Anne Van Dam, captain of Team Europe's PING Junior Solheim Cup squad, has expressed strong optimism about her side's prospects of reclaiming the trophy from Team USA this week at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. She insists her players possess the mental fortitude and competitive drive needed to succeed, vowing they will
fight to the last puttin pursuit of victory.
Twelve of Europe's finest young golfers, aged between 12 and 18, will face off against Team USA across September 7 and 8 in what promises to be a compelling contest. The tournament takes place just three days before the senior Solheim Cup commences on September 11, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This marks a historic moment for the competition: it is the first occasion that both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and the Solheim Cup have been staged on the same course during the same week. The 2026 edition also represents a groundbreaking development in terms of leadership structure, as Van Dam will simultaneously serve as a Solheim Cup vice-captain under Anna Nordqvist's captaincy—a first for the junior event.
Van Dam's former PING Junior Solheim Cup teammate Bronte Law has been confirmed as European vice-captain, bringing valuable experience to the backroom team. Morgan Pressel leads Team USA, who enter the contest as favourites and are defending their title following their victory at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia in 2024.
Despite the strength of the American side, Van Dam remains bullish about Europe's chances.
My team are all fightersshe explained.
One thing they have in common is they all have big personalities and very feisty attitudes. I know they will fight hard to the last putt. That's sometimes a very hard thing to teach someone. You either have that, or you don't. Everyone on our team has that.
The European captain added:
I'm very excited to see that come out and have them fight for it. I know Europe is a little bit behind, maybe in the total standings, and I would love for them to catch up.
Team USA holds a commanding all-time record of 8-4-1 in the PING Junior Solheim Cup, yet Europe demonstrated they can compete on their home continent when they triumphed 15-9 over the Americans in Spain in 2023. That victory provides genuine encouragement for Van Dam's squad heading into this week's clash.
Van Dam expressed her enthusiasm for the calibre of talent on her roster and the opportunity it represents for the young players.
I'm very excited for the next couple of days and to follow them throughout the rest of their careers. There's a lot of superstars on the teamshe said.
I can tell from the moment I started talking to my players how much they are looking forward to the opportunity to hopefully learn a lot from me and Bronte. For them, playing on the same venue as the Solheim Cup is groundbreaking.
Europe's squad composition and qualification route
Europe's 12-player team was confirmed on 18 August 2026, with six automatic qualifiers and six captain's picks announced. The squad draws from six nations: Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, England, Switzerland and France, reflecting the depth of junior women's golf across the continent.
The top six European players in the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings following the conclusion of the R&A Girls' Amateur Championship in August earned automatic selection. Spain's Marta Muñoz was chosen as one of Van Dam's six captain's picks after she defeated her compatriot Adriana García Terol in the 36-hole final of the R&A Girls' Amateur Championship in August.
García Terol secured automatic qualification through the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings, as did Switzerland's Lana Guyot, who reached the semi-finals of the R&A Girls' Amateur Championship. England's Lauren Crump, winner of the Annika Invitational Europe in Sweden in June, also qualified automatically via the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings.
England's Annabel Peaford was selected as a captain's pick. The six captain's picks in total are Axelle Guillemard, Alice Kong, Carlota López Minguela, Marta Muñoz, Annabel Peaford and Carolina Pérez-Tasso. European qualification rules for the 2026 event required players to be born on or after 1 January 2008, be amateurs, not be enrolled in a competitive collegiate golf programme, and hold European citizenship.
American talent seeking to defend their crown
Asterisk Talley headlines the American roster, having represented Team USA in both 2023 and 2024. She is ranked No 1 in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings and has enjoyed an exceptional year, culminating in victory at the US Women's Amateur Championship in August.
Amelie Zalsman has demonstrated impressive consistency throughout 2026, recording top-five finishes at all of her AJGA starts this season and finishing as runner-up in the US Girls' Junior Championship in July. Anna Fang, who helped guide Team USA to victory at the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup, has risen to 52nd in the Women's World Amateur Golf Rankings following a brilliant 12 months, notably placing as runner-up at the Rolex Tournament of Champions in 2025.
Experience and pedigree on both sides
Van Dam and Law both featured in the 2013 PING Junior Solheim Cup, bringing considerable experience to the European backroom team. On the American side, several players who have gone on to prominence in professional golf cut their teeth in this competition: Nelly Kord, Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee all played in the PING Junior Solheim Cup earlier in their careers.
The European contingent boasts similar alumni, with Charley Hull, Georgia Hall and 2026 Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist all having competed in the junior event. This blend of current youth talent and proven experience from both captaincy teams suggests a closely contested battle.
Tournament format and schedule
The competition will unfold across two days of intense competition. On Monday, September 7, six four-ball matches and six foursomes matches will take place. Tuesday, September 8 will feature 12 singles matches, with each format designed to test different aspects of the players' games.
The event is officially part of the Bernardus Golf Solheim Cup schedule and sits immediately before the main Solheim Cup week, creating an unprecedented opportunity for junior and senior players to compete at the same venue within days of one another.
What comes next
Following the conclusion of the PING Junior Solheim Cup on September 8, Team Europe and Team USA will have minimal time to rest before attention turns to the senior competition. The Solheim Cup itself runs from September 11-13 at Bernardus Golf, with all three days broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf. Team Europe will be seeking to regain the trophy they last held in 2023, while Team USA will attempt to extend their dominance in the senior event.
