The always exciting, usually biennial Solheim Cup returns just 12 months after its last showdown at Finca Cortesin in Spain. The goal is to get the Cup back to its traditional even-numbered years — and positioned in alternate years to the Ryder Cup. In preparation for the ’24 playing at Virginia’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, we paired bits with bobs as the best women pros from the States try (again) to retake the Cup from their European nemeses.
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PING PONG
Unlike the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup has, since its start in 1990, been back-and-forth competitive, with the U.S. leading the series 10-8 (including a tie with the Cup retained by Europe). In ’24, Europe will seek to be the first side to keep the Cup four straight times.
PERCENTAGE PLAYERS
If you were assembling a fantasy foursome or four-ball match, here are the dream teams:
Americans Dottie Pepper (Career Cup record: 13-5-2) and Christina Kim (6-2-2) vs. Europeans Janice Moodie (7-2-2) and Carin Koch (10-3-3).
TOWN AND COUNTRY
Since 1990, 14 different countries have been represented on Team Europe, with the most players coming from England and Sweden. In the United States, California and Florida (no surprise) account for a substantial number of our Cuppers. Geography may or may not be destiny, but here’s a look at how different players from different places have fared in the Solheim Cup to date. Scotland versus Florida, anyone?
TEAM EUROPE:
ENGLAND
Competitors: 14
Win percentage (all matches): 42%
Clutch players (points won/matches played; win percentage): Laura Davies (25/46; 54%), Charley Hull (13.5/22; 61%)
SWEDEN
Competitors: 14
Win percentage: 52%
Clutch players: Caroline Hedwall (9.5/17; 56%), Carin Koch (11.5/16; 72%), Anna Nordqvist (16.5/31; 53%), Annika Sorenstam (24/37; 65%)
SCOTLAND
Competitors: 7
Win percentage: 54%
Clutch players: Catriona Matthew (22/37; 59%), Janice Moodie (8/11; 73%)
SPAIN
Competitors: 7
Win percentage: 46%
Clutch players: Carlota Ciganda (13/23; 57%), Beatriz Recari (3/4; 75%)
FRANCE
Competitors: 6
Win percentage: 49%
Clutch players: Céline Boutier (5.5/10; 55%), Gwladys Nocera (7/12; 58%)
GERMANY
Competitors: 5
Win percentage: 31
Clutch players: Sandra Gal (3/7; 43%)
TEAM USA
CALIFORNIA
Competitors: 21
Win percentage: 53%
Clutch players: Paula Creamer (19.5/31; 63%), Pat Hurst (11.5/20; 58%), Christina Kim (7/10; 70%), Angel Yin (5.5/9; 61%)
FLORIDA
Competitors: 8
Win percentage: 57%
Clutch players: Cristie Kerr (21/38; 55%), Nelly Korda (7.5/12; 63%), Morgan Pressel (12.5/22; 57%), Lexi Thompson (12.5/23; 54%)
TEXAS
Competitors: 6
Win percentage: 35%
Clutch players: Cheyenne Knight (2.5/3; 83%), Brittany Lang (8.5/17; 50%)
NEW YORK
Competitors: 5
Win percentage: 57%
Clutch players: Laura Diaz (6.5/13; 50%), Dottie Pepper (14/20; 70%)
MASSACHUSETTS
Competitors: 4
Win percentage: 53%
Clutch players: Brittany Altomare (4.5/8; 56%), Meg Mallon (16.5/29; 57%)
SOUTH CAROLINA
Competitors: 3
Win percentage: 47%
Clutch players: Beth Daniel (13.5/26; 52%)
A CUP ABOVE
In terms of actual weight, at least, Solheim absolutely edges Sam Ryder.
Solheim Cup
Year: 1990
Commissioned by: Karsten Solheim, Norwegian- American golf club manufacturer
Designer: Billy Briggs Material: Cut-glass Irish Waterford crystal, mahogany base
Weight: Approximately 20 lbs
Height: 19 inches
Base diameter: 8 inches
Ryder Cup
Year: 1927
Commissioned by: Samuel A. Ryder, English seed merchant
Designer: Mappin & Webb Co.
Material: Gold
Weight: 4 lbs
Height: 17 inches
Width: 9 inches
THE “I” IN TEAM
There have been 472 individual matches contested across the previous 18 Solheim Cups.
–Team U.S.A. has won 208 matches (44%)
-Europe has won 193 (41%)
–71 were halved (15%)
Americans have excelled in singles (record: 102-76-30), while the Europeans have the edge in foursomes (61-55-17) and four-balls (56-51-24).
