Dame Laura Davies asserts that a major breakthrough for Charley Hull is imminent following her stellar performance at the Solheim Cup, including a significant victory over world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Hull paired with rookie Esther Henseleit for a crucial last-hole win in the Saturday foursomes and joined forces with Georgia Hall to secure a victory in their fourballs match, narrowing Europe’s gap to 10-6 ahead of the final day.
In a thrilling showdown, Hull triumphed over Korda 6&4, setting an electrifying tone for Europe during the final day. Although the European team pushed for a historic win, Team USA ultimately secured a 15.5-12.5 victory, marking their first Solheim Cup title since 2017.
Ranked No. 12 in the world, Hull emerged as Europe’s top performer, accumulating three points from five matches. Davies, serving as vice-captain, praised Hull’s remarkable display and confidence in her ability to compete for major titles in the future. “I can’t believe she’s not already a major champion, as she’s immensely talented,” Davies stated. “Winning majors is no easy feat, but we’re hopeful she can achieve that level of success because she certainly has the potential.”
Davies emphasized that Hull needs to secure more tournament victories and maintain her presence in contention during majors, reflecting on her near-misses in events like the US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open last year, stating, “It feels like it has to happen at some point.”
“Hull has been exceptional this week, bringing joy and entertainment to the team while delivering on the course,” Davies highlighted. “We had no hesitation putting Charley out first against Nelly. We believed she could apply pressure, and she certainly did.”
Despite a challenging start for Europe, trailing 6-2 on the opening day, they made a valiant effort during the singles matches, winning five and halving three, but fell short of a fourth consecutive title defense.
Reflecting on the competition, Davies remarked, “We intimidated them at times, and that was our goal. Their performance was tremendous, but we matched their intensity and played excellently, especially during the singles.”
Looking ahead, the selection of Europe’s next captain is in question. Davies has ruled out her candidacy, while current captain Suzann Pettersen noted that her term seemed to conclude with this event. Potential candidates for the 2026 Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in The Netherlands include Mel Reid and Anna Nordqvist, both of whom have served as vice-captains.
“The experience they’ve gained from observing past captains can be invaluable,” Davies added. “While they might not currently be at their peak, the possibility of them stepping into leadership roles is certainly there.”
As the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour season progresses, golf enthusiasts can look forward to the next Solheim Cup scheduled for September 11-13, 2026.
