What is the Solheim Cup format?
Over three days, 28 matches are played with those matches falling into three categories: foursomes, fourballs and singles.
There are 12 players on each team, and they compete as pairs or individuals.
Four foursomes and four fourballs matches will be played on both Friday and Saturday. Each of these matches will see one pair from Europe compete with a pair from team USA.
In a foursome match, each team will alternate between shots and will use one ball between two players. In a fourballs match, each competitor will get to use their own ball.
Points are awarded to the team that scores the lowest on each hole. The match is won when the advantage one team has is bigger than the number of holes left to play on the course. If the result is drawn by the end of the match, the match is halved.
The first of the foursome matches will begin at 8.10am local time (7.10am BST) on both Friday and Saturday. Fourballs matches will be played on Friday and Saturday afternoon, getting underway at 1.40pm local time (12.40pm BST).
On Sunday, all of the 24 competitors will get the chance to play in singles matches, with the first of these matches being played at 11.10am local time (10.10am BST).
There are 28 matches in total across the weekend, meaning 28 points are up for grabs. The team that reaches the 14-and-a-half point marker first will be victorious. Europe will retain the cup if the tournament ends in a draw.
What is the Solheim Cup schedule?
Friday, Sept 22: Four foursomes matches in morning, four fourballs matches in afternoon.
Saturday, Sept 23: Four foursomes matches in morning, four fourballs matches in afternoon.
Sunday, Sept 24: 12 singles matches before closing ceremony.
How can I buy tickets?
General admission tickets are still available for all three days of the Solheim Cup, via the official website.
Access to all three days of the tournament will cost around £210 while individual day tickets are available from £70 for the Friday, £82 for the Saturday and £103 for the Sunday.
US captain Stacy Lewis believes professional golf is “missing a massive opportunity” after the governing bodies failed to capitalise on the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup taking place on back-to-back weeks.
Lewis is here at the hilly Costa del Sol layout trying to stop Europe from making history by winning three matches in succession. Yet as onerous as that task might seem, Lewis, the former world No 1, was willing on Wednesday to lament the bigger picture.
Due to the pandemic, the two tournaments have been scheduled to finish in successive Sundays for the first time. However, Lewis is adamant that from a marketing point of view, not enough has been attempted to ‘connect’ the showdowns here and in Rome next week.
“1,000 per cent, yes,” Lewis replied when asked if the unprecedented fortnight could have been better promoted. “I thought this could have been marketed together as two weeks in Europe, two cups for play. I thought it was a massive missed opportunity.
“I wish that people could get the sponsorship things out of their head and figure out how we can work together because this may not ever happen again. I tried. I tried really hard, actually.
“We tried to do a little bit with the guys and just weren’t really able to move things along the way I would have liked. I just would like to see it for the good of the game. It’s not to further women’s golf, let’s further the game of golf in general.
Judy Rankin, the legendary YV commentator and former LPGA champion, concurred. “All I’ve heard about basically is the Ryder Cup,” Rankin told Golfweek. “Somebody missed the proverbial boat, and whoever somebody is, I hope I never hear again ‘for the good of the game.’”
The Solheim Cup has brought forward the scheduled 2025 match in North Virginia to next year to avoid another clash with the Ryder Cup.
What are the best of the odds?
- Europe: 21/20
- USA: 11/10
- Draw: 12/1