At Bernardus, the best Solheim Cup pairing may not be the two biggest names

Europe and the United States meet at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands from 11 to 13 September, led by Anna Nordqvist and Angela Stanford. The captains' most consequential work may happen before a ball is struck: deciding which players make each other's next shot easier.

Alternate shot changes what compatibility means

In foursomes, one player's tee shot becomes the other's approach. A long drive is helpful only if the partner can use the resulting distance and lie. Two excellent individual players can still produce an awkward combination if their preferred shot shapes and approach distances repeatedly clash.

Our preference would be to examine the sequence across several holes rather than pair players on reputation alone. Who is comfortable with the likely longer approaches? Which player should take the tee shots on the holes that create the most demanding second shots? The answer may differ from the arrangement that produces the longest average drive.

Fourball needs a different conversation

When each player uses her own ball, a partner safely positioned for par can give the other more freedom. But that does not mean one player must remain permanently cautious. The roles should change with the lie, the opponents' positions and the genuine chance of making birdie.

We would be wary of a partnership in which both players attack the same low-percentage target simply because neither wants to appear defensive. Shared information is useful precisely because it allows different choices. One reliable ball can improve the value of the other's ambition.

The first lost hole should not dissolve the plan

Match play creates immediate emotional feedback. A missed short putt costs a hole visibly, while a sensible target that prevents a worse score may receive little attention. Captains and partners need to distinguish a poor decision from a reasonable shot that was not executed.

Our expectation is that the side with clearer, format-specific partnerships will get more from its available talent. We are not naming confirmed pairings or predicting an exact final score before the captains announce their choices. The key test is whether the combinations have a sporting explanation beyond friendship or star power. At Bernardus, compatibility should mean understanding the shot the partner will face next—and accepting responsibility for making that shot manageable.

Cover photograph: Unsplash, illustrative sports imagery; not a photograph of the reported event.