Auston Kim Earns U.S. Solheim Cup Spot on Points

By Staff Writer

September 3, 2026

3 min read

YouTube description : Nelly Korda's 2015 was spectacular, highlighted by two Invitational wins at the Yani Tseng Invitational presented by the Swinging Skirts and The PING Invitational. She was a walking highlight machine.

AJGAGolf / CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Key takeaways

Auston Kim of St. Augustine, Florida, qualified for the U.S. Solheim Cup team on points, learning the news from captain Angela Stanford on her 26th birthday, Aug. 16.
The matches run Sept. 11-13 at Bernardus Golf Club in Cromvoirt, Netherlands, with the U.S. defending a 15.5-12.5 win from 2024 and an 11-8 lead in the all-time series.
Kim is one of two rookies on the U.S. roster, alongside Lindy Duncan, on a team that also includes Nelly Korda, Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang.
She built her points total with a tie for fifth at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship and a tie for ninth at the Amundi Evian Championship, part of a season worth more than $1.3 million.

Auston Kim, a St. Augustine, Florida, native playing her third LPGA season, has qualified for the U.S. Solheim Cup team on points. Captain Angela Stanford delivered the news by phone on Aug. 16 — Kim's 26th birthday.

Where and when is the 2026 Solheim Cup?

The matches are set for Sept. 11-13 at Bernardus Golf Club in Cromvoirt, Netherlands. The U.S. is the defending champion after winning 15.5-12.5 in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Gainesville, Virginia, its first title since 2017, and holds an 11-8 lead in the all-time series. Kim is one of two rookies on the American roster, along with Lindy Duncan, joining veterans such as Nelly Korda, Jennifer Kupcho, Rose Zhang and Allisen Corpuz against a European side led by Charley Hull, Lottie Woad, Celine Boutier and Leona Maguire. She is only the second golfer from Florida's First Coast to make a Solheim Cup team, after Deb Richard.

How did Auston Kim qualify for the Solheim Cup?

Kim climbed the points list with a tie for fifth at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, improving on a tie for second there in 2025, and a tie for ninth at the Amundi Evian Championship in France. The results were part of a season with four top-10 finishes and more than $1.3 million in earnings, pushing her career total past $3.5 million and her Race to the CME Globe ranking to 21st. It was enough to qualify automatically, without needing a captain's pick. Kim played college golf at Vanderbilt, where she was an SEC All-Freshman selection, before turning pro.

"It was a good birthday present," Kim said of the call from her captain.

Kim said she was playing frisbee at home when Stanford called from the LPGA event in Portland, Oregon. After the Netherlands, she plans a busy fall stretch: seven tournaments remain before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Nov. 19-22, and Kim wants to stay inside the top 60 in points to reach that field. Her home club, St. Johns Golf and Country Club, is planning an early-morning watch party on Sept. 13 for her singles match.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 Solheim Cup?

The matches are Sept. 11-13 at Bernardus Golf Club in Cromvoirt, Netherlands.

Who is on the U.S. Solheim Cup team?

Confirmed members include Auston Kim, Lindy Duncan, Nelly Korda, Jennifer Kupcho, Rose Zhang and Allisen Corpuz, under captain Angela Stanford.

How did the U.S. do in the last Solheim Cup?

The Americans won 15.5-12.5 in 2024 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Virginia, their first title since 2017, and lead the all-time series 11-8.

Who is Auston Kim?

A St. Augustine, Florida, native in her third LPGA season, out of Vanderbilt, with more than $3.5 million in career earnings and a spot on the 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup team.