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2026 Solheim Cup: History, format, teams, records and how to watch
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- 2026 Solheim Cup: History, format, teams, records and how to watch
Take a look at some answers to frequently asked questions about the Solheim Cup :
Is the Solheim Cup the women's version of the Ryder Cup?Yes. It's the United States vs. Europe, with 12 players on each team. They compete over the course of three days, in fourballs (better ball), foursomes (alternate shot) and singles.
What is the Solheim Cup format?
We can take this right out of our Ryder Cup 101
:
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Better ball: I play my ball and you play yours. Whichever one of us makes the lower score on the hole, that's our team score for that hole. And if we tie, well, that's our score.
Alternate shot: You and I are a team. I tee off. You hit the next shot. I hit the next and so on until we're in the hole. We alternate hitting tee shots, with me leading off on odd-numbered holes, and you hitting first on even-numbered holes. In both formats, we're playing match play, so overall scoring is done by holes, not strokes. Matches last until one team does not have enough remaining holes to catch up.
If we defeat our opponents, it doesn't matter if we did it by winning just one more hole than them (1 up), or shut them out (10 and 8), it's just one point for our team. Tied matches are worth a half-point for each side.
Singles is just that, one vs. one.
Now, when
do they play these formats?
The two teams will play four fourball and four foursomes matches each of the first two days (Friday and Saturday), with foursomes being played in the morning and fourballs in the afternoon locally. The home-team captain decides the order. They will then play 12 singles matches on the final day (Sunday). That's a total of 28 points up for grabs. The winner needs at least 14 ½.
What happens in the case of a tie?If there is a 14-14 tie, the cup stays with the defending champion.
Has there ever been a tie?Once. Europe and the U.S. finished 14-14 at Finca Cortesin in Spain in 2023. Because Europe held the cup going in, it kept possession of the cup.
Who has won the most Solheim Cups?
The U.S. leads the series, 11-7-1
, but the Europeans won in 2019 and 2021, and then retained the cup in '23. The U.S. won most recently in '24.
This Week in Golf (November 16 – 22)
Solheim Cup: Full list of winners from each year
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The Solheim Cup began in 1990. Here's a look at which side has won each contest.
When did the Solheim Cup begin?This biennial competition began in 1990. The U.S. won eight of the first 11 cups, but Europe has since gone 4-3-1. As mentioned, it was originally contested in even-numbered years as the Ryder Cup was in odd-numbered. But after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the Ryder Cup moved to even years (delaying the 2001 matches until '02). The Solheim Cup adjusted, going back-to-back in '02 and '03, and then keeping with odd years. When the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the 2020 Ryder Cup to '21, the Solheim powers-that-be decided to move back to even years. That's why we had matches in 2023 and 2024.
What players are on the 2026 Solheim Cup teams?
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European Solheim Cup team
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Charley Hull, England
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Lottie Woad, England
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Maja Stark, Sweden
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Esther Henseleit, Germany
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Celine Boutier, France
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Linn Grant, Sweden
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Leona Maguire, Ireland
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Carlota Ciganda, Spain
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Leona Maguire, Ireland (captain's pick)
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Julia Lopez Ramirez, Spain (captain's pick)
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Nastasia Nadaud, France (captain's pick)
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Mimi Rhodes, England (captain's pick)
The Solheim Cup - Day Two
Meet the 2026 European Solheim Cup team, including four captain's picks
European Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist rounded out her 12-player squad with four captain's picks on Monday, a day after eight players earned their spots upon the conclusion of the AIG Women's Open.
U.S. Solheim Cup team
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Nelly Korda
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Angel Yin
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Jenifer Kupcho
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Yealimi Noh
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Auston Kim
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Lauren Coughlin
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Allisen Corpuz
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Andrea Lee
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Alison Lee
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Rose Zhang (captain's pick)
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Megan Khang (captain's pick)
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Lindy Duncan (captain's pick)
GOLF: SEP 12 Solheim Cup Practice
Meet the 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup team, including three captain's picks
Just hours after her automatic picks were finalized, U.S. Solheim Cup captain Angela Stanford rounded out her 12-player side with three captain's picks on Monday morning.
Why is it called the Solheim Cup?The cup is named after Karsten Solheim, who founded golf-equipment manufacturer Ping and brought to life the concept of a Ryder Cup-style match for women.
Is the Solheim Cup ONLY Americans and Europeans?Yes. Players from other countries — regardless of resume and world rank — are not eligible. There is no Presidents Cup-style competition between the U.S. and the Internationals (non-European-born players). There is, however, the LPGA's biennial International Crown, which features eight, four-woman teams from top qualifying countries across the globe.
Every player doesn't play every session?Correct. Four players from each team will sit each session. It's part of the captains' duties to figure out who is playing, who is playing with whom and who will be cheering on their teammates. Then, when it comes to singles, everyone must play.
Where and when is the 2026 Solheim Cup?This year's matches will be contested at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands, Sept 11-13.
How to watch the 2026 Solheim CupGolf Channel and Golf Channel mobile will showcase the event. The television schedule is (all times ET):
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Friday, Sept. 11
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1:30AM-1PM: Solheim Cup, Day 1 (Golf Channel/GC mobile)
Saturday, Sept. 12
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1:30AM-1PM: Solheim Cup, Day 2 (Golf Channel/GC mobile)
Sunday, Sept. 13
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5AM-Noon: Solheim Cup, Day 3 singles (Golf Channel/GC mobile)
Solheim CupSolheim Cup 2026: How to watch, TV coverage, live streams for Bernardus Golf
Here are all of the details on how to watch the Solheim Cup, beginning at 1:30AM ET on Sept. 11 at Bernardus Golf.
