Fans didn’t have to wait long to see the much-anticipated rematch between the U.S. and European Teams at the Solheim Cup. Just 12 months ago, the match ended in a 14-14 tie at Finca Cortesin in Spain, and this year, the teams get a chance to square off once more, this time on U.S. soil, as both sides look to win the Cup outright. But why are these two teams meeting again so soon? The answer to that question and more is in your five things to know about this week’s Solheim Cup.
What is the Solheim Cup?
The Solheim Cup is a biennial competition that pits the best female golfers from the United States against the top competitors from Europe. Since the event’s inception in 1990, the Solheim Cup has grown into one of the preeminent competitions in the game of golf, and the Americans currently lead the Europeans in victories 10-7. Every two years, the event alternates from American to European soil, and having been previously played in odd-numbered years, beginning in 2024, the Solheim Cup is moving back to even-numbered years, so the event was held in back-to-back seasons to accommodate that change. Both the U.S. and European Solheim Cup Teams are led by Captains Stacy Lewis, who is at the helm of the U.S. squad, and Suzann Pettersen, who will be leading the Europeans. Both are returning in their roles, as they were also captains in 2023 at Finca Cortesin.
What is the Format?
The U.S. and Europeans Teams will compete over the course of three days of match play to determine who will take home the Solheim Cup. During the first two days of play, which will be held Friday, September 13, and Saturday, September 14, players will square off in a morning session of four foursomes matches followed by an afternoon session of four four-ball matches. On Sunday, September 15, the U.S. and Europe will then compete in 12 singles matches. One point is awarded for each match won over the course of the three days, with a half point awarded to matches that end in a tie. A total of 14.5 points is required to win the Cup upon the conclusion of play on Sunday, and 14 points are needed in order for a team to retain the Solheim Cup. Should the event end in a tie, as it did in 2023, the last team to win the Solheim Cup will retain the trophy.
Who are the Teams?
There are 24 players that are competing in the Solheim Cup, made up of 12 Americans and 12 Europeans. Players have to qualify to represent their countries in the Solheim Cup, with both the U.S. and Europeans staging a two-year qualification period in which prospective players can accumulate points in their respective points standings. However, due to a change in the point structure for the U.S., American players only earned points from the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions to the AIG Women’s Open, with both teams being finalized upon the conclusion of the year’s final major in August.
The U.S. Solheim Cup team is made up of the top seven players in the U.S. Solheim Cup points standings – Allisen Corpuz, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Megan Khang, Nelly Korda, Andrea Lee and Lilia Vu. The team also features the top two players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, Alison Lee and Rose Zhang, who had not already qualified via the points list. Lewis selected three captain’s picks to round out her squad, choosing Jennifer Kupcho, Sarah Schmelzel and Lexi Thompson to join the team.
Team Europe is made up of the top two players in the European Solheim Cup points standings, Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit, along with the top five players in the Rolex Rankings, Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant, Madelene Sagstrom, Maja Stark and Leona Maguire. Pettersen gave captain’s picks to Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist, Emily Pedersen and Albane Valenzuela.
What is on the Line?
With the most recent Solheim Cup in 2023 ending in a tie, the Americans and Europeans are taking two different mental approaches to this year’s Solheim Cup. The Europeans considered themselves the winners of the last match because they retained the Cup, having been the last winners of the Solheim Cup in 2021, and on social media, they’ve touted their opportunity to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Solheim Cup. From a U.S. perspective, Captain Lewis considers this year’s match a chance to clean up their unfinished business from their last meeting in 2023.
Where is this happening?
This year, the Solheim Cup is being held in the U.S. at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., which is about a 45-minute drive from Washington D.C. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., who considered the venue, which features a picturesque back nine that borders Lake Manassas, to be his masterpiece. The facility has a long history of hosting team competitions as it’s not just the venue for the Solheim Cup for the first time this year but also staged the first four playings of the Presidents Cup that were held on U.S. soil.
