We have now already had the Ladies’s Ashes in cricket and the Ladies’s soccer World Cup this summer time. Now it’s time for ladies’s golf to take the highlight as it’s time for the Solheim Cup. The 12 greatest gamers from Europe and the US will battle it out over three days of intense matchplay within the largest occasion within the girls’s sport. Each level can be important and every part can be on the road as the 2 sides bid to get their palms on the cup.
With the Ryder Cup going down the week after, this actually is a feast for golf followers as we are able to benefit from the reduce and thrust of matchplay golf as a break from the common weight loss plan of 72-hole strokeplay tournaments. For these of us new to the sport or unfamiliar with the Solheim Cup, we at AMERICAN GOLF wish to assist. That’s why we’ve got produced this information with a potted historical past, the format and the gamers to be careful for on this unbelievable occasion to get everybody up to the mark.
Historical past of the Solheim Cup:
In comparison with the boys’s Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup is a comparatively new phenomenon. This 12 months’s match will solely be the 18th staging of the occasion whereas the Ryder Cup the week after takes place for the 44th time.
The Solheim Cup takes its identify from Norwegian engineer Karsten Solheim. He labored for Normal Electrical earlier than he started enjoying golf on the age of 42. Solheim caught the golf bug however he additionally introduced his enquiring, engineering thoughts. Solheim got here up with revolutionary concepts about membership making as he established the tools firm that everyone knows as we speak, PING.
Within the Nineteen Eighties, the merging of Nice Britain and Eire to change into a European group within the males’s Ryder Cup had a transformative impact on that match into turning into arguably the most important occasion in golf. Seeing that made Solheim and his spouse, Louise, consider that one thing comparable was wanted for ladies’s golf and so the Solheim Cup was created.
The stage was set for Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida to host the primary match in November 1990. There have been solely eight gamers on every group and there was no tv protection of the occasion. There have been 4 foursomes matches on day one and 4 fourballs on the second earlier than eight singles have been performed on the ultimate day. The USA have been resounding 11.5-4.5 winners, however the occasion was a hit. The gamers have been determined to put on group colors and the followers who attended have been enthusiastic and patriotic, in a great way. The format for a biennial {golfing} contest between feminine golfers from Europe and America had been established.
The groups have been elevated to 10 gamers per aspect for the primary match on European soil at Dalmahoy in Scotland in 1992 earlier than it was raised to 12 gamers per aspect in 1996, which continues to be in place as we speak.
It is rather uncommon for each the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup to be staged in the identical 12 months, not to mention in back-to-back weeks. They have been staged in the identical month in September 2002 after the Ryder Cup was postponed for a 12 months in 2001 following the 9/11 assaults. The conflict this time is attributable to the Ryder Cup being pushed again by COVID in 2020. Consequently, the Solheim Cup is shifting ahead to happen in even years. The subsequent match can be held subsequent 12 months from 13-15 September on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership in Gainesville, Virginia.
Solheim Cup Format:
The format of the Solheim Cup is precisely the identical because the Ryder Cup with 28 match play video games unfold throughout three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday: Morning: 4 Foursomes (07:10 BST, 07:22, 07:34, 07:46)
Afternoon: 4 Fourballs (12:40 BST, 12:55, 13:10, 13:25)
Saturday: Morning: 4 Foursomes (07:10 BST, 07:22, 07:34, 07:46)
Afternoon: 4 Fourballs (12:40 BST, 12:55, 13:10, 13:25)
Sunday: 12 Singles (10:10 BST, with matches at 12-minute intervals till the ultimate sport tees off at 12:22 BST)
For the primary two days of the Solheim Cup, eight gamers from every group characteristic in each session and 4 gamers sit out. The captain is free to select whichever mixture of gamers she needs. For instance, England’s Charley Hull might have the identical associate for all 4 rounds of foursomes and fourball video games, or she might have 4 completely different ones. There aren’t any limits. On Sunday, all 12 gamers from every group play within the singles. It’s the solely assured match for gamers all week.
The magic quantity is 14.5 factors. Reaching that determine wins the Solheim Cup.
Nonetheless, as present holders of the trophy, Europe will retain the Solheim Cup if the match finishes in a 14-14 draw. That’s but to occur within the historical past of the Solheim Cup.
The place is the Solheim Cup 2023:
The Solheim Cup is going down at Finca Cortesin Golf Membership on the outskirts of Marbella within the south of Spain. It’s the first time that the Solheim Cup has been performed in Spain – which is the sixth European nation to host the occasion. Remarkably, the Solheim Cup has by no means been staged in England.
The crowds is probably not on fairly the identical scale as for the Ryder Cup, however they are going to definitely present numerous ambiance. The blue and yellow flags of Europe and the celebrities and stripes of America can be widespread sights all week on the fairways and within the stands.
It’s additionally widespread to see gamers with faces or nails painted within the colors of their respective groups – one other characteristic of Solheim Cup week!
Earlier Solheim Cup winners:
The USA leads the collection 10-7. Nonetheless, Europe is aiming for a 3rd straight victory for the primary time. The Individuals have achieved that feat twice (1994, 1996, 1998) and (2005, 2007, 2009).
1990 (Lake Nona, Florida): USA 11.5-4.5
1992 (Dalmahoy, Scotland): Europe 11.5-6.5
1994 (The Greenbrier, Virginia): USA 13-7
1996 (St Pierre, Wales): USA 17-11
1998 (Muirfield Village, Ohio): USA 16-12
2000 (Loch Lomond, Scotland): Europe 14.5-11.5
2002 (Interlachen, Minnesota): USA 15.5-12.5
2003 (Barseback, Sweden): Europe 17.5-10.5
2005 (Crooked Stick, Indiana): USA 15.5-12.5
2007 (Halmstad, Sweden): USA 16-12
2009 (Wealthy Harvest Farm, Illinois): USA 16-12
2011 (Killeen Citadel, Eire): Europe 15-13
2013 (Colorado Golf Membership, Colorado): Europe 17.5-10.5
2015 (Golf Membership St-Leon Rot, Germany): USA 14.5-13.5
2017 (Des Moines, Iowa): USA 16.5-11.5
2019 (Gleneagles, Scotland): Europe 14.5-13.5
2021 (Inverness, Ohio): Europe 15-13
Groups:
Europe:
Captain: Suzann Pettersen – Pettersen supplied essentially the most iconic second in Solheim Cup historical past in 2019. She holed the profitable putt on the 18th inexperienced within the ultimate match on the Sunday afternoon to win the Solheim Cup again for Europe. It was solely her third occasion again after giving delivery to her son and it might be her final ever event earlier than retiring. A veteran of 9 matches as a participant, Pettersen is now the captain of the European group, making an attempt to cause them to an unprecedented third victory in a row.
Golfers:
Eight gamers certified robotically, two from a Girls European Tour listing and 6 by way of world rankings – with the remaining 4 gamers (wildcards) chosen by the captain.
Celine Boutier (France): The main European on this planet rankings following her victory in France within the Evian Championship – one of many 5 girls’s Majors – in July.
Maja Stark (Sweden, rookie): Six wins because the earlier Solheim Cup made her a shoo-in for this European group.
Linn Grant (Sweden, rookie): Received the Scandinavian Blended in 2022 by 9 photographs, a event for women and men on the DP World Tour and Girls European Tour, an indication of her skill.
Charley Hull (England): Nonetheless solely 27, it is a sixth Solheim Cup for Hull. The heartbeat of the European group, matchplay golf fits her energetic character.
Carlota Ciganda (Spain): Enjoying on residence soil, she is certain to have the crowds pulling for her.
Georgia Corridor (England): Brilliantly received the British Open in 2018 at Royal Lytham and performed a key ole in Europe’s final two Solheim Cup successes.
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden): Nordqvist was named as certainly one of Pettersen’s assistant captains for this match, earlier than she performed her approach on to the group.
Leona Maguire (Eire): The stand-out participant in Europe’s win in America two years in the past and now a confirmed winner on Tour.
Caroline Hedwall (Sweden): The Swede is the one participant to win 5 factors out of 5 in a single Solheim Cup as she did in 2013.
Madelene Sagstrom (Sweden): Claimed a significant level within the Sunday singles as Europe received in America two years in the past, one thing not misplaced on captain Pettersen.
Gemma Dryburgh (Scotland, rookie): Chosen as a wildcard by Pettersen after a maiden LPGA win in Japan final November and stable type in 2023.
Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark): Secured the purpose for outright victory in 2021 Solheim Cup as she completes the Scandinavian flavour to the aspect.
USA:
Captain: Stacy Lewis – A constant performer for a few years on the LPGA Tour and a two-time Main winner. At 38, she is the youngest ever American captain on this match. She performed in 4 Solheim Cups however misplaced twice as a lot of her matches as she received. Should halt the European try and win three-in-a-row.
Golfers:
9 gamers got here by way of a qualification course of and world rankings to make the group with three wildcards chosen by the captain.
Lilia Vu (rookie): By no means performed within the Solheim Cup, however she is the shape participant of 2023 after profitable two Majors – the Chevron Championship and the Ladies’s British Open.
Nelly Korda: Ex-world primary comes from an unimaginable sporting household. Sister Jessica has performed previous Solheim Cups, brother Sebastian is a professional tennis participant, whereas dad and mom Petr Korda and Regina Rajchrtova have been additionally professional tennis gamers.
Allisen Corpuz (rookie): Secured the most important prize in girls’s golf and a cheque for $2 million when profitable the US Ladies’s Open at Pebble Seaside this 12 months.
Megan Khang: Good pals with actress and eager golfer Kathryn Newton, she was constant by way of qualification earlier than profitable the final counting occasion.
Jennifer Kupcho: Three wins in 2022 assured her spot. Her husband, Jay, can be in Spain – as caddie for team-mate Allisen Corpuz!
Danielle Kang: A daily within the American group and on this planet’s prime 20, that is her fourth straight look.
Andrea Lee (rookie): Good finishes within the Scottish Open and the Ladies’s British Open helped her to make the group for the primary time.
Lexi Thompson: Thompson has been making headlines since qualifying for the US Ladies’s Open as a 12-year-old. Now 28, and with out a person title for 4 years.
Rose Zhang (rookie): The 20-year-old solely turned professional in Could and promptly received her first occasion. She is seen as the brand new star of the ladies’s sport.
Ally Ewing: Chosen for this match based mostly on earlier expertise. However two wins from eight Solheim Cup matches will not be fairly a ringing endorsement.
Cheyenne Knight (rookie): Impressed captain Stacy Lewis with constant type firstly of 2023 to earn certainly one of three wildcard spots.
Angel Yin: Performed in final profitable group in 2017 and the Individuals will wish to name upon these these good vibes.
The place are you able to watch the Solheim Cup:
Sky Sports activities can be on website at Finca Cortesin to broadcast all of the motion over the three days, reside from when the primary ball is struck on Friday morning till the ultimate putt is holed on Sunday night. There may also be highlights out there within the night on BBC.
In regards to the Creator
Adam is a contract information and sports activities journalist who has written for the BBC, The Sunday Put up, The I, The Occasions, The Telegraph and extra. He has been writing about golf for practically 20 years and has coated 13 Open Championships and two Ryder Cups. Not solely does Adam cowl golf, however he has performed golf for so long as he can keep in mind. He was a member at Northenden Golf Membership for round 25 years till his youngsters arrived and his final official handicap was 11, though on any given day his type fluctuates wherever between eight and 18.
