Leading with Heart: Angela Stanford on Leadership, Legacy & the Solheim Cup

EPISODE 001

Runtime: 48 min
Published: June 2026
Topics: Solheim Cup • LPGA • Leadership • Team USA • Women’s Golf • Mentorship

In this inaugural episode of Fairways & Friends, Courtney Connell welcomes LPGA major champion, seven-time LPGA Tour winner, and 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Angela Stanford for an inspiring conversation about leadership, authenticity, and representing something greater than yourself.

As she prepares to lead Team USA into the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands, Angela reflects on the relationships that shaped her career, the emotional journey to becoming captain, and the lessons learned from more than two decades competing at the highest level of professional golf.

From her Texas roots and TCU career to winning the 2018 Amundi Evian Championship, competing in 98 consecutive major championships, and representing the United States in six Solheim Cups, Angela shares the experiences that have prepared her for one of golf’s greatest leadership roles.

The conversation explores building team culture, earning trust, balancing competition with compassion, the future of women’s golf, and why authenticity and accountability remain at the center of everything she does.

Whether you’re passionate about golf, leadership, or personal growth, this episode offers timeless lessons from one of the game’s most respected ambassadors.

Meet the Guest

Guest: Angela Stanford
Current Role: 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain
Known For: LPGA Major Champion • Solheim Cup Veteran • Leadership
Career Highlights:

2026 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain
Seven-time LPGA Tour winner
2018 Amundi Evian Championship winner
Six-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member
98 consecutive major championship appearances
2023 & 2024 Senior LPGA Champion
Texas Golf Hall of Fame member

Angela Stanford is one of the most respected figures in women’s golf, known not only for her accomplishments on the course but also for her leadership, authenticity, and commitment to growing the game.

Born and raised in Saginaw, Texas, Angela starred at Texas Christian University, where she became a four-time All-American and won nine collegiate tournaments before turning professional in 2000. Over a remarkable 23-year LPGA Tour career, she earned seven victories, including the 2018 Amundi Evian Championship—her long-awaited first major title—and competed in an extraordinary 98 consecutive major championships.

A six-time member of the United States Solheim Cup Team, Angela became one of the competition’s defining leaders before serving as an assistant captain in three consecutive Solheim Cups. In 2025, she was selected to captain Team USA for the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands, a role she describes as the pinnacle of her career.

Away from competition, Angela continues to invest in the next generation through the Angela Stanford Foundation, which provides scholarships to Texas students whose families have been affected by breast cancer, honoring the legacy of her mother, Nan.