The Solheim Cup returns as Team Europe face Team USA in the 39th edition of the team event competition at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
Europe are the holders and will bid for an unprecedented fourth Solheim Cup in a row after a thrilling 14-14 draw in Spain last year allowed Suzann Pettersen’s side to retain the trophy.
Pettersen returns as Europe’s captain, with USA’s Stacy Lewis also reprising her role for the hosts, who will be backed by a loud and passionate home support to add colour and noise to the drama.
The USA also have the world’s two best players this year in Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu to call upon, while Team Europe will be led by England’s Charley Hull and Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who was an ever-present last year.
The Solheim Cup is being played in consecutive years as it will return to even years only from 2024 – the biennial competition was played in 2021 and 2023 after the 2020 edition was postponed due to Covid-19.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 Solheim Cup.
When is the Solheim Cup? Dates and tee times
Day One: Friday September 13
Morning foursome matches (alternate shot) – From 12:05pm (UK time)
Match 1: Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull vs Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz
Match 2: Celine Boutier and Albane Valenzuela vs Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin
Match 3: Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark vs Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho
Match 4: Linn Grant and Carlota Giganda vs Lilia Vu and Sarah Schmelzel
Afternoon fourball matches (better ball) – From 5:05pm (UK time)
Day Two: Saturday September 14
Morning foursome matches (alternate shot) –
From 12:05pm (UK time)
Afternoon fourball matches (better ball) –
From 5:05pm (UK time)
Day Three: Sunday September 15
Singles
From 1:50pm (UK time)
How can I watch the Solheim Cup?
In the UK Sky Sports will be showing every session on the Sky Sports Golf channel. Coverage begins at 11:30am BST on Friday and Saturday until the close of play at 11pm. On Sunday, coverage begins at 1pm until the close of play at 8:30pm.
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What are the teams?
Team Europe
Captain: Suzann Pettersen
Céline Boutier (France, World ranking 9)
Charley Hull (England, World ranking: 11)
Maja Stark (Sweden, World ranking: 26)
Lina Grant (Sweden, World ranking: 27)
Esther Henseleit (Germany, World ranking: 30) – rookie
Leona Maguire (Ireland, World ranking: 33)
Carlota Ciganda (Spain, World ranking: 34)
Magdalene Sagstrom (Sweden, World ranking: 39)
Georgia Hall (England, World ranking: 41) – captain’s pick
Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland, World ranking 62) – rookie, captain’s pick
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden, World ranking: 71) – captain’s pick
Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark, World ranking: 103) – captain’s pick
Team USA
Captain: Stacy Lewis
Nelly Korda (World ranking: 1)
Lilia Va (World ranking: 2)
Rose Zhang (World ranking: 10)
Lauren Coughlin (World ranking: 14) – rookie
Ally Ewing (World ranking: 17)
Megan Khang (World ranking: 21)
Alison Lee (World ranking: 25)
Allisen Corpuz (World ranking: 28)
Andrea Lee (World ranking: 43)
Lexi Thompson (World ranking: 46) – captain’s pick
Jennifer Kupcho (World ranking: 53) – captain’s pick
Sarah Schmelzel (World ranking: 61) – rookie, captain’s pick
When are the opening pairings announced?
Captains Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis will reveal their opening pairings for the morning foursome matches during the opening ceremony on Thursday.
How does the Solheim Cup work?
The match is split across three days with the first two days consisting of a morning and an afternoon session.
In the morning sessions, the teams will contest four foursomes matches, whereby two golfers from each team pair up and play alternate shots using the same ball. The best score on each hole wins, with a tie if the scores are equal.
In the afternoon sessions, the teams then compete in four fourball matches, with two golfers from each team pairing up but, this time, using their own ball. The lowest score from either player is used for the team’s overall score for that hole with the best score winning the hole.
Players can play in all four sessions across the first two days, but with only eight slots available for each session some of the 12-player team are rested each time. Each player has to play in at least one session across the first two days.
The third and final day consists of singles matches where one player from Team Europe competes against another player from Team USA. This is standard matchplay, with the best score on each hole winning. All twelve members from each team have to compete in these matches.
There are 28 points at stake in total, with a point being awarded for winning a match, or half a point given to each team if there is a tie after 18 holes. Like last year, if the overall score is tied at 14-14 come the end of Sunday, the holders (Team Europe) will retain the trophy.
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