Sky Sports and Golf Channel pundits overwhelmingly predict Team Europe will win the 2026 Solheim Cup against Team USA at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Eleven out of thirteen experts surveyed tipped the European squad to reclaim the trophy, while one broadcaster forecasted a draw and only one backed the American side to defend their title.
Team USA enter the tournament as defending champions following a 15.5 to 12.5 victory in Virginia two years ago. However, the Americans are attempting to secure their first triumph on European soil since 2015 and win back to back titles for the first time since 2017.
Captain Angela Stanford leads an American roster featuring world number one Nelly Korda alongside nine other players with prior Solheim Cup experience. Veteran Alison Lee remains the sole member of the current American squad who participated in their 14.5 to 13.5 comeback win in Germany eleven years prior.
European captain Anna Nordqvist commands a team featuring English stars Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. Six members of Nordqvist's team were part of the 2023 lineup that earned a 14 to 14 tie on home soil in Spain.
Pundit score predictions
Match history favors the hosting continent, with home teams winning five of Europe's seven total Solheim Cup victories. Notable home wins include a 15 to 13 result in Ireland in 2011 and a 14.5 to 13.5 triumph at Gleneagles in 2019.
Competitive margins have remained tight in recent matches. The previous four Solheim Cups played in Europe, along with the 2021 contest in the United States, were decided by two points or fewer.
Sky Sports analyst Sophie Walker highlighted course characteristics as a potential factor for the home side. "This is more of a European golf course than the one in Spain, which will maybe lean towards the Europeans," Walker said. "But it looks a little bit like a Walton Heath to me and the Americans did all right there at the AIG Women's Open!"
The majority of analysts backed Europe to win by narrow margins. Dame Laura Davies, Karen Stupples, and Richard Kaufman each predicted a 14.5 to 13.5 victory for Europe, with Kaufman's prediction listed as 14.4 to 13.5 in the broadcast ratings.
Tom Abbott, Kay Cockerill, Paige Mackenzie, Sarah Stirk, and Sophie Walker all forecasted a 15 to 13 win for Europe. Iona Stephen and Ali Whittaker predicted a wider 15.5 to 12.5 margin, while Catriona Matthew provided the largest winning prediction with a 16 to 12 forecast.
Morgan Pressel stood alone in predicting a Team USA victory, tipping the visiting team to win 13 to 15 against Europe. Grant Boone was the only pundit to anticipate a level finish, forecasting a 14 to 14 tie.
European team top scorer picks
Broadcasters also identified their choices for Europe's top point scorer during the tournament. World number eight Charley Hull enters her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup after defeating Nelly Korda 6 and 4 in Sunday singles and top scoring for Europe in 2024.
Carlota Ciganda brings substantial match play experience after winning all four of her matches during the 2023 tie in Spain, while amateur star Lottie Woad leads a group of four European rookies.
Lottie Woad emerged as the top pick among analysts to lead Europe in scoring, earning five votes from Dame Laura Davies, Morgan Pressel, Richard Kaufman, Sophie Walker, and Ali Whittaker.
German golfer Esther Henseleit received four votes for top scorer, selected by Catriona Matthew, Tom Abbott, Kay Cockerill, and Paige Mackenzie.
Charley Hull received two selections from Iona Stephen and Sarah Stirk. Swedish player Maja Stark was picked by Karen Stupples, while Irish golfer Leona Maguire was chosen by Grant Boone.
Rookies and players to watch
Historical trends indicate that team selections featuring multiple debutants can deliver success. On both previous occasions when a European captain named three rookies among their picks, in 2011 and 2021, Team Europe went on to win the trophy.
Four rookies are making their Solheim Cup debuts for Europe at Bernardus Golf: Lottie Woad, Nastasia Nadaud, Julia Lopez Ramirez, and Mimi Rhodes.
Broadcasters selected key players expected to make an impact throughout the week. English debutant Mimi Rhodes led the predictions as the primary player to watch, receiving four votes from Karen Stupples, Kay Cockerill, Iona Stephen, and Sarah Stirk.
American rookie Auston Kim earned three votes from Morgan Pressel, Richard Kaufman, and Paige Mackenzie. French debutant Nastasia Nadaud was selected by Dame Laura Davies and Catriona Matthew, while Spaniard Julia Lopez Ramirez was picked by Grant Boone and Ali Whittaker.
Single votes were cast for American players Alison Lee, chosen by Tom Abbott, and Andrea Lee, selected by Sophie Walker.
Broadcasters Geraint Hughes and Sophie Walker also reviewed historic match tensions, reflecting on the contentious 2015 Solheim Cup in Germany and considering whether similar drama could unfold in the Netherlands.
Live television broadcast schedule
Sky Sports Golf will provide live coverage of the 2026 Solheim Cup, featuring at least 12 hours of live broadcasting across each of the opening two days.
Coverage on Friday and Saturday begins at 6:00am UK time. The morning foursomes matches are scheduled to tee off at 6:40am UK time, which corresponds to 7:40am local time in the Netherlands.
Afternoon fourball sessions are scheduled to begin at 12:05pm UK time, or 1:05pm local time, with live coverage continuing until the final putt of each day is holed.
Final day coverage of the Sunday singles matches commences at 9:00am UK time, leading up to the opening tee shot at 10:10am UK time.
