The defending champion United States has its Solheim Cup captain for 2026 in LPGA veteran Angela Stanford.
Stanford is a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, including the 2018 Evian Championship, her first and only major title. Stanford last won on the tour in December 2020 near her hometown of Fort Worth.
While Stanford’s 4-13-3 record at the Solheim Cup isn’t great, she does bring a wealth of experience to the role, having played in the event six times. She has also been an assistant captain for the last three playings, including the United States’ winning effort in 2024. Memorably, she defeated Suzann Pettersen in singles following the controversy with Alison Lee earlier in the morning at the 2015 Solheim Cup as part of the biggest final session comeback in event history.
“I’m extremely grateful to be named the next American captain for the Solheim Cup and join a list of my heroes in the game. I’ve always believed that I represent more than myself on the LPGA Tour, and there is no greater honor than representing your country,” said Stanford. “I consider this the pinnacle of my career, and I’m looking forward to leading our players to the Netherlands in 2026.”
Stanford was recently in the headlines, when her consecutive played majors streak, the longest in women’s golf history, ended just two short of 100. Shortly after, she announced her retirement from the LPGA Tour at 46-years-old.
Stanford’s message to the fans: “You’re going to see some of the best golf you’ve ever seen.”
The 2026 Solheim Cup will take place at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands in Sept. 2026. Stanford’s opponent in the captain’s seat is Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist.
