Following the recent Solheim Cup, where the USA narrowly defeated Europe by a three-point margin, questions have emerged regarding the dynamics of the European team. Captain Suzann Pettersen seems largely unfazed by the growing criticism surrounding her leadership.
Leona Maguire, who achieved a singles victory against Ally Ewing, was candid about her feelings toward Pettersen’s decisions, referring to the situation as a “bitter pill to swallow.” A pivotal player in Europe’s success in Toledo three years ago, Maguire found herself participating in only one of the four sessions leading up to Sunday’s singles. While she declared her dedication as a “team player,” her words suggested a lack of trust in Pettersen’s choices.
“She didn’t really provide much reasoning, to be honest,” Maguire reflected on her limited playtime. “It seemed like I was a bit off and not making enough birdies, but I think I demonstrated today that there are various ways to achieve success. I made plenty of birdies out there.”
Maguire acknowledged that she felt an extra drive during her match, saying, “I don’t need additional motivation to win my point, but there probably was a little bit extra, to be honest.”
Her comments quickly circulated online even before the US team lifted the trophy. In a pointed social media post—“Form is temporary, class is permanent”—Maguire deviated from her usual reserved persona.
However, just hours later, she seemed to pivot, placing emphasis on teamwork: “Win as a team, lose as a team. I’m very proud of each player and how we fought until the end. Regardless of the result, it was a fantastic week with an incredible group of girls,” notably leaving out any mention of her captain.
When analyzing performance metrics, only Charley Hull from the European squad secured more than two points, while six American players achieved scores of two and a half or higher. Linn Grant finished without scoring after four matches, and Emily Pedersen managed only two points after participating in five sessions.
When asked about Maguire’s absence on the second day, Pettersen explained, “It’s extremely difficult to sit any players on this team.” This reasoning did little to alleviate the dissatisfaction among observers who speculated about the potential ramifications of her decisions.
Pettersen defended her choices, especially concerning Maguire’s victory in the 11th match. “I’ve never regretted any decisions in my life,” she asserted. “I believe in leading with my gut feeling and heart. Sometimes you simply get outplayed.”
Recognizing the challenges her team faced, Pettersen emphasized the necessity of collaboration among all 12 players to have a fighting chance at victory. “It would have been ideal to have Leona as an anchor, knowing she can handle pressure and get the job done. It’s always tough making pairings; sometimes they work, and sometimes they don’t. We could always ponder the ‘what-ifs,’ but ultimately, we don’t have regrets. We gave it our best effort, but a slow start on Friday morning set us back.”
Looking ahead, Pettersen remained noncommittal about her role as captain for Europe in 2026. It seems a change may be on the horizon, with Anna Nordqvist emerging as a potential frontrunner for the position. Regardless, Maguire is expected to arrive in the Netherlands for that competition with considerable motivation.
