PING and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) are proud to announce Morgan Pressel as the 2026 United States PING Junior Solheim Cup (PJSC) Captain.
Pressel makes history as the first former U.S. PJSC participant to be named captain of the U.S. Team. She joins a prestigious group of LPGA legends who have served in the role, including Beth Daniel, Renee Powell, Amy Alcott, Nancy Lopez, Mary Bea Porter-King and the late Kathy Whitworth.
“I’m tremendously honored to be named the U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup captain. I played in the very first Junior Solheim Cup, and it’s been a big part of my career — as has the AJGA. I also know I have big shoes to fill after Beth Daniel’s victory, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Pressel is one of the most accomplished junior golfers in AJGA history. At just 12 years old, she made headlines as the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2001. She was named the 2005 Rolex Junior Player of the Year and is a five-time Rolex Junior All-American. During her AJGA career, Pressel won 13 titles, including the 2005 Rolex Girls Junior Championship, 2005 Thunderbird International Junior and 2004 Polo Golf Junior Classic.
She was part of the inaugural U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in 2002 at Oak Ridge Country Club in Hopkins, Minnesota, competing alongside future Solheim Cup teammates Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome. Team USA claimed a 17–7 win in that first edition. Pressel returned to the squad in 2005 at The Bridgewater Club in Westfield, Indiana, helping lead the team to another decisive win, 16–8. Her career PJSC record stands at 4-0-2, a testament to her consistent and clutch match play performance.
“Morgan Pressel is an outstanding choice to serve as the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup captain. I first met Morgan when she played on the very first PING Junior Solheim Cup team in 2002 in Minneapolis, a little over a year after she played in the Women’s U.S. Open as a 12-year-old. I was very impressed with her poise for such a young golfer. It was no surprise that she went on to become such an amazing player and competitor, eventually playing in six Solheim Cups and winning a major championship. She had a perfect 4-0-2 record in her two Junior Solheim Cup-winning appearances. Morgan is a wonderful person and a great motivator who will inspire and create life-long memories for her players. I’m very excited and honored she’ll be leading the U.S. team next year.”
After a stellar junior golf career, Pressel received special permission from then-LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw to join the LPGA Tour early after earning her card at the LPGA Final Qualifying tournament. She went on to win two LPGA Tour titles, including the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship, where she became the youngest-ever winner of a modern LPGA major at just 18 years old. Her second title came at the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic.
“I’m really excited for the challenge of leading a team. I’ve had the privilege of being an assistant captain under Stacy Lewis the past two Solheim Cups, and I’ve learned a lot from her — her leadership, her ability to bring people together while still letting everyone be themselves. This is a new role for me, but I’m passionate about the Solheim Cup, passionate about the future of the game, and passionate about my country.”
Pressel also had a distinguished team career at the professional level, competing in six consecutive Solheim Cups from 2007 to 2019 and later serving as assistant captain in 2023 and 2024. Pressel currently serves as a golf analyst and commentator for NBC Sports and the Golf Channel, where she brings expert insight from her years as a top-level competitor.
“Morgan Pressel has been a trailblazer in golf from the very beginning of her career. She was one of the most dominant players in AJGA history and continues to set an example through her professionalism, leadership and commitment to growing the game. To see her come full circle, from a standout junior and inaugural PJSC participant to now leading the U.S. team as captain, is incredibly meaningful for the AJGA and a proud moment for everyone who has followed her journey.”
Pressel will now look to lead the U.S. Team to a second consecutive win in 2026. The United States currently leads the all-time PING Junior Solheim Cup series 8-4-1.
“Obviously, everyone wants to win — that’s the goal. But more than that, I want the players to walk away saying it was the greatest week of their life so far. That, to me, would be a success. Whether or not it ends in a victory, I want them to truly enjoy every moment. Because having done it myself, there’s just nothing quite like it.”
For more information on the AJGA’s programs, upcoming tournaments, or initiatives, please visit ajga.org or contact Angela Ding (ading@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department.
Ticket Priority Access Opens for the 2026 Solheim Cup
Priority registration is now open
for the 2026 Solheim Cup, taking place 7-13 September at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Fans who register by 28 August 2025 will receive exclusive early access to a limited number of discounted tickets ahead of the general public on-sale.
The public ticket launch is set for 8 September 2025 at 14:00 CEST, coinciding with the official one-year countdown to the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup. A variety of ticket options will be available, including daily grounds passes and premium hospitality experiences.
About PING
The tournament owner and title partner, PING, designs, manufactures, and markets a complete line of golf equipment including metal woods, irons, putters, and golf bags. The family-owned company was founded in 1959 by the late Karsten Solheim. Solheim is the only person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as a golf club manufacturer. Today, the Phoenix-based company is under the direction of Solheim's youngest son, John A. Solheim. PING game-improvement products can be found in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit PING.com
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About The PING Junior Solheim Cup
For the first time ever, the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2026 will share the same course as The Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands. The junior event will be played from September 4-7, immediately ahead of The Solheim Cup, which runs September 7-13.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup is a team match play competition between Europe and the United States, each team featuring the best 12 female golfers born 2006 and later (18 years and younger).
The competition consists of 24 matches – six foursome matches, six fourball matches and 12 singles matches.
The aim of the competition is to give juniors the opportunity to further their golfing careers by playing match play at a high level and for the competitors to meet, learn and be inspired by the professional players playing in The Solheim Cup.
The 2026 event marks the 14th time the PING Junior Solheim Cup team will be contested, with the U.S. Team currently leading the series 8-4-1. In 2024, the U.S. took back the trophy after winning 18.5-5.5 at Army Navy Country Club in Virginia.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup was established by PING CEO and Chairman, John A. Solheim, back in 2002 and since has developed a deserved reputation for showcasing the talents of the world’s best female junior players, with players like Rose Zhang, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant, Lexi Thompson and Korda sisters, Nelly and Jessica, all playing in the match before graduating to The Solheim Cup.