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The Solheim Cup returns as Team Europe takes on Team USA in the 39th edition of the team competition at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia.
Europe are the defending champions and will be looking to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Solheim Cup after a thrilling 14-14 draw in Spain last year saw Suzann Pettersen’s team retain the trophy.
Pettersen returns as Europe captain, while American Stacy Lewis will also reprise her role for the hosts, who will be supported by a raucous and passionate home crowd to add colour and noise to the drama.
The United States will also be able to count this year on the two best players in the world, Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, while the European team will be led by England’s Charley Hull and Ireland’s Leona Maguire, who was omnipresent last year.
The Solheim Cup is played in consecutive years as it will only return to even-numbered years 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 times
Day 1: Friday, September 13
Morning Foursomes (Alternate Plan) –
From 12:05pm (UK time)
Afternoon four-ball matches (best ball) –
From 5:05pm (UK time)
Day 2: Saturday, September 14
Morning Foursomes (Alternate Plan) –
From 12:05pm (UK time)
Afternoon four-ball matches (best ball) –
From 5:05pm (UK time)
Day 3: Sunday, September 15
Simple
From 1:50pm (UK time)
How can I watch the Solheim Cup?
In the UK, Sky Sports will broadcast all sessions on the Sky Sports Golf channel. The broadcast will start at 11:30 BST on Friday and Saturday until the end of play at 23:00. On Sunday, the broadcast will start at 13:00 until the end of play at 20:30.
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What are the teams?
Team Europe
Captain: Suzann Pettersen
Céline Boutier (France, 9th in the world)
Charley Hull (England, World Ranking: 11)
Maja Stark (Sweden, World Ranking: 26)
Lina Grant (Sweden, World Ranking: 27)
Esther Henseleit (Germany, World Ranking: 30) – beginner
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 choice
Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland, 62nd in the world) – rookie, captain’s choice
Anna Nordqvist (Sweden, World Ranking: 71) – Captain’s Pick
Emily Kristine Pedersen (Denmark, world ranking: 103) – captain’s choice
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 foursomes at the opening ceremony on Thursday.
How does the Solheim Cup work?
The match takes place over three days, with the first two consisting of a morning session and an afternoon session.
In the morning sessions, teams will play four foursomes matches, in which two golfers from each team will pair up and play alternate shots using the same ball. The best score on each hole wins, with a tie in the event of a tie.
In the afternoon sessions, the teams then compete in four four-ball matches, with two golfers from each team teaming up but, this time, using their own ball. The lowest score of either player is used for the team’s overall score for that hole, with the higher score winning the hole.
Players can participate in all four sessions over the first two days, but with only eight spots available for each session, some players in the 12-man squad are rested each time. Each player must participate in at least one session over the first two days.
The third and final day is devoted to singles matches where a player from the European team plays against another player from the American team. This is a standard matchplay, with the best score on each hole winning. All twelve members of each team must participate in these matches.
A total of 28 points are at stake, with one point awarded for each win, and half a point for each team in the event of a tie after 18 holes. As last year, if the overall score is tied 14-14 at the end of Sunday, the defending champions (Team Europe) will retain the trophy.
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