Over 17 competitions spread across the last 33 years, the best women’s golfers from the United States and Europe have dazzled fans at some of the world’s best golf courses at the Solheim Cup.
While the U.S. may hold the all-time mark in the biennial bash at 10-7-0, the Europeans are the current class of the competition as they look to win for the third consecutive event at this year’s matches at Finca Cortesin Golf Club near Malaga, Spain, Sept. 22-24.
Curious about the history of the Solheim Cup?
Take a scroll through each event below to learn about the past captains, top performers, results and more.
2021
Location: Inverness Club
Winner: Europe, 15–13
Europe Captain: Catriona Matthew
U.S. Captain: Pat Hurst
Best performer: European Leona Maguire, 4 ½ points out of a possible 5.
Rookie Leona Maguire was lights out for the European side and performed like a five-Cup veteran all week in Toledo. The Irishwoman defeated Jennifer Kupcho with ease, 5 and 4, in Sunday Singles and led the charge as one of five Euros to score more than 2 points.
The Americans trailed from the first session and won only once with two sessions halved despite the fact that each of the 12 players contributed with at least 1 point.
2019
Location: Gleneagles
Winner: Europe, 14 ½–13 ½
Europe Captain: Catriona Matthew
U.S. Captain: Juli Inkster
Best performer: Europeans Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall, 4 points out of a possible 4.
The event will forever be remembered for Suzann Pettersen’s epic put.
Jessica and Nelly Korda became the first sisters to be paired together in a Solheim Cup during Friday Foursomes and were 5-up through seven holes before ultimately winning, 6 and 4. At least one match was flipped by three holes or more in every session, and the overall match was tied at 8 entering Sunday Singles. After an early American charge, the Europeans won the final three matches to win the session, 6 ½–5 ½, and claim the Cup for the first time since 2013.
2017
Location: Des Moines Golf and Country Club
Winner: United States, 16 ½ – 11 ½
U.S. Captain: Juli Inkster
Europe Captain: Annika Sorenstam
Best performer(s): American Cristie Kerr, 3 ½ points out of a possible 4; European Anna Nordqvist, 3 ½ points out of a possible 4.
After losing Friday Foursomes the U.S. swept the afternoon Fourball session to the point that a European pairing was never leading. From there the U.S. rolled to a second consecutive victory and Cristie Kerr took the top spot on the U.S. all-time points list with 19, replacing Juli Inkster (18 ½).
2015
Location: Golf Club St. Leon-Rot
Winner: United States, 14 ½ – 13 ½
U.S. Captain: Juli Inkster
Europe Captain: Carin Koch
Best performer: European Charley Hull, 4 points out of a possible 5.
The Europeans held a commanding 10-6 lead after a pair of 3-1 drubbings and two ties in the first four sessions. That meant the Americans needed 8 ½ points out of 12 to reclaim the Cup, and that’s exactly what happened as Paula Creamer put the cherry on top of the biggest comeback in Solheim Cup history with the final point.
2013
Location: Colorado Golf Club
Winner: Europe, 18–10
Europe Captain: Liselotte Neumann
U.S. Captain: Meg Mallon
Best performer: European Caroline Hedwall, 5 points out of a possible 5.
The Europeans made history with a massive 18-10 result to win the Solheim Cup for the first time ever in the United States, retaining the Cup for the first time since the competition began in 1990 with the largest margin of victory in the event’s history. Anna Nordqvist became the first player to make a hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history and Caroline Hedwall became the first player to win five matches in a single competition.
2011
Location: Killeen Castle Golf Resort
Winner: Europe, 15–13
Europe Captain: Alison Nicholas
U.S. Captain: Rosie Jones
Best performer(s): American Morgan Pressel, 4 points out of a possible 4; European Sophie Gustafson, 4 points out of a possible 4.
A young European team with five rookies held on strong against the three-time defending champion Americans and the teams were tied entering Sunday singles. Cristie Kerr was forced to concede her match due to injury before it began, resulting in a 10-and-8 win for Karen Stupples. The Europeans won two of the last three matches to claim the Cup for the first time since 2003.
2009
Location: Rich Harvest Farms
Winner: United States, 16–12
U.S. Captain: Beth Daniel
Europe Captain: Alison Nicholas
Best performer(s): American Michelle Wie, 3 ½ points out of a possible 4; European Gwladys Nocera, 3 ½ points out of a possible.
The U.S. made it a three-peat in seemingly convincing fashion thanks to a dominant Sunday Singles performance that saw the Americans claim 8 of the 12 points available, but entering the final day the match was all square at 8. A 19-year-old rookie, Michelle Wie, earned 3 ½ points and went 3-0-1.
2007
Location: Halmstad GK
Winner: United States, 16–12
U.S. Captain: Betsy King
Europe Captain: Helen Alfredsson
Best performer: American Paula Creamer, 3 ½ points out of a possible 5.
Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lincicome make their debuts for the U.S. but it was Paula Creamer and Juli Inkster who led the way for the Americans to retain the Cup.
The Americans trailed by a point entering Sunday and even lost the first singles match of the day. From there they won eight of the next 11 matches to roll the session 8 ½ – 3 ½ and take the Cup, 16-12.
2005
Location: Crooked Stick Golf Club
Winner: United States, 15 ½ – 12 ½
U.S. Captain: Nancy Lopez
Europe Captain: Catrin Nilsmark
Best performer: European Annika Sorenstam, 4 points out of a possible 5.
The U.S. was cruising early in Friday foursomes but the Euros flipped the session to take a 3-1 lead before tying the afternoon Fourball session to maintain their edge. The U.S. squared the match with a 3-1 win of their own Saturday morning before yet another tie in the afternoon saw the teams squared at eight points apiece with 12 singles matches to go.
Come Sunday the Americans claimed the first five matches in convincing fashion before the Euros fought back in the second half of the session. In the end, Meg Mallon’s 3-and-1 win over Karen Stupples sealed the 15 ½ – 12 ½ victory for the U.S.
2003
Location: Barseback Golf & Country Club
Winner: Europe, 17 ½ – 10 ½
Europe Captain: Catrin Nilsmark
U.S. Captain: Patty Sheehan
Best performer(s): Europeans Suzann Pettersen and Annika Sorenstam, 4 points out of a possible 5.
The Solheim Cup moved to odd years and after yet another loss to the Americans, the Euros came out swinging in 2003. Five players earned three-or-more points as the Euros rolled to a 17 ½ – 10½ win after a handful of concessions on Sunday.
The U.S. trailed by three entering the final session and the match was decided in the sixth game when Catriona Matthew defeated Rosie Jones, 3 and 1.
The remaining five matches on the course were conceded, with four ending 1 up while Laura Diaz rolled Elisabeth Esterl, 5 and 4. The match between Laura Davies and Meg Mallon was tied when the Cup was mathematically out of reach, and the lone reason Davies won for the Euros was because Mallon was the first to concede.
2002
Location: Interlachen Country Club
Winner: United States, 15 ½ – 12 ½
U.S. Captain: Patty Sheehan
Europe Captain: Dale Reid
Best performer: European Carin Koch, 4 ½ points out of a possible 5.
Tied after Friday’s two sessions, the U.S. won Saturday foursomes, 3-1, before getting blanked in the afternoon session, 4-0, to trail by two entering Sunday.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the U.S. rolled in Singles, winning 8 ½ out of 12 points for yet another win, 15 ½ – 12 ½.
2000
Location: Loch Lomond Golf Club
Winner: Europe, 14 ½ – 11 ½
Europe Captain: Dale Reid
U.S. Captain: Pat Bradley
Best performer(s): American Kelly Robbins, 3 points out of a possible 4; Europeans Carin Koch and Catrin Nilsmark, 3 points out of a possible 3.
The Euros swept Friday morning Foursomes and held a five-point lead entering Sunday Singles, 9 ½ – 4 ½. The U.S. won five of the first eight Sunday matches, tied two and lost one to tighten the overall score before Carin Koch, who was three down to Michele Redman, made the winning putt to clinch her match, 2 and 1, and reclaim the Cup for the Euros for a second time.
1998
Location: Muirfield Village
Winner: United States, 16–12
U.S. Captain: Judy Rankin
Europe Captain: Pia Nilsson
Best performer: American Dottie Pepper, 4 points out of a possible 4.
Captain’s picks were introduced for the first time – five for the Euros, two for the U.S. – as the Americans rolled once again having never trailed en route to a comfortable 16-12 win.
Despite never trailing in the matches, the Euros made it interesting on Sunday with four opening wins in singles to close the gap before the U.S. won five of the next six matches.
1996
Location: St. Pierre Golf & Country Club
Winner: United States, 17–11
U.S. Captain: Judy Rankin
Europe Captain: Mickey Walker
Best performer: European Annika Sorenstam, 4 points out of a possible 5.
In year four the event grew to 12 players and 28 points with five sessions, two on Friday, two on Saturday and Sunday singles.
The U.S. led after Friday, 5-3, but the Euros flipped the script and took a two-point lead of their own after a strong Saturday. Come Sunday the U.S. rolled through Singles again, earning 10 of 12 points to retain the Cup, 17-11.
1994
Location: The Greenbrier
Winner: United States, 13–7
U.S. Captain: JoAnne Carner
Europe Captain: Mickey Walker
Best performer(s): Americans Brandie Burton and Dottie Pepper, 3 points out of a possible 3.
The event moved to total 20 points with an extra foursome and fourball match on Friday and Saturday, up to five from four the previous two events.
The match was tied, 5-5, entering Sunday Singles after the Euros won Foursomes and Americans won Fourball. Helen Alfredsson put an early point on the board for the Euros in the first match, but the Americans ran away with the win after claiming eight of the next nine matches to seal the deal, 13-7, and reclaim the Cup.
1992
Location: Dalmahoy Country Club
Winner: Europe, 11 ½ – 6 ½
Europe Captain: Mickey Walker
U.S. Captain: Kathy Whitworth
Best performer: European Laura Davies, 3 points out of a possible 3.
U.S. captain Kathy Whitworth returned to the states when her mother passed away the day the team arrived and was replaced by LPGA President Alice Miller.
The teams were increased to eight players, and European captain Mickey Walker returned seven players from the previous matches to take their revenge and win the Cup for a first time, 11 ½ – 6 ½.
The U.S. lost the Friday Foursomes by one point and drew the Euros in Saturday Fourball, but come Sunday Singles the Euros won the first three matches to take extend their lead and never looked back, eventually claiming the session, 7-3.
1990
Location: Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
Winner: United States 11 ½ – 4 ½
U.S. Captain: Kathy Whitworth
Europe Captain: Mickey Walker
Best performer: American Beth Daniel, 3 points out of a possible 3.
Each team fielded eight players for the inaugural event and 16 points were up for grabs. The American took almost all of them as they dominated all three sessions to win, 11 ½ – 4 ½.
The U.S. won both Friday Foursomes and Saturday Fourball, 3-1, to take a commanding 6-2 lead to Sunday singles, where all eight players competed. The Americans kept the pedal down to win the session 5 ½ – 2 ½ and claim the Cup. Pat Bradley rolled Trish Johnson, 8 and 7, while Beth Daniel added a 7-and-6 shellacking of her own against Liselotte Neurmann.
