Anna Nordqvist explains the big difference between European and U.S. Solheim Cup fans
Nordqvist tells GolfMagic she believes European fans are more willing to applaud good golf from both teams, not just the home side.
Anna Nordqvist wants Europe to win the Solheim Cup. But, above all, she wants women’s golf to win.
That is the message from the European captain ahead of this week’s contest at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, where Europe will look to reclaim the trophy from the United States on home soil.
The Americans are the defending champions after their 15.5-12.5 victory in Virginia in 2024, while Nordqvist will captain Europe for the first time after making nine appearances as a player.
Having experienced the Solheim Cup on both sides of the Atlantic, Nordqvist believes one of the biggest differences is the way European supporters react to good golf.
“It's a lot more fun that you actually get some claps for good shots,” she told GolfMagic's Georgina Black on the latest episode of Her Game which you can watch in full below.
Nordqvist recalled her experience at the 2021 Solheim Cup at Inverness Club in Ohio, where she faced Lexi Thompson in the opening match of Sunday's singles. The pair ultimately tied their match, with Europe going on to win 15-13, but Nordqvist remembers the partisan American crowd vividly.
“I mean, there's so many times I feel like golf is not winning because it's either booing, or you know, I've hit shots and I remember at Inverness, we didn't have any supporters there. I was playing Lexi in the singles match. We couldn't see the green. There was a drivable par-4, they were screaming at her shots. She was like 10 yards off the green. I came up there and I'm 15 feet. There was just zero claps.”
Nordqvist recalled a similar reaction on the following hole, despite producing what she felt was the better shot.
“Same thing on the following hole. It was a par-3, you couldn't see. They, like, screamed so loud for her. She was 30 feet and I come up there and I'm three feet.”
Nordqvist accepts that such partisan support is part of what makes the Solheim Cup special, but believes European fans are more likely to appreciate quality golf regardless of who hits the shot.
“I feel like in Europe it's just nice to, like, you know, if you do something well or if the Americans do something well, like, you clap,” she said.
For Nordqvist, that is not about being less passionate. It is about recognising that the event is also a showcase for the women's game.
“I think that's, you know, we're better than, you know, being so patriotic about, okay, it's Europe, because I think at the end of the day I always think, like, women's golf needs to win.”
The 39-year-old Swede is nevertheless relishing the prospect of having a home crowd behind her team, particularly for players experiencing a European Solheim Cup for the first time.
“It's obviously certainly, like, really cool when you have kind of the crowds on your side. But yeah, so I'm excited.”
Nordqvist has already warned players such as Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Esther Henseleit, who will be playing their first Solheim Cup on home soil, to expect a very different atmosphere this week.
“It's going to be really cool to have the crowds on your side and you're going to have a lot of spectators there cheering for you because it's definitely going to be a different feeling,” she added.
While Nordqvist knows the Americans will have home advantage when the Solheim Cup heads back across the Atlantic to Valhalla in 2028, she believes those experiences can ultimately strengthen Europe.
“The feeling is even sweeter when you do beat them on their home soil,” she concluded.
This week, though, it is Europe who will have the crowd — and Nordqvist is hoping they can use that advantage to reclaim the trophy while giving women's golf another stage on which to shine.
Watch our full interview here:
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Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.
