The Associated Press

Nelly Korda is the No. 1 in the world, a multiple major winner and an Olympic gold medalist.

Still, for all her individual accolades, nothing in golf beats putting on the Team USA uniform and representing her country at the Solheim Cup.

“There’s no greater feeling,” Korda says, “especially stepping onto that first tee box.”

This week could be even more special for the biggest name in women’s golf.

Korda is spearheading the United States’ attempt to win the Solheim Cup on European soil for the first time since 2015 in the matches that start Friday in the Netherlands. After regaining the crystal trophy in 2024, the Americans need only 14 points at Bernardus Golf course to keep possession.

An away Solheim Cup victory is one of the few achievements missing on Korda’s golfing résumé — and she only has to speak to her captain to learn how to get it done.

Asked to rank the best memories from her six Solheim Cups as a player and three as an assistant, Angela Stanford says being part of that U.S. win in Germany 11 years ago is No. 1.

Her only Curtis Cup appearance was a win in England in 2000.

Her only major title? At the Evian Championship in France in 2018.

For Stanford, there’s just something about going into enemy territory and coming away with the trophy.

“Growing up, I played a lot of different team sports and I loved going to other people’s gyms, going to their fields,” the U.S. captain said. “It doesn’t bother me to go into a hostile environment and try to play and try to perform.”

Not that it’s expected to be too intimidating at Bernardus. OK, there’s a purpose-built amphitheater around the first tee that will allow around 3,000 spectators to see some of the world’s top golfers go weak at the knees for the pressure-filled opening drive.