Solheim Cup Through the Ages
Up until the 2026 Solheim Cup, the tournament has been played 19 times since its debut in 1990. The USA hold a historical advantage with 11 victories to Europe's 7, plus one tied match in 2023 when Europe retained the trophy. But let's take a closer look at how it has all unfolded!
1990 – Where It All Began
The very first Solheim Cup was played at Lake Nona in Florida. The competition was smaller than today, with eight players on each team and a total of 16 points up for grabs. The USA won convincingly 11.5–4.5, but this was where the foundation was laid for what would become one of the biggest events in women's golf.
1992 – Europe's First Victory
Europe didn't have to wait long for their first triumph. At Dalmahoy in Scotland, the USA were beaten 11.5–6.5. The victory was significant for the young competition – Europe showed early on that the Solheim Cup could become a genuine rivalry between two evenly matched teams.
1994–1998 – American Dominance
The USA responded by winning three consecutive Solheim Cups: 1994, 1996 and 1998. After the first five editions, the Americans had won four and firmly established themselves as the stronger side during the competition's opening decade.
2000 – Europe Fights Back
At Loch Lomond in Scotland, Europe ended the American winning run with a 14.5–11.5 victory.
One of the most talked-about moments in the competition's history came in the match between Annika Sörenstam and Pat Hurst. Sörenstam chipped in for birdie, but as she had played out of turn, USA captain Pat Bradley asked her to replay the shot – entirely within the rules. Sörenstam missed the second attempt and eventually lost the match.
Annika Sörenstam. Photo: Christer Höglund
2002 – An Unusual Year
The Solheim Cup had originally been scheduled for 2001, but following the September 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent changes to the golf calendar, the event was moved to 2002. The USA won 15.5–12.5 at Interlachen Country Club. The following year saw the next Solheim Cup take place, meaning that for the first time there was just one year between two editions.
2003 – A European Landslide
Europe produced one of their finest performances when the competition was held at Barsebäck in Sweden, winning by a commanding 17.5–10.5. A remarkable occasion for the host nation, with both the captain and three players in the European team being Swedish. Even so, fewer than in 2000, when six of Europe's twelve players were Swedish.
2005–2009 – Three in a Row for the USA
The USA then retook control, winning in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Three consecutive American victories meant that heading into 2011, the USA had won eight of the first eleven editions.
2011 – Europe Ends the Run
At Killeen Castle in Ireland, Europe finally put a stop to the USA's winning streak. Sunday proved dramatic, with several matches swinging Europe's way in the closing stages. Europe ultimately won 15–13.
2013 – Europe Makes History on American Soil
This is undoubtedly one of the editions that deserves special mention. Europe defeated the USA by a resounding 18–10 at Colorado Golf Club, becoming the first European team ever to win the Solheim Cup on American soil. The eight-point winning margin was also Europe's largest ever.
Several individual records were also set. Caroline Hedwall became the first player in Solheim Cup history to win five matches in a single edition, while Anna Nordqvist made the competition's first ever hole-in-one.
Charley Hull was just 17 years old when she made her debut in 2013, at the time the youngest player ever to appear in the Solheim Cup. In the singles, she beat American superstar Paula Creamer by a convincing 5&4. Afterwards, Hull walked over to Creamer and asked for her autograph – for a friend back home in England. Utterly unfazed by the whole occasion!
Anna Nordqvist.
2015 – The Controversy and the Remarkable Comeback
The Solheim Cup at St. Leon-Rot in Germany became one of the most talked-about editions in the event's history.
American Alison Lee picked up her short putt believing Europe had conceded it. Suzann Pettersen insisted the putt had not been given, resulting in the USA losing the hole. The incident sparked a major debate about sportsmanship, and Pettersen later issued an apology.
Europe led by as many as 10–6 heading into Sunday's singles. But the USA produced the greatest final-day comeback in Solheim Cup history, claiming 8.5 of a possible 12 points in the singles to win 14.5–13.5.
2017 – USA Defend the Title
The USA followed up that remarkable comeback by winning again at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. The final score read 16.5–11.5, giving the Americans back-to-back titles.
2019 – Pettersen's Historic Putt
Gleneagles 2019 delivered one of the most iconic finishes in Solheim Cup history. Everything ultimately came down to Suzann Pettersen on the 18th green. With the entire competition on the line, the Norwegian holed the decisive putt to secure Europe's victory, 14.5–13.5.
The story could hardly have been scripted more perfectly. Pettersen had played sparingly after becoming a mother, and her selection as a captain's pick had been questioned. Moments after deciding the Solheim Cup, she announced her retirement from professional golf.
2019 was also the year the Korda sisters made history. Nelly and Jessica became the first sisters ever to be paired together in Solheim Cup history. They did so with great success, with both finishing the week with a match record of 3–0–1. Previously, Annika and Charlotta Sörenstam had been on the same team but had never been paired together.
Jessica and Nelly Korda.
2021 – Europe Win in the USA Again
At Inverness Club in Ohio, Europe successfully defended the title with a 15–13 victory. It was only the second time Europe had managed to win the Solheim Cup on American soil, eight years after their historic first victory on US soil in 2013.
2023 – The First Tied Solheim Cup
At Finca Cortesin in Spain, something happened that had never occurred before. After three days of competition, the score stood at 14–14. The Solheim Cup has no play-off format. As Europe were the reigning champions, the tied result meant they retained the trophy.
Fittingly, it was Spain's Carlota Ciganda who secured Europe's 14th point in front of her home crowd. Emily Kristine Pedersen also made just the second hole-in-one in the competition's history.
2024 – USA Reclaim the Trophy
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Ryder Cup 2020 was postponed to 2021, landing it in odd-numbered years. It was subsequently decided that the Solheim Cup would move to even-numbered years, meaning for the second time in history, the two editions were played just one year apart.
Following Europe's victories in 2019 and 2021 and the tie in 2023, the USA hit back. At Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, the USA won 15.5–12.5. Lilia Vu secured the decisive half point, and the USA lifted the Solheim Cup trophy for the first time since 2017.
2026 – Bernardus Golf, the Netherlands
We look forward with great anticipation to the next chapter of Solheim Cup history being written!
