Team USA are determined to overcome ‘heart-breaking’ near-misses in away Solheim Cups and successfully retain their trophy on European soil this week, live on Sky Sports. Angela Stanford's side arrive at Bernardus Golf as defending champions, following their 15.5-12.5 win over Team Europe in Virginia two years ago, leaving Team USA chasing back-to-back wins for the first time since 2017. It's 11 years since the United States last won in Europe, when a record final-day comeback overturned a 10-6 deficit and snatched a one-point win in Germany, with Team USA falling agonisingly short in both the last two away editions.
Team USA lost by a point at Gleneagles in 2019 after Suzann Pettersen's iconic putt in the singles, then followed a home loss in 2021 by letting their commanding opening-day lead slip to tie 14-14 at Finca Cortesin in Spain two years later. "It's always really hard to win on foreign soil," American Andrea Lee said in her press conference. "I think we played really well and came so close last time in Spain.
"It was pretty heart-breaking to end in a tie and for Europe to retain, but I think a lot of us from that team are here this week. We're just very motivated to keep the [Solheim] Cup and try to win on foreign soil again." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Team USA travelled together - including caddies - from Atlanta to the Netherlands on Saturday, spending the following day as tourists in Amsterdam ahead of switching focus to Solheim Cup week. Attention to detail with the American camp has seen clothing and bag designs linked to past successes on away soil, including their 2007 victory in Sweden before their 2015 win in Germany.
"I think something about this format just brings a fire out of the European girls that they will come out and play amazing golf, and they're great competitors to play against, so I think that's something we're preparing for," Alison Lee explained. "Obviously coming over here to Europe is always difficult. I don't ever play in the rain or wind, but I think that's something we're all expecting.
"We know that if we come out and do our best to play some good golf, and hopefully have a bit of chemistry out there as well, I think we have a really good chance this year." Andrea Lee added: " If we win this week, this would be the fourth foreign soil win for the United States. I think we're all just really determined to try and keep it." The last four Solheim Cups have had a combined winning margin of six points, compared to the 24-point difference in the last four Ryder Cup, with Team USA failing to close out recent opportunities at away success. "In Spain [2023], we were super close," world No 1 Nelly Korda insisted.
"They tied with Europe, so they retained the [Solheim] Cup. For Gleneagles, I feel like we played really well, but maybe haven't had momentum go (our way) while we're in Europe. "I think that what Ang [Stanford] and the assistants have said this week is to really rely on each other.
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