First thing’s first: what’s the Solheim Cup?
It’s a bi-annual team golf competition that pits Europe’s twelve best female golfers against an equivalent selection from the United States. It’s named after the founder of PING, Karsten Solheim, who was the driving force behind the event’s creation.
This week’s event, at Killeen Castle in Meath, will be the twefth meeting of the two sides since 1990. Just in case the maths don’t add up (and they shouldn’t), it’s worth noting that it had to change from even- to odd-numbered years when the Ryder Cup was rescheduled in 2001.
How’s it work?
The Solheim follows an essentially identical format to it’s bigger, more iconic cousin: eight fourball (better ball) and eight foursomes (alternate shot) matches, spread over the two opening days, precede twelve final-day singles matches.
A win in any given match secures a single point and a half (ie. a draw) is enough for– you’ve guessed it– half a point.
What’s it like?
There’s always a great deal of flag-waving, cheering, and patriotic make-up, not to mention some great golf, but the event also has a harder edge, its history plagued by unsavoury instances of gamesmanship. And yes, before you ask: American overexuberance has usually been to blame.
The Scotsman’s John Huggan summarises:
“In 1994, the dreadful and demented Dottie Pepper perpetrated an appalling breach of etiquette at the Greenbrier when she screamed “yes!” in the immediate aftermath of her opponent, the aforementioned Davies, missing a short putt. Four years later at Muirfield Village the European side – so irritated were they by the continued antics of Pepper – took turns bashing a “Dottie dummy” with a baseball bat…In 2000 at Loch Lomond, Sorenstam was involved again, this time when she chipped in to apparently win a hole against Pat Hurst and Kelly Robbins. Or so she thought. The Americans, after consulting with non-playing skipper Pat Bradley, decided to ask for a measure, and it was determined that Sorenstam had played out of turn by a matter of inches. So, breaking every tenet of sports(wo)manship, the Americans asked the by-then tearful Swede to play again. Needless to say, she missed second time round.”
Given the collegial familiarity of the teams, the home support and the absence of a Pepper-esque firebrand to inspire acrimony, this year’s affair is likely to be a more polite, if no less impassioned, affair.
Who do I look out for?
The United States boasts one of the superstars of world golf in under-achieving Stanford student Michelle Wie and a host of major-winning media darlings in Christie Kerr, Paula Creamer, big-hitting Brittany Lincicome and veteran competitor Juli Inkster.
The European team, though weaker on paper, boasts a glut of potentially more explosive talent. The absurdly gifted Suzann Pettersen will lead the charge, followed closely by Sophie Gustafson, Caroline Hedwall, Maria Hjorth and one of the legends of the women’s game, Laura Davies.
Annika Sorenstam, a ten-time major winner and one of the greatest players of all-time, will also be in attendance as a European vice-captain.
How do I watch?
Sky Sports will be covering everything, from the opening ceremony to the final putt, live. Elaborate welcoming parades and corporate shindigs aside, the event kicks off in earnest on Friday morning.
