June at the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera.
It’s tough to find form at an event like this, where the pressure can feel worse than a major championship.
There are four players in the competition ranked in the top 20 in the world, which is a testament
to both the strength of the LPGA’s Asian contingent and, again, the mediocre form of many of the players here at Bernardus.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be fireworks and drama, with reachable par 5s, a drivable par 4 and enough trouble on this heathland track to make things interesting. The fight for a par can be as riveting as a birdie barrage.
But still, it’s hard to look past all the missed cuts.
Euro players have not played well before Solheim Cup
Julia Lopez Ramirez, the long-bombing Spanish rookie who was picked in large part because of her great energy, has missed five cuts in her last seven starts. Nevertheless, assistant captain Mel Reid says the young Spaniard was made for this event.
Leona Maguire, the lioness of Europe in 2021, has also missed five cuts in her last seven starts. Veteran Carlota Ciganda has missed seven cuts in her last nine events.
Meanwhile, Linn Grant comes to the Netherlands off three straight missed cuts; English rookie Mimi Rhodes had her last two weekends off.
U.S. players also struggling of late
It’s a lot of the same on Angela Stanford’s U.S. team. Megan Khang’s T-27 near her home in Boston was a much-needed bright spot after playing nearly two months without making a cut.
Andrea Lee missed her last two cuts coming into this week. Captain’s pick Lindy Duncan hasn’t cracked the top 25 since March. Rose Zhang, who went undefeated two years ago in Virginia, needed a pick this year after she came back from her Stanford graduation rather sluggish. She has yet to contend in 2026 but comes to The Netherlands off two straight top-10s, which is more than anyone else in the field can boast in terms of recent form outside of Lauren Coughlin, who has posted top-20 finishes on the regular.
Even the world No. 1’s game has hit the skids lately, with a T-50 and T-23 in Korda’s last two starts and that missed cut at Evian, her first weekend off in two years.
And then there’s Angel Yin, who returned to the tour 35 pounds lighter after a two-month bout with serious stomach issues. Yin played the FM Championship two weeks ago and shot 81-76. On Wednesday, she came out to the course early to play all 18 holes and then teamed up with Yealimi Noh to take money off Megan Khang and Alison Lee.
“I personally think it's not bad,” said Yin of the state of her game. “Every day it's getting better. So, yeah, I guess it's like art, right? Everybody has a different opinion.”
Rolex Ranking favors U.S. at Solheim Cup
On paper, the U.S. looks stronger with a combined Rolex Ranking average of 39 compared to Europe’s 54. In Korda, who has an excellent overseas record, they have the face of the LPGA.
“I feel like it almost brings a little bit of an intimidation factor going against Europe,” said Andrea Lee of Korda’s presence.
The last four Solheim Cups have been incredibly close, with the 2023 edition in Spain ending in a tie (Europe retained the cup). The difference over the course of the last four competitions combined is a mere six points. Compare that to 24 points over the last four Ryder Cups.
All indications point to another close contest.
The Euros have four rookies on their team compared to two from the U.S. That inexperience alone counts as a significant disadvantage, though the scales tip back toward Europe’s favor on home soil.
The Americans haven’t won overseas since 2015, when Suzann Pettersen ignited a fire that resulted in the biggest comeback in Solheim history.
Solheim Cup confidence comes quickly
Can form be found at a Solheim Cup?
Dame Laura Davies has lived it.
“Confidence builds very quickly at the Solheim Cup,” said Davies, who leads Europe with 12 overall appearances, including the first in 1990.
“I’ve done it several times in the Solheim Cup, not playing brilliant coming in. Match play, the putts, you start hitting it firmer, it’s different.”
Needless to say, plenty of players hope to find a spark this week at the Solheim Cup. Both sides need it.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf. Follow her on X/Twitter (@GolfweekNichols).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Solheim Cup 2026: Can U.S. or Europe find their form this week?
