US and Europe Face Off in Solheim Cup as Rory McIlroy Returns at Irish Open
The 20th Solheim Cup begins in the Netherlands at Bernardus Golf, featuring a 6,557-yard, par-72 course layout, while simultaneously, Northern Ireland’s Amgen Irish Open tees off at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, marking a packed weekend for international golf competition.
Solheim Cup Heads to the Netherlands for Historic 20th Edition
Team USA enters the 20th Solheim Cup as the defending champion, returning nine players from the 2024 squad that secured a 15.5-12.5 victory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, according to tournament reporting. The competition marks the first time the biennial matches take place in the Netherlands. Bernardus Golf hosts the 12-player rosters captained by Angela Stanford for the United States and Anna Nordqvist for Europe. Nordqvist enters the event following her announcement of retirement from the LPGA Tour, leading a European side that has captured the cup five of the last eight times and maintained an undefeated streak on home soil dating back to 2015 in Germany.
Roster depth and recent performance metrics highlight a distinct experience gap between the two squads. According to LPGA Tour data, only five of the 12 American players have secured an individual LPGA tournament victory since the last Solheim Cup. World No. 1 Nelly Korda anchors the U.S. side with 23 worldwide victories, while the remainder of the American roster has combined for 18 wins. Korda and Megan Khang lead the U.S. in experience, each making their fifth appearance in the matches. Conversely, Europe features four rookies selected by Nordqvist, including Lottie Woad, who stands at No. 8 in the women’s world ranking. Charley Hull and Carlota Ciganda anchor the European veteran presence, making their eighth Solheim Cup appearances.
Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf Stars Headline the Amgen Irish Open
Across Europe on the DP World Tour, Rory McIlroy returns to defend his title at the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links, launching a demanding autumn schedule that spans six tournaments across three continents. The tournament features a $6 million purse with a $1 million winner’s share on the 6,838-yard, par-70 layout in Doonbeg. The event also features a prominent contingent of LIV Golf participants competing via various exemptions. Jon Rahm makes his first European Tour start since the Scottish Open, returning to the tournament he won in 2017 and 2019. Garcia and Niemann secured their spots via sponsor invitations, alongside Brooks Koepka, who makes his first appearance since missing the PGA Tour postseason.
PGA Tour Champions Compete in South Dakota
In senior professional golf, the Sanford International unfolds at Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux City, South Dakota, offering a $2.2 million purse with a $330,000 winner’s share over a 6,747-yard, par-70 course. Retief Goosen returns as the defending champion. Steve Stricker plays for the second week following a tie for 55th in Michigan, chasing a fifth victory at the event. Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink headlines the field alongside sponsor exemption recipients Mario Tiziani and Jamie Donaldson, the latter famously clinching the winning point for Europe at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, according to tour records.
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