Europe Make History at The Cairns Cup 2026

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Europe Make History at The Cairns Cup 2026 in a Celebration of World-Class Adaptive Golf

USA 6 pts – Europe 18 pts

San Roque Club, Cádiz, Spain | 11–18 July 2026

The Cairns Cup 2026 concluded in spectacular fashion at the world-renowned San Roque Club in southern Spain, delivering one of the most memorable weeks in the history of adaptive golf.
Bringing together many of the world’s finest golfers with disabilities from Europe and the United States, The Cairns Cup once again demonstrated that the game of golf has the power to inspire, unite and change lives.
Hosted from 11th to 18th July 2026, the week was about far more than the competition itself. It was a celebration of friendship, inclusion, determination and excellence.

The week began with players arriving at the beautiful Inmood San Roque Hotel, before enjoying a practice round on the Sunday, giving competitors the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the course while renewing old friendships and welcoming new faces to The Cairns Cup family.
On Monday, players joined members and guests of The San Roque Club for a Charity Golf Day, creating unforgettable memories as inspirational golfers of adaptive golf played alongside supporters of the event. The day concluded with a superb barbecue attended by players, volunteers, sponsors and guests, reinforcing the strong sense of community that defines The Cairns Cup.

Tuesday saw one of the highlights of the week as an Adaptive Golf Clinic welcomed people with disabilities from across the local area. Players from both Team Europe and Team USA shared their experiences, offered coaching and encouragement, and inspired participants to believe that golf is a sport for everyone. For many attending, it was their first experience of adaptive golf and demonstrated that disability should never be a barrier to enjoying the game.
That evening, the Opening Ceremony provided a fitting start to the international contest. Teams proudly entered accompanied by traditional pipers from Gibraltar before captains from both Europe and the United States delivered inspirational speeches celebrating competition, friendship and respect. The ceremony perfectly captured the spirit and values that make The Cairns Cup unique.

The competition itself was played over three days in a Ryder Cup-style format consisting of Fourballs, Foursomes and Singles.
Although Europe secured a historic 18 -6 victory to lift The Cairns Cup for the first time under the captaincy of Kris Aves, the scoreline did not reflect just how closely contested the matches were. Across the three days, numerous matches went to the 17th and 18th holes, with many contests decided only at the very end. The standard of golf was exceptional throughout, producing thrilling finishes that showcased the remarkable talent of adaptive golfers from both continents.
Every player demonstrated outstanding courage, determination and sportsmanship, earning the admiration of spectators, volunteers and officials alike.
The victory marks a historic milestone for Team Europe and reduces the overall series to USA 2 – Europe 1, setting up an eagerly anticipated return of The Cairns Cup to the United States in 2028.

Tournament organisers expressed their gratitude to everyone who made the week possible, including players, captains, vice-captains, officials, referees, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and The San Roque Club for hosting such a prestigious international event.
Special thanks also go to the event’s partners and sponsors whose continued support allows adaptive golf to grow across the world. Without their commitment, events of this scale simply would not be possible.
The Cairns Cup continues to prove that adaptive golf is about much more than winning trophies. It is about changing perceptions, creating opportunities, inspiring future generations and demonstrating that ability will always outweigh disability.
As the teams departed Spain, they left with new friendships, unforgettable memories and a shared determination to make The Cairns Cup 2028 in the USA even bigger and better.