The Solheim Cup: The Ultimate Event in Women's Golf

The Solheim Cup is one of the most anticipated events in women’s professional golf, an entertaining and exciting competition between the top American and European golfers.

The Solheim Cup host site alternates between the United States and Europe, with each team playing on its own turn once every four years. The biennial event is set to return to the United States in 2024, where the Americans and Europeans will battle for the cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.

The Solheim Cup schedule took a detour thanks to the COVID pandemic in 2020, which led to both the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup (the men's equivalent) being held in 2021 and 2023. Typically those biennial events alternate years, and to get back on that cycle, the Solehiem Cup will be contested in back-to-back years, when it returns to the United States in 2024 after the Americans and Europeans tied in 2023. The Solheim Cup will stick to an even-years schedule thereafter.

Solheim Cup History

PING golf founder Karsten Solheim helped create the match-style tournament that bears his name. The inaugural Solheim Cup was held in 1990 and was to be every other year, opposite of the men’s equivalent, the Ryder Cup.

The United States currently holds a 10-7-1 lead in overall competitions, but the European team is unbeaten in the last three Solheim Cups (2-0-1) and has lost only twice since 2009 after the American team dominated the early years of the event.

All-Time Solheim Cup Results

2021 marked the United States's second Solheim Cup loss on home soil, following a 2013 loss at Colorado Golf Club.

The Solheim Cup Format Explained

The Solheim Cup follows the same format as its counterpart, the Ryder Cup. Each team – Team USA and Team Europe – is made up of 12 women who compete in a total of 28 matches over three days. A point is earned for each match win; ties result in each team receiving half a point.

First, let’s explain the type of matches that will be played over the three days:

Foursome Matches

Also known as Alternate Shot, Foursomes is a 2 vs. 2 format so each foursome includes two golfers from the U.S. team and two golfers from the European team. Each team in the foursome plays one ball during the round, with teammates alternating who hits.

Fourball Matches

Sometimes referred to as Better Ball, the Fourball format also consists of two players from each team in each group. All players play their own ball, but only the lower score on each hole counts towards the team total.

Singles Matches

This is typical 1 vs. 1 match play.

Solheim Cup Schedule

On the first day of competition, the teams compete in four foursome matches and four fourball matches. Eight of the 12 members of each team will compete in each of the two sessions on the first day.

The format of the second day is the same as the first – four foursome matches and four fourball matches.

All 12 golfers on each team compete on the last day in 12 head-to-head matches.

The defending champion must earn at least 14 points to retain the Solheim Cup while the other team must score at least 14.5 points for victory. This rule puts Team USA at a slight disadvantage heading into the 2024 Solheim Cup after losing the cup in 2021, and playing to a 14-14 tie in 2023, as Europe retained the cup.

Past Champions

Juli Inkster is the name most often linked to the U.S. Solheim Cup. Inkster competed in nine Solheim Cup tournaments (1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011) and served as team captain in 2013, 2015 and 2019. As a player, Inkster has a 15-12 record and 18.5 points.

Cristie Kerr, who also played in nine Solheim Cup tournaments, has earned the most points of any American with 21.

How to Qualify for the US Solheim Cup Team

The criteria for making the U.S. Solheim Cup team were slightly adjusted ahead of the 2021 competition, and those changes remain in effect. The selections are based on:

• The top seven players on the LPGA Solheim Cup points list
• The next two highest-ranked eligible players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings
• Three captain’s picks

Previously, the top eight players from the Solheim Cup Rankings, two from the Rolex Rankings and two captain’s picks made the team.

2023 USA Solheim Cup Team

Here is Team USA's complete lineup for the 2023 Solheim Cup, and how each player made their way onto the roster.

Stacy Lewis was Team USA's 2023 Solheim Cup captain.