The Solheim Cup FAQs

The Solheim Cup is one of the biggest events in women’s golf, bringing together the best players from Europe and the United States.

From when and where the next Solheim Cup takes place to its format, past winners and how to attend, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the event.

The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament between the best female professional golfers from the United States and Europe. It is the women’s equivalent of the men’s Ryder Cup.

First played in 1990, the competition has grown into one of the most prestigious team events in women’s golf and is jointly overseen by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the LPGA.

The event alternates between venues in the United States and Europe.

The 2026 Solheim Cup will take place from September 7 to 13, 2026 at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, the Netherlands. The competition matches will be played from September 11 to 13.

It will be a historic tournament, as the Netherlands will host the Solheim Cup for the first time.

The 2026 Solheim Cup will be held at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, the Netherlands.

Designed by renowned American architect Kyle Phillips, Bernardus is an 18-hole championship heathland course. It has previously hosted the Dutch Open in 2021 and 2022, followed by the KLM Open in 2023.

Its sweeping fairways, strategically positioned bunkers and subtle water hazards should provide an exciting test for the competing teams when the Solheim Cup comes to the Netherlands for the first time.

The Solheim Cup is played from Friday to Sunday using a match-play format, with a total of 28 matches contested between Team USA and Team Europe

Friday and Saturday each feature four foursomes and four fourball matches, with the team captains selecting which players compete together in each session.

On Sunday, all 24 players take part in 12 singles matches, with each European player facing an opponent from the United States.

In foursomes, two players from each team form a partnership and play one ball, taking alternate shots until the hole is completed. The players also alternate who tees off on each hole.

In fourballs, all four players play their own ball throughout the hole. The lowest score from each pair is counted, with the better score winning the hole for their team.

The key difference is that foursomes require players to share one ball, while in fourballs each golfer plays their own.

Each Solheim Cup match is played using match-play scoring, where players or pairs compete to win individual holes rather than recording the lowest overall score.

One point is awarded to the team that wins a match, while each team receives half a point if the match finishes tied. With 28 matches played across the three days, there are 28 points available in total.

A team must earn 14½ points to win the Solheim Cup outright. If the competition finishes 14 - 14, the defending champions retain the trophy.

The 2026 Solheim Cup will feature 1 captain from each team and 3 assistant captains, along with their 12 players, bringing together some of the leading names in women’s golf.

Team USA

• Angela Stanford (Captain)
• Kristy McPherson (Assistant Captain)
• Paula Creamer (Assistant Captain)
• Brittany Lang (Assistant Captain)
• Nelly Korda
• Angel Yin
• Jennifer Kupcho
• Yealimi Noh
• Auston Kim
• Lauren Coughlin
• Allisen Corpuz
• Andrea Lee
• Alison Lee
• Lindy Duncan
• Megan Khang
• Rose Zhang

Team Europe

• Anna Nordqvist (Captain)
• Caroline Hedwall (Vice Captain)
• Mel Reid (Vice Captain)
• Anne Van Dam (Vice Captain)
• Charley Hull
• Esther Henseleit
• Lottie Woad
• Maja Stark
• Céline Boutier
• Carlota Ciganda
• Linn Grant
• Nanna Koerstz Madsen
• Leona Maguire
• Julia López Ramírez
• Nastasia Nadaud
• Mimi Rhodes

Players qualify through a combination of points lists, the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and captain’s picks.

Team USA is made up of the top seven players on the LPGA Solheim Cup Points List, the next two eligible players from the world rankings and three picks made by captain Angela Stanford.

Team Europe includes the top two players on the LET Solheim Cup Points List, the next six eligible players from the world rankings and four selections made by captain Anna Nordqvist.

The United States are the defending champions, having defeated Europe 15½ - 12½ at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia in 2024.

The victory saw the U.S. regain the trophy and claim their 11th Solheim Cup title. Europe have won the competition seven times, while the 2023 event finished in a tie.

Across the five most recent Solheim Cups:

• 2024: United States won 15½ - 12½
• 2023: Tied 14 - 14, with Europe retaining the trophy
• 2021: Europe won 15 - 13
• 2019: Europe won 14½ - 13½
• 2017: United States won 16½ - 11½

If the Solheim Cup ends in a 14 - 14 tie, the team that won the previous competition retains the trophy. There is no playoff to determine a winner.

The Solheim Cup has ended in a tie once. At Finca Cortesin, Spain in 2023, the two teams finished level, allowing Europe to retain the Cup following their victory in 2021.

The Solheim Cup is played every two years, alternating between venues in the United States and Europe. It is held in alternate years to the Ryder Cup.

The tournament has visited many prestigious courses across the USA and Europe.

Recent host venues include:

• 2024: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Virginia, United States
• 2023: Finca Cortesin, Andalusia, Spain
• 2021: Inverness Club, Ohio, United States
• 2019: PGA Centenary Golf Course, Gleneagles, Scotland
• 2017: Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Iowa, United States
• 2015: Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Germany
• 2013: Colorado Golf Club, Colorado, United States
• 2011: Killeen Castle Golf Club, County Meath, Ireland

The 2023 and 2024 events were played in consecutive years as a one-off scheduling change following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Golfbreaks offers Solheim Cup packages that include season tickets, accommodation and tournament transfers, providing access from Thursday to Sunday.

The competition is named in honor of Karsten and Louise Solheim, the founders of golf equipment manufacturer PING.

Norwegian-American businessman Karsten Solheim was a driving force behind the creation of the tournament, which was first played in 1990.

The Solheim Cup has produced many memorable moments, including:

• Europe’s first victory in 1992: Europe defeated the United States 11½ - 6½ at Dalmahoy in Scotland.
• Europe’s historic away win in 2013: Europe won 18 - 10 in Colorado, recording their first Solheim Cup victory on American soil.
• Team USA’s comeback in 2015: The United States overturned a 10 - 6 deficit on the final day to win 14½ - 13½ in Germany.
• Suzann Pettersen’s winning putt in 2019: Pettersen holed the decisive putt at Gleneagles to secure a dramatic 14½ - 13½ victory for Europe before announcing her retirement.
• Carlota Ciganda securing the Cup in 2023: Playing in her home country of Spain, Ciganda defeated Nelly Korda to earn the point Europe needed to retain the trophy following a 14 - 14 tie.