DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 20, 2025) – After three turns as an assistant captain, Angela Stanford will take the helm of her first U.S. Solheim Cup Team in 2026. Stanford, a six-time veteran of the American squad, will captain the top 12 American female golfers as they represent their country at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, from Sept. 11-13, 2026.
“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.
LINK TO PHOTOS AND VIDEOS (all assets for editorial usage only; credit LPGA)
“Angela Stanford will certainly be a wonderful captain for the U.S. Team at the 2026 Solheim Cup,” said Interim LPGA Commissioner Liz Moore. “Angela has always been a spark on and off the course, a true leader and a dedicated partner to her teammates. It’s now her time to take the helm of the U.S. Team, and I have no doubt that she will lead her squad to a successful week in the Netherlands.”
Stanford retired in 2024 after a 23-year LPGA Tour career. She has seven LPGA Tour victories, earning her first major title at the 2018 Amundi Evian Championship in her 18th season on Tour. Stanford has also won the 2023 and 2024 Senior LPGA Championships.
She competed in 98 consecutive major championships from 2002 to 2024, second only to Jack Nicklaus for consecutive majors played in professional golf.
Stanford has competed in six Solheim Cups, representing the USA in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. In 2015, Stanford earned the winning point for the U.S. Team with her 2-and-1 victory over Suzann Pettersen. She then served as an assistant captain in 2021 under Captain Pat Hurst, and again in 2023 and 2024 under Captain Stacy Lewis.
Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Stanford was a four-year All-American at Texas Christian University, where she won nine collegiate tournaments. She is a 2000 TCU graduate with a degree in Speech Communications and is enshrined in the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Off the course, Stanford runs the Angela Stanford Foundation, which provides scholarships to kids in her native Texas whose families have fallen victim to breast cancer. Stanford works in honor of her mother, Nan, who battled the disease for 13 years before her death in 2022.
Information on ticket options and prices for the 2026 Solheim Cup is available at www.solheimcup2026.golf. Anna Nordqvist was recently announced as captain for the 2026 European Solheim Cup Team.
About the Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with passion for one’s country and continent. This biennial international match-play competition features the best U.S. players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten and Louise Solheim and family, the founders of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in conjunction with the LPGA and the LET, developed the concept and became the title sponsor for the Solheim Cup. Today, the Global Partners of the Solheim Cup are PING, Skyscanner and Rolex.
Held every two years, the event has grown into the most prestigious international women’s professional golf team event. The 2026 Solheim Cup will be held Sept. 11-13 at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands, while the 2028 Solheim Cup will be held at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. The U.S. Team leads Team Europe, 11-7-1, all-time in Solheim Cup competition.
For more information, visit www.solheimcup.com.
About Bernardus
Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt is situated near the historic city of 's-Hertogenbosch. The course is easily accessible, just over an hour by train (65 miles) from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam Central Station, and only 20 miles from Eindhoven Airport.
Designed by renowned American golf course architect Kyle Phillips—who also created iconic courses like Kingsbarns, The Grove, and Yas Links—the championship course at Bernardus is a highly regarded heathland layout with challenging water hazards and a compact design. Open to all via Day Memberships, Bernardus focuses on providing an exceptional and enjoyable experience. Embracing the motto "there are no rules," it offers a relaxed environment where visitors can play a world-class course, enjoy top-tier practice facilities, and indulge in off-course amenities such as an architecturally stunning clubhouse, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a spa, and luxurious lodge accommodations.
Since its opening in 2018, Bernardus has already hosted three editions of the KLM Dutch Open on the DP World Tour (2021-2023) and is ready and well positioned to provide a spectacular stage for the Solheim Cup 2026.
For more information, please visit bernardusgolf.com and follow us on Instagram: @bernardusgolfandwine, Facebook: @bernardusgolfandwine or Linkedin: @bernardusgolfandwine Questions and press applications can be sent to info@bernardusgolf.com. Brand assets can be downloaded at bernardusgolf.com/press
Media Contact
Christina Lance, Director, Communications
christina.lance@lpga.com