Team Europe will probably be trying to safe a 3rd consecutive win for the primary time ever after they tackle Team USA within the 2023 Solheim Cup.
The 2021 version of the competitors, ladies’s golf’s equal of the Ryder Cup, was solely the second time Team USA had ever misplaced on house soil, with Suzann Pettersen securing the profitable level in Ohio to supply her staff with a 15-13 general victory.
This made Scottish golfer and staff captain Catriona Matthew the primary ever European captain to win back-to-back Solheim Cups, though it can really be Pettersen making her first look as captain in 2023, after being chosen to steer the staff by means of the following two tournaments.
The Solheim Cup is normally held each two years, however can even characteristic in 2024’s sporting calendar as a way to transfer the dates onto even years.
How Solheim Cup works
The competitors options the 12 greatest gamers from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the 12 greatest gamers from the U.S Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (LPGA).
The means the very best gamers are chosen differs for every staff, nevertheless.
Team Europe options the 2 gamers who’ve topped the European Tour’s Solheim Cup factors in 2023, the following six highest-ranked gamers who’re eligible, together with 4 captain’s picks chosen by Suzann Pettersen.
Team U.S. nevertheless picks the highest seven gamers on the LPGA’s Solheim Cup factors checklist, the following high two gamers from the Rolex Rankings, and three picks from captain Stacy Lewis.
The occasion itself takes place over three days.
The first two days each include a morning session of foursome matches (two golfers from every staff pair up and play alternate pictures utilizing the identical ball), and a day session of four-ball matches (every member of a pair makes use of their very own ball, with the bottom rating used for the staff’s general rating).
The third and last day consists of singles matches the place one participant from Team Europe competes towards one other participant from Team USA. All twelve members from every staff will compete in these matches.
There are 28 factors at stake in whole, with some extent being awarded for profitable a match, or half some extent given to every staff if there’s a tie.
Where and when is the Solheim Cup?
The 2023 Solheim Cup is going down at Finca Cortesin in Málaga, Spain, from 22-24 September.
The opening ceremony begins at 5pm on Thursday September 21.
How to look at the Solheim Cup?
You can watch the opening ceremony from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf, with stay protection of day one from 6.30am on Friday.
The full protection checklist is under:
Thursday, September 21: Opening ceremony 7pm-8.30pm (Sky Sports Golf)
Day One: Friday, September 22: 6.30am-6.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Day Two: Saturday, September 23: 6.30am-6.30pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
Final day: Sunday, September 24: 9am-6pm (Sky Sports Golf and Main Event)
The Teams
Team Europe:
Suzann Pettersen goes from participant to captain this 12 months, and the Norwegian will hope a powerful European facet could have what it takes to increase their profitable streak.
Golfing legend Dame Laura Davies will once more function vice-captain together with Caroline Martens and Anna Nordqvist, with the 59-year previous boasting 87 match wins and 4 Solheim Cup victories amongst her accolades.
Team Europe have presumably probably the most in-form participant going into the competitors, with Céline Boutier having gained her third LPGA tour title earlier within the season, whereas additionally including an additional two titles over the summer season.
Vice-captain Anna Nordqvist can even be collaborating as a participant, and is one in all Europe’s most adorned golfers with three main wins.
British golfers Charley Hull and Georgia Hall are additionally robust gamers for Team Europe, with Hall having gained a serious, in addition to ending runner-up to Boutier on this 12 months’s LPGA Drive On Championship.
Hull additionally completed second in two majors this season.
Team USA:
Captain Stacy Lewis will change into the youngest American captain ever within the Solheim Cup at 38 years-old, and has competed as a participant in 4 separate tournaments.
Four of Team USA’s gamers are ranked within the high 20 in comparison with Europe’s 5, however will probably be hoping younger expertise might help to hold them over the road.
Debutants for Lewis’ staff this 12 months embrace 2023 U.S. Open winner Allisen Corpuz, and 20 year-old Rose Zhang, who has solely just lately turned professional after a ridiculously dominant efficiency within the beginner sport.
Veteran Lexi Thompson provides some expertise, holding a serious championship win to her title and having been a part of two Team USA wins after making her Solheim debut at 18 within the 2013 version of the match.