Alison Lee started the 2026 LPGA Tour season in a unique way, transitioning from the broadcast booth to competing after being on maternity leave following the birth of her son. At 31 years old, Lee earned a spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team, and her performance against the European team in the Netherlands was extraordinary.

Lee participated in three of the first four sessions at the biennial Solheim Cup event. During the opening two days, she secured victories in two foursome matches and one fourball match. On Sunday’s singles session, things initially seemed challenging for Lee. Despite playing her first 11 holes at 1-over par, she stepped onto the 12th tee 4-down in her match against Esther Henseleit.

No player in the competition’s 36-year history had previously come back from such a deficit in a singles match. Yet, Lee found another level in her play to achieve a memorable comeback. Henseleit’s performance in the final seven holes at 2-over helped, but Lee’s determination also played a critical role.

Lee finished the final seven holes at 4-under. She not only tied the match for a half-point but also won full points with birdies on two of her last three holes. These efforts made her the first player to automatically qualify for the U.S. Solheim Cup team post-pregnancy since Juli Inkster in 2011.

Returning from maternity leave, Lee resumed her LPGA Tour in mid-April. Within a tight timeframe to earn points, she managed three top-10 finishes across 12 starts, including a T-5 finish at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Alison Lee of Team United States celebrates after winning her match at Bernardus Golf in the Sunday singles of Solheim Cup 2026. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Although Lee’s early triumph on Sunday was a highlight for the Americans, Team Europe ultimately won the competition, aided by Lottie Woad’s victory over Auston Kim. Additionally, Lee’s participation in the 2024 Solheim Cup, where she helped secure a win for the U.S., marked a memorable point in her career as she managed her early pregnancy.

Before Lee in 2026, Suzann Pettersen represented a similar milestone for mothers playing in the Solheim Cup. Pettersen was a captain’s pick for Team Europe in 2019, clinching victory before retiring from the sport.

Mark Harris contributes as a writer for OutKick.