Solheim Cup: How to watch, who's playing and who's favored at Bernardus Golf

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Nelly Korda has cemented herself as No. 1 in women's golf by winning the first two LPGA majors of the year among four titles, including the coveted U.S. Women's Open.

But this week at the Solheim Cup, Korda is 1 of 12.

The same holds true for Charley Hull of England, a big personality with a game to match. Hull leads Team Europe in the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, the most intense three days in women's golf.

“What I love about this tournament is how much passion it brings from each side,” Korda said. “Even when Europe becomes very passionate about what they’re doing on the golf course, it elevates ... we all want to elevate our game.”

The Americans return nine players from the Solheim Cup team that won in 2024 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, but it has been 11 years since it last won on European soil. The matches start Friday at Bernardus Golf, the first time the Solheim Cup is in the Netherlands.

Here's what to do know going into the U.S.-Europe contest:

The matches begin Friday morning and it feels as though they never really stop until there is a winner late Sunday afternoon.

The opening day features four matches of foursomes in the morning, followed by four matches of fourballs in the afternoon. Saturday will repeat the same schedule, and the Solheim Cup concludes with 12 singles matches on Sunday. Each match is worth one point (ties are worth a half-point).

The United States is the defending champion and only needs to win 14 of the 28 points available to retain the cup.

Europe has to get 14 1/2 points to win back the Solheim Cup.

Golf Channel is broadcasting the matches for the American audience, but it's going to require setting the alarm clock early. On Friday and Saturday, Golf Channel comes on at 1:30 a.m. ET and runs continuously through 1 p.m. ET.

For Sunday singles, coverage begins at 5 a.m. ET through noon ET.

Nelly Korda and Megan Khang are the most experienced players for Team USA, each making their fifth appearance in the Solheim Cup. The Americans have only two rookies in Auston Kim and Lindy Duncan, the 35-year-old who has yet to win on the LPGA Tour. She's the oldest American to make her Solheim Cup debut since Nancy Scranton was 39 in 2000 at Loch Lomond.

The other eight Americans are Alison Lee and Andrea Lee (not related), Lauren Coughlin, Allisen Corpuz, Angel Yin, Yealimi Noh, Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang.

Charley Hull of England and Carlota Ciganda of Spain are both making their eighth Solheim Cup appearance. Europe has four rookies in Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain, Mimi Rhodes of England, Nastasia Nadaud of France and Lottie Woad of England, who already is Europe's top-ranked player at No. 7 in the world.

Rounding out the team are Esther Henseleit of Germany, Celine Boutier of France, Maja Stark of Sweden, Linn Grant of Sweden, Nanna Koertz Madsen of Denmark and Leona Maguire of Ireland.

Angela Stanford for the United States and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden are Solheim Cup captains for the first time. Nordqvist played in the 2024 matches and has said she is retiring from the LPGA. Stanford was an assistant captain in 2024.

The Americans (+110) are a slight favorite over Team Europe (-105), with the odds at +1100 for the matches to end in a tie.

The Americans have the stronger team on paper, as is typically the case, with nine players from the top 50 in the women's world ranking. Europe has more top-10 players in Hull (8) and Woad (7). But it has only three other players in the top 50 in Henseleit (21), Stark (29) and Boutier (35).

There are no Dutch players for the first Solheim Cup on Dutch soil, although Anne van Dam has been selected as an assistant captain.

This not unusual. It's the third time in the last five European-based Solheim Cups that the host country did not have a player on the team. The other occasions were Scotland in 2019 and Ireland in 2011.

The United States has an 11-7-1 record dating to the first Solheim Cup in 1990. Under the current format of 28 matches that began in 1996, the Americans have a 228-220 advantage in points.

See AP’s full golf coverage here

Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Europe, left and Esther Henseleit of Europe walk onto the 15th green during a practice round for the Solheim Cup at the Bernardus Golf course in Vught, Netherlands, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Anna Nordqvist, Europe team captain, speaks during a press conference for the Solheim Cup at the Bernardus Golf course in Vught, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

United States team, left ,and Europe team right pose for the media during a photocell for the Solheim Cup at the Bernardus Golf course in Vught, Netherlands, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Charley Hull of Europe plays off the 14th hole during a practice round for the Solheim Cup at the Bernardus Golf course in Vught, Netherlands, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Nelly Korda of the United States putts on the 12th green during a practice round for the Solheim Cup at the Bernardus Golf course in Vught, Netherlands, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for sixth time in seven games on Wednesday night after the two-way superstar felt something in his right arm during a swing two days earlier.

Ohtani has been managing lingering soreness in his right biceps and left knee for weeks now, but he waited until after Tuesday night's game to tell the training staff about his arm after playing Monday.

"There was a swing Monday that he didn’t feel great on, hasn’t totally recovered from Monday,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So the thought is to give him today and then huddle up with him, the medical staff, and figure out what’s the next steps.”

The Dodgers are off Thursday and open a seven-game trip in Miami on Friday.

Ohtani took swings in the batting cage on Tuesday night, when he was available to pinch-hit.

Roberts confirmed the team has stressed to Ohtani the need for him to speak up immediately about any physical issues he may have.

“The concern is that after four days (off) and then to take four at-bats and to feel something in an at-bat where we can’t keep going forward, I think that’s disappointing,” Roberts said. “Anything should be on the table as far as kind of what gets him to be the best version of himself in September.”

That includes a potential stint on the injured list.

“Obviously, it’s not ideal given that it would potentially be 15 days,” Roberts said, “but I still stand by whatever is best for him is best for us. We’ll have to make that decision at some point.”

Roberts expressed some regret about not putting Ohtani on the IL last week.

“I would love to go back and put him on the IL,” he said. “But I did feel at that moment in time, we all felt that giving him four days was sufficient. He was agreeable.”

Ohtani, a four-time MVP, is a key component of the Dodgers' bid for a third consecutive World Series championship, even though he won't be pitching the rest of the season because of his injuries.

“I just feel very confident that he’ll be back at some point,” Roberts said. "I don’t know if it’s Friday, I don’t know. We have to make a decision at some point. I do feel that he’ll be ready to go.”

Also out of the lineup Wednesday was first baseman Freddie Freeman, whose right knee has been bothering him. He made a rare appearance as the designated hitter on Tuesday, going 0 for 2 with a strikeout in a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Center fielder Tommy Edman was back in the leadoff spot and Will Smith was the designated hitter in place of Ohtani for the series finale against the Reds.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani watches from the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)