The 18th edition of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain from 22-24 September is the most anticipated women’s team event in the golfing calendar, but what is required from each player to take Europe or USA to victory?
Here we explain the Solheim Cup format and how many points are up for grabs in the much-loved team contest.
What Is The Solheim Cup Format?
There are 12 players in each team representing Europe and the USA.
The match is played over three days and there are 28 points at stake. One point is awarded to the team that wins the match and in the event of a tie, both teams score half a point.
On day one and two, 8 of the 12 players will be selected by their respective captains, Suzann Pettersen (Europe) and Stacy Lewis (USA), to play a morning session of four foursomes matches and an afternoon session of four fourball matches.
Unlike regular weeks on the LPGA Tour and LET, the format for the Solheim Cup is match play as opposed to stroke play. Players compete against each other in match play instead of in stroke play where their score is measured against the course.
In match play, whichever player (or team) has the lowest score on each hole wins that hole to go '1up'. Whoever wins the most holes wins. Matches often don't last the full 18 holes, for example if a team is 3up with only two holes remaining they win the match 3&2.
Foursomes is an alternate shot format where teams in pairs take turns on each hole. Players on each team will take turns to tee off, so one will tee off from the even-numbered holes and the other from the odd-numbered holes.
Once the player hits the tee shot, the other will play the next shot from where the ball finishes and so on. This continues until the ball is holed out. Whichever pair takes the fewest shots wins the hole.
In fourballs, both players from each team play their own ball, so there are four balls in play on every hole. The best score from each team counts in the match, with the lowest score resulting in a win.
The European team will need 14 points out of a possible 28 to retain the trophy
On day three, all 12 players from each team play a singles match and compete against an opponent drawn at random based on the order each captain puts their team out.
How many points are needed to win the Solheim Cup?
After all matches are complete, the team with the most points wins or retains the Cup.
Defending champions Europe must win 14 of the 28 points to retain the Cup. For an outright win by either team, the magic number is 14.5 points.
What is the format for day 1 at the Solheim Cup?
On day one, there are eight matches and therefore eight points up for grabs.
The morning session of foursomes sees four doubles matches with eight players competing.
The afternoon session of four balls again sees four matches and eight competitors.
What is the format for day 2 at the Solheim Cup?
The Solheim Cup format for day 2 is the exact same as day one. Once again there will be eight points up for grabs, with two sessions. The morning session is foursomes and the afternoon session is four balls.
After the first two days, there will have been 16 matches and 16 points on offer.
What is the final day Solheim Cup format?
The final day format at the Solheim Cup is different to the first two days, where the captains are able to choose which players they want to play.
All 12 players from each team compete on the final day and there is only one session - singles.
Captains select the order of the 12 players (anonymously) and each submit their order before the 12 singles matches are announced on Saturday evening.
| Day 1 | Morning foursomes (4 matches) | Afternoon four balls (4 matches) |
| Day 2 | Morning foursomes (4 matches) | Afternoon four balls (4 matches) |
| Day 3 | 12 singles matches | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
-
Home Favorite Wins On Just His Fifth DP World Tour Start As Runner-Up All But Secures Major Championship SpotA course-record-equalling 63 on Sunday helped the 25-year-old to a three-shot victory and seal his place as the sixth different Japanese winner on the DP World Tour
-
First Ever LIV Team Playoff Sees Ripper GC Claim Dramatic Home Victory Over South Africans At LIV Golf AdelaideThe deep-rooted Australia v South Africa sporting rivalry continued with a thrilling set of extra holes at The Grange
-
Making The Cut's Not Enough - LET Pro Details How Finishing Outside Of The Top-25 Can Actually See Players LOSE MoneyHannah Gregg has described how even making the cut can see her lose money for a tournament week due to the worrying lack of prize funds on the LET
-
JM Eagle LA Championship Prize Money Payout 2024There’s a record purse for a regular-season LPGA Tour event at Wilshire Country Club
-
Two-Time Major Runner-Up Amy Olson Announces Retirement Aged 31The LPGA Tour pro, who has been on maternity leave since last year, made the announcement on social media
-
Angela Stanford’s Pursuit Of 100 Consecutive Majors Could End Painfully Short After Two Huge BlowsThe 46-year-old had been hoping to make a 99th successive Major appearance at the US Women's Open, but a double blow means her options are slimmer than ever
-
Nelly Korda's Fifth Straight Win Helps NBC Record Most-Watched Chevron Championship In Over A DecadeThere was a peak TV audience of almost two million on Sunday evening as Korda picked up the second Major of her career
-
‘Exhausted’ Nelly Korda Puts Bid For Sixth Successive Title On Hold With JM Eagle LA Championship WithdrawalThe Chevron Championship winner has opted to skip the next LPGA Tour event despite initially confirming she would be in the field
-
'Hopefully Keep The Streak Alive' - Nelly Korda Shows No Signs Of Stopping As World No.1 Targets Sixth Straight WinAfter her fifth successive victory, Nelly Korda is eyeing a place in the history books
-
How Nelly Korda And Scottie Scheffler Have Amassed 9 Wins And Almost $20 Million In Prize Money Over Their Last 10 StartsThe World No.1 pair are on quite the tear right now, as both Korda and Scheffler added yet more silverware to their cabinets after their respective victories
