Angela Stanford reveals plans for the next US Solheim Cup captain

Angela Stanford has been officially appointed as the next American Solheim Cup captain.

The 47-year-old will be captain America on the European team led by Anna Nordqvist in the Netherlands next fall. Team USA won the latest Solheim Cup in September, hoping to be the first American team to win on exotic lands in a decade in a convincing victory for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club heading to Europe next fall.

“I’m so grateful for being named the next Captain America of Solheim Cup and being on my list of heroes,” Stanford said. “I think this is the pinnacle of my career and I look forward to leading our players to the Netherlands in 2026.”

Stanford, who won seven championships in his LPGA career, played on six Solheim Cup teams, including the last American team to win on foreign lands in 2015.

“Angela Stanford will certainly be an excellent captain of Team America at the 2026 Solheim Cup,” said interim LPGA Commissioner Liz Moore. “Angela has always been a spark on the court and on the court, a true leader and dedicated companion to her teammates. It’s time to seize the leadership of Team America and I have no doubt she will lead her team a successful week in the Netherlands.”

Before she announces the next leader of the United States, golf.com Have the opportunity to sit down with Stanford to discuss her approach as a captain of a successful team. View below.

Golf: Angela, first of all, congratulations. Tell me about the emotions you found yourself named Captain of the Solheim Cup team.

Angela Stanford: I just started crying when Liz Moore asked me to be captain. I cried so much that I couldn’t even say the word “yes”. Leeds asked, “I think yes, right?” I managed to say, “Yes. Yes.”

G: Which restaurant did you go to when you received the call?

AS: I was at the Drover Hotel. I think this restaurant is called 97 West, but honestly, I don’t remember the name of the restaurant inside. But yes, I’m there.

G: Obviously, you’ve been playing for a while. What did you learn from the game at Solheim Cup that you will bring to this captain?

AS: I think the most important thing is that players don’t have to worry about anything other than playing golf. My goal is to do everything possible to keep them in a position of success. What can I take care of before they get there? I want to go to the course, hoping to be in September during the same date [this year]. I also hope that players can play games, but I know schedules and travel may not allow. So if I could compete multiple times and prepare in this way, that’s what I’m going to do. The key is to make sure that when they arrive in the Netherlands, players don’t have to worry about playing golf. For me, when I do my best in the Solheim Cup, it’s because I don’t worry about family accommodation or if there are tickets. All these little details have been taken care of. If I can do this so the players don’t have to worry about it, that’s where I want to get into that week.

G: What did you learn from your ex, Stacy Lewis, that you will take you to the Netherlands?

AS: A lot of things Stacy does are about getting ready, and I think we’re similar. I wasn’t surprised how much detail she wanted to put on every detail because I felt the same way. I want to know exactly why things happen. Preparation is key as the competition in Europe presents a completely different challenge. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to play in the Solheim Cup as an assistant in Spain, which gave me a different view. When you are an assistant, you focus on the entire team, but when you are a player, you focus on yourself only. This experience really helped me understand the motivation and I wish I could prepare for this team so much that everything they had to do when they got there was the best golf ball.

G: Stacy is known for its very analytical drive. Will you rely on analysis with a more intuitive and intuitive “gut” approach?

AS: Well, I’m a little older than Stacy, so I think I’m older in school. That said, I absolutely believe in analysis – numbers don’t lie. We definitely use data to inform our decisions, but I also trust my intuition. If something feels right or looks right, I’ll choose it. I think balance needs to be maintained. Analytics are valuable and we will use them, but I also believe there is room for gut-based decisions, especially in the case.

G: Which past captain do you miss the most, and who will you rely on to guide you?

AS: This is a tough question because I have the honor of playing for some great captains. Patty, Betsy, Beth, Meg, Rosie, Julie – Each of them taught me something valuable. But the most prominent captain was Betsy King in 2007. That year, we were overseas, and that was another challenge. Betty was very serious and focused, and she had assistants to help soften a little. Overseas brought unique challenges and I learned a lot from Betty. While I will be in touch with all the former captains, I think I will rely on those biggest teams overseas captains.

G: How much preparations will be for overseas Solheim cups compared to cups on home soil?

I always wanted to be a captain overseas because it presents a unique challenge. I have been participating in team sports since I was a child and I like to play challenges on other people’s stages. When you play, things are different and I think we need to prepare for it mentally and emotionally. Our opponents will be huge and you will feel a certain amount of energy when you are not at home. Not every player is the same, so I want to make sure every player is ready to handle this situation in their own way. I love the idea of ​​facing this challenge and I’m excited about it. We know it will be tough, but we will be ready.

G: You quit the full-time competition schedule after the end of last year. How helpful does this have to you, without having to juggle the game and preparations of the Solheim Cup as captain?

AS: Very helpful. As an assistant captain who is still playing, I think it’s easier to balance. But I am satisfied with my career. My full-time game on the LPGA Tour is behind me, but I’m still connected to the game. I can go out and see the players, I know them very well. Now, I can focus entirely on the Solheim cup and be fully focused on all the details. If I try to play while doing this, I think it’s really hard. I’m a guy who goes all out or goes all out, and now, I go all out. I’m excited for the next chapter.

G: Angela, thank you for your time and good luck.

AS: Thank you.

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