01"결과보다 값진 여자골프의 발전"… 스탠포드 단장이 전한 솔하임컵 소회
2026 솔하임컵에서 미국 대표팀을 이끈 안젤라 스탠포드 단장이 대회를 마친 뒤 선수들의 헌신과 여자골프 전반에 쏠린 뜨거운 관심에 감사의 뜻을 전했다. 네덜란드 베르나르두스 골프에서 열린 이번 대회에서 미국팀은 토요일 경기까지 8-8 동점을 만들며 팽팽한 흐름을 이어갔으나, 최종일 싱글 매치에서 유럽팀의 거센 기세를 넘어서지 못했다.
경기 후 인터뷰에서 스탠포드 단장은 라인업 구성에 대한 후회가 없음을 분명히 했다. 로즈 장, 제니퍼 컵초, 로렌 코글린 등 첫날 두 세션을 모두 소화한 핵심 선수들에게 체력 안배를 위한 휴식을 부여한 결정은 타당했다는 설명이다. 그녀는 "유럽팀이 매우 뛰어난 경기를 펼쳤고 특히 퍼트에서 강세를 보였다"며 상대의 승리를 담담히 인정하고 축하를 건넸다.
무엇보다 스탠포드 단장은 이번 솔하임컵이 여자골프의 가치를 끌어올리는 계기가 되었다고 평가했다. 취재진의 열띤 보도와 소셜 미디어상의 뜨거운 반응이 모여 여자골프 저변을 확대하는 원동력이 되었다고 강조하며, 먼 유럽 원정길을 함께 해준 미디어 관계자들에게 고마움을 표했다.
비록 원정 경기에서 패배의 아쉬움을 남겼지만, 강한 유대감을 확인한 미국팀은 2년 뒤 홈에서 열릴 켄터키 솔하임컵에서의 설욕을 다짐했다. 스탠포드 단장은 "직접 뛴 선수들의 마음이 누구보다 아프겠지만, 단단해진 팀워크를 바탕으로 다음 대회에서 반드시 바로잡을 수 있을 것"이라며 강한 신뢰를 보냈다.
02Original (English) — LPGA
Angela Stanford, Captain of Team United States looks on during the first round of the Solheim Cup 2026 at Bernardus Golf on September 11, 2026 in Cromvoirt, Netherlands.
Jennifer Meyer is the Manager of Digital Operations. Jennifer has worked with the LPGA for more than a decade, working with the LPGA and Epson Tours to manage, develop, maintain, and update website content.
U.S. Team captain Angela Stanford will have plenty to process following the 2026 Solheim Cup. Questions remain about whether her order and pairings were optimal, but growing the game and elevating women’s golf remains a major victory regardless of the outcome at Bernardas Golf.
Stanford opened her comments with a simple thank you.
“Thank y'all so much for covering us this week. I think the only way we continue to grow is if you guys keep writing about us and covering us, so really appreciate everything,” Stanford said. “And, you know, I know social media's been on fire this week and that's good for women's golf. So really appreciate y'all being here.
“I think sometimes the European Solheim Cups, you're having to travel quite a ways from America, for the American writers and TV people. So thank you for making the effort. It really does matter and I appreciate it.”
The U.S. Team ended Saturday on a high note, led by Jennifer Kupcho’s two key putts to tie the competition at 8-8 entering Sunday singles matches. While the squad appeared flat on Sunday, would the captain make any changes in hindsight?
“I feel like I still need to think through it, but I don't think I would have done my lineup different because even -- you know, I think Lauren needed the rest. Kupcho needed the rest,” Stanford said. “Rose needed the rest. Like, the people that went both sessions on Friday, I wanted to make sure that they had some rest. So I wouldn't change that.
“Europe played well. I think sometimes it's not about -- I don't think we played bad. I think we just didn't make enough putts. And if you listen to everything I've ever said, Europeans always putt better. I don't know why. I still don't know why. I mean, I have a good idea, but I'm not going to say it right now. (Laughing.) Apparently I didn't get to know the superintendent as well as I should have. But I think they played really well, and you have to compliment them, and we gave it our best shot.”
Team chemistry is always a focus leading into match play, and this week was no exception. The U.S. Team bonded during the road event, a sentiment Stanford echoed.
“I think they did great. Like I said, they never wavered. Going into Saturday afternoon, it got tough, and they came together, and they pulled through, and they have stuck together the whole time,” Stanford said. “I can promise you this hurts more for them than maybe for us because they were the ones playing. The good news is they can show back up in Kentucky in a couple years and make it right. But, no, that core group, they're great.”