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{{Short description|Women's golf competition between the USA and Europe}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox golf tournament
| name             = Solheim Cup
| image            = Solheim Cup-logo.png
| image_size       = 170
| location         = Europe or United States
| establishment    = [[1990 Solheim Cup|1990]]
| field            = 24 (12 for each team)
| tour             = [[Ladies European Tour]]<br>[[LPGA Tour]]
| format           = [[Match play]]
| purse            = None
| month_played     = September
| current_champion = {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
| current          = 2024 Solheim Cup
}}
The '''Solheim Cup''' is a biennial [[golf]] tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing [[Europe]] and the [[United States]]. It is named after the [[Norway|Norwegian]]-[[United States|American]] [[Golf club (equipment)|golf club]] manufacturer [[Karsten Solheim]], who was a driving force behind its creation.

The inaugural Cup was held in 1990, and the event was first staged in even numbered years until 2002, alternating years with the [[Ryder Cup]] (the equivalent men's event).  As part of the general reshuffling of team golf events after the one-year postponement of the [[2001 Ryder Cup]] following the [[September 11 attacks]], the Solheim Cup switched to odd numbered years beginning in 2003. Another reshuffle of team golf events took place in 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the Solheim Cup returned to even numbered years beginning in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Solheim Cup to move to even years from 2024 to avoid Ryder Cup clash |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/54964880 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=16 November 2020 |date=16 November 2020}}</ref>

The United States teams have won the cup eleven times, compared with eight for Europe. The current holders are the US, who regained the cup with a 15.5–12.5 win in 2024.

==The cup==
The trophy is a cut-glass Irish Waterford Crystal, designed in 1990 by one of Waterford's top designers, Billy Briggs. Weight: about 20 pounds. Height: 19 inches, including the mahogany base. Diameter of wooden base: 8 inches. Diameter at top: 4 inches.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.golfcompendium.com/2019/08/solheim-cup-trophy.html | title=Facts About the Solheim Cup Trophy }}</ref>

==Format==
The tournament is played over three days. Since 2002, there have been 28 matches&mdash;eight [[foursome (golf)|foursomes]] and eight [[four-ball golf|four-balls]] played on days 1 and 2, and 12 singles on the final day. This format is also used in the [[Ryder Cup]]. Before 1996, and also in 2000, the Solheim Cup used a similar, but abbreviated format.

One point is awarded to the team that wins each match; in the event of a tie, both teams score half a point. After all matches are complete, the team with more points wins or retains the Cup. Any ties are broken in favor of the defending champion team.

In addition to the indicated number of players, each team includes one captain and a set number of assistant captains (three as of 2015), none of whom play in the matches.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2 | Year !! colspan=2 | Day 1 !! colspan=2 | Day 2 !! rowspan=2 | Day 3 !! rowspan=2 | Total<br />Points !! rowspan=2 | Players<br />per team
|-
! Morning || Afternoon || Morning || Afternoon
|-
| 1990 || colspan=2 | 4 foursomes || colspan=2 | 4 fourballs || 8 singles || 16 || 8
|-
| 1992 || colspan=2 | 4 foursomes || colspan=2 | 4 fourballs || 10 singles || 18 || 10
|-
| 1994 || colspan=2 | 5 foursomes || colspan=2 | 5 fourballs || 10 singles || 20 || 10 
|-
| 1996–1998 || 4 foursomes || 4 fourballs || 4 foursomes || 4 fourballs || 12 singles || 28 || 12
|-
| 2000 || 4 foursomes || 4 foursomes || colspan=2 | 6 fourballs || 12 singles || 26 || 12
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2002–<br>present || 4 foursomes || 4 fourballs || 4 foursomes || 4 fourballs || rowspan=3 | 12 singles || rowspan=3 | 28 || rowspan=3 | 12
|-
| colspan=2 | or || colspan=2 | or
|-
| 4 fourballs || 4 foursomes || 4 fourballs || 4 foursomes
|}

==Team qualification and selection==
The U.S. team<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Solheim Cup USA | title=Solheim Cup USA |url=http://www.solheimcupusa.com/overview |website=solheimcupusa.com |access-date=12 March 2019}}</ref> is selected by a points system, with American players on the [[LPGA Tour]] receiving points for each top-twenty finish on tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpga.com/content/2009SolheimPointsDistribution.pdf|title=Points distribution for 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team qualifying|publisher=[[LPGA Tour]]|access-date=25 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806144705/http://www.lpga.com/content/2009SolheimPointsDistribution.pdf|archive-date=6 August 2009}}</ref> Through the 2013 event, U.S. citizens born outside the country were ineligible for consideration; beginning in 2015, eligibility for Team USA was expanded to include many more categories of (female) U.S. citizens.<ref>
{{cite web |website=Golf Channel |url=http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/solheim-eligibility-changes-coming-for-us-squad/ |title=Solheim eligibility criteria changing for U.S. team |access-date=16 August 2013}}</ref>{{efn|More specifically, the following groups of women became eligible:
* Those born outside the U.S., but who received U.S. citizenship at birth.
* Those who were naturalized in the U.S. before age 18.
* Those who [[Child Citizenship Act of 2000|automatically became citizens via adoption]] prior to age 13.}} For the European team,<ref>{{cite web | publisher=Solheim Cup Europe | title=Solheim Cup Europe |last1=SolheimCup2019 |url=https://solheimcup2019.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705101542/http://www.solheimcup2019.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 July 2017 |website=solheimcup2019.com |access-date=12 March 2019}}</ref> up to 2005, seven players were selected on a points system based on results on the [[Ladies European Tour]] (LET). This allowed top European players who competed mainly on the [[LPGA]] Tour to be selected to ensure that the European team was competitive. Since 2007, only the top five players from the LET qualify and another four are selected on the basis of the [[Women's World Golf Rankings]]. This reflects the increasing dominance of the LPGA Tour, where almost all top European players spend most of their time.<ref name="2007Picks">{{cite news |title=Solheim selection process changes |work=BBC Sport |date=18 April 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/4918154.stm |access-date=24 April 2007}}</ref> In addition, each team has a number of "captain's picks", players chosen at the discretion of the team captains, regardless of their point standings, though in practice the captain's picks are often the next ranking players.

==Captains==
Team captains are typically recently retired [[professional golfer]]s with Solheim Cup playing experience, chosen for their experience playing on previous Cup teams and for their ability to lead a team.

==Results==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center"
! Year
! Winners
! Score
! width="70" | Host location
! width="150" | Course
! U.S. captain 
! European captain 
! U.S. top<br/>point scorer{{efn|name=Top Point|If more than one player ties for top points scorer, players with the highest win% are shown}} 
! European top<br/>point scorer{{efn|name=Top Point}}
|-
|[[2024 Solheim Cup|2024]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|15{{1/2}}–12{{1/2}}
|align=left|Virginia<br>United States
|[[Robert Trent Jones Golf Club]],<br>[[Gainesville, Virginia|Gainesville]]
|[[Stacy Lewis|Stacy<br>Lewis]]
|[[Suzann Pettersen|Suzann<br>Pettersen]]
|[[Rose Zhang|Zhang]]<br/> 4 / 4
|[[Charley Hull|Hull]]<br/> 3 / 5
|-
|[[2023 Solheim Cup|2023]]
|style="background:white" align="left" |Tied<br>{{EUR}} retained
|14–14
|align=left|Spain<br>Europe
|Finca Cortesin,<br>[[Málaga]], [[Andalusia]]
|[[Stacy Lewis|Stacy<br>Lewis]]
|[[Suzann Pettersen|Suzann<br>Pettersen]]
|[[Megan Khang|Khang]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|[[Carlota Ciganda|Ciganda]]<br/> 4 / 4
|-
|[[2021 Solheim Cup|2021]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|15–13
|align=left|Ohio<br>United States
|[[Inverness Club]],<br>[[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]]
|[[Pat Hurst|Pat<br>Hurst]]
|[[Catriona Matthew|Catriona<br>Matthew]]
|[[Jennifer Kupcho|Kupcho]]; [[Lizette Salas|Salas]]<br/> 2.5 / 4
|[[Leona Maguire|Maguire]]<br/> 4.5 / 5
|-
|[[2019 Solheim Cup|2019]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|14{{1/2}}–13{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Scotland<br/>Europe 
|[[Gleneagles Hotel]] (PGA Centenary),<br />[[Perthshire]]
|[[Juli Inkster|Juli<br>Inkster]]
|[[Catriona Matthew|Catriona<br>Matthew]]
|[[Jessica Korda|J. Korda]]; [[Nelly Korda|N. Korda]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|[[Céline Boutier|Boutier]]; [[Georgia Hall|Hall]]<br/> 4 / 4
|-
|[[2017 Solheim Cup|2017]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|16{{1/2}}–11{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Iowa<br/>United States
|[[Des Moines Golf and Country Club]],<br>[[West Des Moines, Iowa|West Des Moines]]
|[[Juli Inkster|Juli<br>Inkster]]
|[[Annika Sörenstam|Annika<br>Sörenstam]]
|align=center|[[Cristie Kerr|Kerr]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|align=center|[[Anna Nordqvist|Nordqvist]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|-
|[[2015 Solheim Cup|2015]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|14{{1/2}}–13{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Germany<br/>Europe
|[[Golf Club St. Leon-Rot]],<br>[[St. Leon-Rot]], [[Baden-Württemberg]]
|[[Juli Inkster|Juli<br>Inkster]]
|[[Carin Koch|Carin<br>Koch]]
|align=center|[[Cristie Kerr|Kerr]]; [[Gerina Piller|Piller]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|align=center|[[Charley Hull|Hull]]<br/> 4 / 5
|-
|[[2013 Solheim Cup|2013]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|18–10
|align="left"|Colorado<br/>United States
|[[Colorado Golf Club]],<br>[[Parker, Colorado|Parker]]
|[[Meg Mallon|Meg<br>Mallon]]
|[[Liselotte Neumann|Liselotte<br>Neumann]]
|align=center|[[Brittany Lang|Lang]]<br/> 3 / 4
|align=center|[[Caroline Hedwall|Hedwall]]<br/> 5 / 5
|-
||[[2011 Solheim Cup|2011]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|15–13
|align="left"|Ireland<br/>Europe
|[[Killeen Castle Golf Resort]],<br>[[County Meath]]
|[[Rosie Jones (golfer)|Rosie<br>Jones]]
|[[Alison Nicholas|Alison<br>Nicholas]]
|align=center|[[Morgan Pressel|Pressel]]<br/> 4 / 4
|align=center|[[Sophie Gustafson|Gustafson]]<br/> 4 / 4
|-
|[[2009 Solheim Cup|2009]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|16–12
|align="left"|Illinois<br/>United States
|[[Rich Harvest Farms]],<br>[[Big Rock Township, Kane County, Illinois|Big Rock Township]], [[Kane County, Illinois|Kane County]]
|[[Beth Daniel|Beth<br>Daniel]]
|[[Alison Nicholas|Alison<br>Nicholas]]
|align=center|[[Michelle Wie|Wie]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|align=center|[[Gwladys Nocera|Nocera]]<br/> 3.5 / 4
|-
|[[2007 Solheim Cup|2007]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|16–12
|align="left"|Sweden<br/>Europe
|[[Halmstad Golf Club]],<br>[[Tylösand]], [[Halmstad Municipality]], [[Halland]]
|[[Betsy King|Betsy<br>King]]
|[[Helen Alfredsson|Helen<br>Alfredsson]]
|align=center|[[Paula Creamer|Creamer]]<br/> 3.5 / 5
|align=center|[[Catriona Matthew|Matthew]]<br/> 3 / 4
|-
|[[2005 Solheim Cup|2005]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|15{{1/2}}–12{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Indiana<br/>United States
|[[Crooked Stick Golf Club]],<br>[[Carmel, Indiana|Carmel]]
|[[Nancy Lopez|Nancy<br>Lopez]]
|[[Catrin Nilsmark|Catrin<br>Nismark]]
|align=center|[[Paula Creamer|Creamer]]<br/> 3.5 / 5
|align=center|[[Annika Sörenstam|Sörenstam]]<br/> 4 / 5
|-
|[[2003 Solheim Cup|2003]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|17{{1/2}}–10{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Sweden<br/>Europe
|[[Barsebäck Golf & Country Club]],<br>[[Barsebäck]], [[Scania]]
|[[Patty Sheehan|Patty<br>Sheehan]]
|[[Catrin Nilsmark|Catrin<br>Nismark]]
|align=center|[[Juli Inkster|Inkster]]; [[Cristie Kerr|Kerr]]<br/> 3 / 4
|align=center|[[Suzann Pettersen|Pettersen]]; [[Annika Sörenstam|Sörenstam]]<br/> 4 / 5
|-
|[[2002 Solheim Cup|2002]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|15{{1/2}}–12{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Minnesota<br/>United States
|[[Interlachen Country Club]],<br>[[Edina, Minnesota|Edina]]
|[[Patty Sheehan|Patty<br>Sheehan]]
|[[Dale Reid|Dale<br>Reid]]
|align=center|[[Laura Diaz|Diaz]]; [[Emilee Klein|Klein]]; [[Meg Mallon|Mallon]]<br/> 3 / 4
|align=center|[[Carin Koch|Koch]]<br/> 4.5 / 5
|-
|[[2000 Solheim Cup|2000]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|14{{1/2}}–11{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Scotland<br/>Europe 
|[[Loch Lomond Golf Club]],<br>[[Luss]], [[Argyll & Bute]]
|[[Pat Bradley (golfer)|Pat<br>Bradley]]
|[[Dale Reid|Dale<br>Reid]]
|align=center|[[Kelly Robbins|Robbins]]<br/> 3 / 4
|align=center|[[Carin Koch|Koch]]; [[Catrin Nilsmark|Nilsmark]]<br/> 3 / 3
|-
|[[1998 Solheim Cup|1998]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|16–12
|align=left|Ohio<br>United States
|[[Muirfield Village]],<br>[[Dublin, Ohio|Dublin]]
|[[Judy Rankin|Judy<br>Rankin]]
|[[Pia Nilsson (golfer)|Pia<br>Nilsson]]
|align=center|[[Dottie Pepper|Pepper]]<br/> 4 / 4 
|align=center|[[Laura Davies|Davies]]<br/> 3.5 / 5
|-
|[[1996 Solheim Cup|1996]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|17–11
|align="left"|Wales<br/>Europe
|[[St Pierre Golf & Country Club]],<br>[[Monmouthshire]]
|[[Judy Rankin|Judy<br>Rankin]]
|[[Mickey Walker (golfer)|Mickey<br>Walker]]
|[[Betsy King|King]]<br/> 3 / 3 
|[[Annika Sörenstam|Sörenstam]]<br/> 4 / 5
|-
|[[1994 Solheim Cup|1994]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|13–7
|align="left"|West Virginia<br/>United States
|[[The Greenbrier]],<br>[[White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia|White Sulphur Springs]]
|[[JoAnne Carner|Joanne<br>Carner]]
|[[Mickey Walker (golfer)|Mickey<br>Walker]]
|[[Brandie Burton|Burton]]; [[Dottie Mochrie|Mochrie]]<br/> 3 / 3
|[[Helen Alfredsson|Alfredsson]]; [[Lora Fairclough|Fairclough]];<br/> [[Alison Nicholas|Nicholas]]; [[Dale Reid|Reid]]<br/> 2 / 3 
|-
|[[1992 Solheim Cup|1992]]
|style="background:lightblue" align="left" | {{EUR}}
|11{{1/2}}–6{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Scotland<br/>Europe 
|[[Dalmahoy|Dalmahoy Country Club]],<br>[[Edinburgh]]
|[[Kathy Whitworth|Kathy<br>Whitworth]]
|[[Mickey Walker (golfer)|Mickey<br>Walker]]
|[[Meg Mallon|Mallon]]<br/> 2 / 3
|[[Laura Davies|Davies]]<br/> 3 / 3
|-
|[[1990 Solheim Cup|1990]]
|style="background:pink" align="left" | {{USA}}
|11{{1/2}}–4{{1/2}}
|align="left"|Florida<br/>United States
|[[Lake Nona Golf & Country Club]],<br>[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]
|[[Kathy Whitworth|Kathy<br>Whitworth]]
|[[Mickey Walker (golfer)|Mickey<br>Walker]]
|[[Beth Daniel|Daniel]]<br/> 3 / 3
|[[Laura Davies|Davies]]<br/> 2 / 3
|}
In the 19 competitions through 2024, the United States leads the series 11–7–1 with Europe retaining as holders when the teams tied in 2023.

==Future venues==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
!Year
!Hosts
!Course
!Location
!Dates
!Last hosted
!Ref
|-
| align=center|2026
|{{EUR}}
|[[Bernardus Golf]]
| [[Cromvoirt]], [[North Brabant]], [[Netherlands]]
| 7−13 September
| align=center|n/a
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Solheim Cup: Europe confirm Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands as hosts for 2026 contest |url=https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12748171/solheim-cup-europe-confirm-bernardus-golf-in-the-netherlands-as-hosts-for-2026-contest |website=SkySports |access-date=2022-11-16 }}</ref>
|-
| align=center|2028
|{{USA}}
|[[Valhalla Golf Club]]
|[[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Kentucky]]
| TBD
| align=center|n/a
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Valhalla Golf Club to Host 2028 Solheim Cup |author=LPGA Communications |url=https://www.solheimcupusa.com/news/2024/valhalla-golf-club-to-host-2028-solheim-cup |website=Solheim Cup USA |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=13 August 2024|language=en}}</ref>
|}

Bernardus Golf has previously hosted three editions (2021, 2022, 2023) of the men's [[European Tour]]'s [[Dutch Open (golf)|Dutch Open]] and will be the Netherlands' first Solheim Cup or Ryder Cup venue.

Valhalla Golf Club has hosted the men's [[PGA Championship]] four times in [[1996 PGA Championship|1996]], [[2000 PGA Championship|2000]], [[2014 PGA Championship|2014]] and [[2024 PGA Championship|2024]] as well as the [[Senior PGA Championship]] twice in 2004 and 2011. Despite being a first-time Solheim Cup venue, it previously hosted the Ryder Cup in [[2008 Ryder Cup|2008]] and will become just the fourth course after [[The Greenbrier]], [[Muirfield Village]] and the [[Gleneagles Hotel]]'s PGA Centenary to host both events.

==Records==
{{Main|List of Solheim Cup records}}
{{see also|List of American Solheim Cup golfers|List of European Solheim Cup golfers}}
*'''Most appearances: 12'''<br />° [[Laura Davies]] (Eur), 1990–2011
*'''Most points: 25'''<br />° [[Laura Davies]] (Eur) (22–18–6 record)
*'''Most singles points won: 7'''<br />° [[Juli Inkster]] (USA) (6–1–2 record)
*'''Most foursome points won: 11{{1/2}}'''<br />° [[Annika Sörenstam]] (Eur) (11–3–1 record)
*'''Most fourball points won: 11{{1/2}}'''<br />° [[Cristie Kerr]] (USA) (11–5–1 record)
*'''Top point percentage''' (Minimum of 3 Solheim Cup Matches)<br />° [[Janice Moodie]] (Eur) (7–2–2) {{Percentage|8|11|1|pad=yes}}<br /> ° [[Carin Koch]] (Eur) (10–3–3) {{Percentage|11.5|16|1|pad=yes}}<br /> ° [[Leona Maguire]] (Eur) (8–3–1) {{Percentage|8.5|12|1|pad=yes}}<br />° [[Dottie Pepper]] (USA) (13–5–2) {{Percentage|14|20|1|pad=yes}}<br />° [[Christina Kim]] (USA) (6–2–2) {{Percentage|7|10|1|pad=yes}}
*'''Most points in a single contest: 5'''<br />° [[Caroline Hedwall]] (Eur) 2013
*'''Longest winning streak: 7 matches'''<br />° [[Carin Koch]] (Eur) 2000–2002<br />° [[Morgan Pressel]] (USA) 2009–2013
*'''Longest unbeaten streak: 10 matches'''<br />° [[Paula Creamer]] (USA) 2005–2009
*'''Youngest player: {{Age in years and days|1996|03|20|2013|08|16}}'''<br />° [[Charley Hull]] (Eur) 2013
*'''Oldest player: {{Age in years and days|1960|06|24|2011|09|23}}'''<br />° [[Juli Inkster]] (USA) 2011

Sources<ref>[http://www.solheimcupusa.com/news/~/~/media/E9E40E111635497886DEDEC8F18E8992.ashx The Solheim Cup All-Time Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202635/http://www.solheimcupusa.com/news/~/~/media/E9E40E111635497886DEDEC8F18E8992.ashx |date=29 October 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://golf.about.com/od/teamcompetitions/a/solheim-cup-records.htm Solheim Cup Records]</ref><ref>[http://www.golftoday.co.uk/tours/international_team/Solheim_Cup_records.html The Solheim Cup - Match history & records]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Junior Solheim Cup]]
*[[List of American Solheim Cup golfers]]
*[[List of European Solheim Cup golfers]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}}

{{Solheim Cup tournaments}}
{{LPGA Tour}}
{{Ladies European Tour}}
{{Golf}}

[[Category:Solheim Cup| ]]
[[Category:Team golf tournaments]]
[[Category:Women's golf tournaments]]
[[Category:Ladies European Tour events]]
[[Category:LPGA Tour events]]
[[Category:Women's golf tournaments in the United States]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1990]]