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Ladies Tours

Solheim Cup 2024: Pairings and Tee Times for Day 1

This week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, defending champions Team Europe will face Team USA, who have the home advantage at the 2024 Solheim Cup. The Europeans have taken home the trophy three times in a row, but the American fans will not make it easy for Suzann Pettersen’s team.

There are five sessions in total. Friday and Saturday will start with the Foursomes at 7:05 AM. In four matches, two Europeans will compete against two Americans, who will take it in turns to play a ball. The pairings have already been decided independently of each other by the captains on Thursday.

The fourballs will continue at 12 PM on Friday and Saturday, with the pairings often being decided before the first matches have been completed. In the fourballs, two Europeans and two Americans will again compete in one of four matches, but each will play their own ball. The better result of a team is counted.

The singles follow on Sunday. All twelve players from one team will compete head-to-head against the 12 players from the other team. The matches will start at 08:50 AM.

Tee Times Solheim Cup 2024 Day 1 – Foursomes

Match Tee Time Players (USA) Players (Europa)
1 07:05 Nelly Korda / Allisen Corpuz Charley Hull /Esther Henseleit
2 07:17 Rose Zhang / Lauren Coughlin Albane Valenzuela / Celine Boutier
3 07:29 Ally Ewing / Jennifer Kupcho Maja Stark / Emily Pedersen
4 07:41 Lilia Vu / Sarah Schmelzel Linn Grant / Carlota Ciganda
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Panorama

Barack Obama Visits the USA Solheim Cup Team

The Solheim Cup week has a special surprise in store for the US team: former US President Barack Obama, himself a passionate golfer, paid the team a visit in Washington D.C. on Monday evening. During a dinner together, Obama expressed his support for the players and even shared some insights about the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, where the Solheim Cup is being held this year. The 44th President of the United States has been a member of the club since 2017.

Barack Obama at the Solheim Cup 2024

Barack Obama left a lasting impression on the players, including stars such as Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Lexi Thompson. Nelly Korda, currently ranked number one in the world, was particularly impressed: “He knew all our names and congratulated us on our successes. That was really something special.” Megan Khang, also part of the team, emphasized: “It was incredible that he took the time to meet us. It shows how much he cares about golf.”

 
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This year is a very special Solheim Cup for the US team. After defeats in 2019 and 2021 and a draw in 2023, in which the Europeans retained the trophy, the team’s motivation to settle scores is greater than ever. Obama seems to have given the team exactly the motivation they need to stand up to the Europeans this year. Alison Lee, whose nine years between Solheim Cup appearances is the longest break in US team history, said Obama’s visit showed the power of golf, which she believes no other sport can offer. “It just shows how much golf brings people together,” Lee said ahead of her second appearance at the Solheim Cup. “Meeting him in person after only seeing him on TV before – as our former president – and seeing him connect with us was incredible. That’s something that only golf can make possible.” Whether Obama’s visit and his motivational words will lead the US team to victory remains to be seen.

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Ladies Tours

Junior Solheim Cup 2024: USA Secures Record Victory

The American team led by Beth Daniel dominated this year’s edition of the PING Junior Solheim Cup and celebrated the biggest victory in the tournament’s history. With a final score of 18.5 to 5.5, the American junior stars impressively beat the European team led by captain Gwladys Nocera at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia.

Record Victory at the Junior Solheim Cup 2024

Before the final day of competition, the Americans were already leading 8-4 after the fourball and foursomes matches on Monday. On the decisive Tuesday, Team USA then went on a remarkable run in the singles, winning ten out of twelve matches. Of particular note was the performance of Jude Lee, who secured her victory with a 5&4 against Perla Sol Sigurbrandsdottir from Iceland and thus contributed the decisive point to the overall victory. “It was just incredible to play with the best girls in the world,” said Lee after her match. “It’s an experience we’ll all never forget.”

The American team put in an impressive overall performance, led by players such as Elizabeth Rudisill, who defeated world number nine Andrea Revuelta from Spain 3&2. Natalie Yen, Anna Fang and Madison Messimer also contributed to the outstanding result with clear victories. The only European to score a full point in the singles was Martina Navarro from Spain, who defeated Nikki Oh 2&1. Overall, the American team performed well in all game formats and dominated the European team in four-ball, foursomes and singles.

The record for the highest winning score at this tournament previously stood at 17 to 7 and was also set by Team USA in the inaugural event in 2002. This year, the American team surpassed this record and celebrated its first victory since 2019.

Beth Daniel Full of Pride

Beth Daniel, captain of the American team and LPGA Hall of Famer, was proud of her team: “My players were simply fantastic. They fought hard and every one of them wanted this win. I think the home advantage gave us extra motivation.” Nocera also paid tribute to her opponents: “Team USA played unbelievably. They had a very strong team and took revenge for last year’s defeat. We will be ready again in two years’ time.”

This is the Junior Solheim Cup

The Junior Solheim Cup, which was launched in 2002, pits the best young female golfers in the USA and Europe against each other in a match play format. Inspired by the professional Solheim Cup, the event is held every two years, alternating between the USA and Europe. In two years’ time, the Junior Solheim Cup will be held in the Netherlands for the first time. Europe will then do everything it can to bring back the trophy and build on this year’s experience with talents such as Andrea Revuelta, Alice Kong and Louise Uma Landgraf. The American team now leads the overall standings with a 9:4 record.

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Highlights Tours

Solheim Cup 2024: Everything You Need to Know About the Tournament in Virginia

The Solheim Cup 2024 is one of the most important tournaments in women’s golf and will be held from September 13 to 15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Every two years, the best female players from the USA and Europe compete against each other to win the coveted trophy. With a long history and a unique match play format, the Solheim Cup is a highlight of golf.

The Solheim Cup week

The format of the Solheim Cup differs from the usual tournaments. On Friday and Saturday, there are four foursome matches in the morning and four fourball matches in the afternoon. In the foursome, two golfers from a team take it in turns to play a ball. In the fourball, both golfers play their own ball, with the best score counting. The decisive individual matches follow on the third day, in which all 24 players compete against each other in direct duels. A total of 28 points are awarded and the team with the most points wins the Solheim Cup.

The venue: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, will host the Solheim Cup for the first time in 2024. However, the golf club is no newcomer to international team golf: it has already hosted the Presidents Cup four times. The course, which stretches along the picturesque Lake Manassas, was opened in 1991 and is considered a masterpiece of the famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. With its challenging water hazards and layout perfectly integrated into the landscape, the par-72 course not only offers visual highlights, but also strategic challenges for the players.

Solheim Cup 2024: The teams

The Solheim Cup has been held since 1990 and the rivalry between the USA and Europe is firmly anchored in this competition. To date, the USA leads the overall standings with 10 wins to 8. Nevertheless, Team Europe arrives with an impressive winning streak. After a hard-fought draw in Spain in 2023, the Europeans retained the Solheim Cup and have already won in 2021 and 2019. Captain Suzann Pettersen relies on experienced players such as Leona Maguire and Carlota Ciganda, who scored crucial points at the last Solheim Cup and are also among the team’s mainstays this year.

The USA, on the other hand, under captain Stacy Lewis, will be relying on their experienced players such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu to bring the trophy back on home soil. The home advantage on the challenging course in Virginia could prove decisive as the team battles for another victory.

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Ladies Tours

AIG Women’s Open 2025 to Be Largest Ever Women’s Sporting Event Staged in Wales

Following a historic week in St Andrews the AIG Women’s Open heads to Royal Porthcawl in 2025 where it will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales. The Championship which delivers an exceptional off-course experience to match the dramatic on-course action will be played from 30 July- 3 August 2025.

A complete success: the Women’s Open in St. Andrews

A bumper crowd of 52,887 fans watched Lydia Ko carve her name into the history books by winning the AIG Women’s Open by two shots at the Old Course in St Andrews. Reflecting on her win in St Andrews which followed an Olympic Gold Medal in Paris, Ko said, “It’s been a crazy past few weeks. Something that was too good to be true happened. I honestly didn’t think it could be any better and here I am as the AIG Women’s Open Champion this week. Obviously, being here at the Old Course at St Andrews makes it so much more special.”

While the world’s best women’s golfers put on an incredible display of golf at the home of golf, entertainment off the course also delighted fans in the Festival Village as BRIT and Ivor Novello-nominated singer-songwriter Tom Grennan headlined a spectacular concert.

Spectators attending the Championship also watched a screening of fans favourite, ‘Happy Gilmore’, in an open air cinema on Friday night, as well as enjoying a variety of attractions such as  golf lessons, lawn games, mini golf, shopping, bars, food trucks and live Q&A features with some of the biggest names in golf on the Sessions Stage.

Royal Porthcawl to host AIG Women’s Open 2025

Royal Porthcawl, a links which borders the Bristol Channel, will be a fitting test with the changeable wind directions a constant challenge. It has previously hosted The Amateur Championship on six occasions, the Walker Cup, featuring a young Tiger Woods, the Curtis Cup and on three occasions the Senior Open presented by Rolex.

Ko added, “I’ve never been to Wales. So it’s exciting to go to these new venues. It’s pretty crazy to say that I’m going to be the defending champion there in Wales.” 

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, commented, “The AIG Women’s Open is a world class championship which attracts the best players in the world. We have enjoyed an incredibly successful week in St Andrews and we now turn our focus to Wales where we will play the Championship at Royal Porthcawl for the first time.

“The famous Welsh links has  a cherished  history of hosting prestigious championships and the players will enjoy the challenge of competing for the AIG Women’s Open at another outstanding venue.

“It will be the largest women’s sporting event to be played in Wales and we hope to attract many Welsh sports fans, and those from further afield, to come and enjoy a true celebration of golf.”

The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Ken Skates, said: “We’ll look forward to providing an unforgettable welcome to players, fans and spectators when the AIG Women’s Open comes to Wales in 2025. Porthcawl is sure to provide a warm Welsh Croeso to this prestigious golfing major and offers a course that will provide a true test to the very best players in the world.”

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Highlights Tours

Solheim Cup: Jennifer Kupcho, Sarah Schmelzel and Lexi Thompson Complete US Team

U.S. Solheim Cup Team Captain Stacy Lewis has selected Jennifer Kupcho, Sarah Schmelzel and Lexi Thompson as her captain’s picks for the 2024 Solheim Cup, to be held Sept. 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.

Kupcho, Schmelzel and Thompson join the nine automatic qualifiers for the U.S. Team who were named following the completion of play at the AIG Women’s Open. Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang and Andrea Lee qualified via the U.S. Solheim Cup Team Standings, while Rose Zhang and Alison Lee qualified via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Lots of Experience for the US Team

hompson will represent the U.S. for the seventh consecutive time, joining 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. She moves into a tie for third for the most times competing for the U.S., joining Paula Creamer, Rosie Jones and Morgan Pressel, trailing only Cristie Kerr and Juli Inkster with nine appearances and Beth Daniel and Meg Mallon with eight.

“Lexi was probably the easiest pick to make of these three, with her experience. I know what Lexi can do at a Solheim Cup and that definitely helped her get a pick,” said Lewis. “She’s somebody who is going to help the team out a lot, on the golf course and also off. With her experience, everybody on the team’s going to be watching what she does to try to learn from her. I am very happy to have Lexi back.”

“It means the world to me. To be able to represent my country, it’s the highest honor that you can possibly have,” said Thompson of being selected to the U.S. Solheim Cup Team. “To be there again this year, especially stateside, it’s a dream come true. To be able to play alongside my teammates and under my captains and assistant captains, it’s everything I could ask for.”

Kupcho will wear the Red, White and Blue for the third time, while Schmelzel will join Lauren Coughlin as a U.S. Solheim Cup Team rookie.

“I think Jennifer probably more so than anyone is a great fit for this golf course. I love how high and how straight she hits a golf ball. You can see it in how many strokes she gains off the tee and her ball striking is always what carries her,” said Lewis. “Sarah’s just super solid and doesn’t beat herself up. She’s a player who can play both formats with a lot of different people. She’s somebody that we’ve been watching for a long time and so we’re excited for her to be playing her first Solheim Cup and teeing it up in Virginia.”

“I am so happy to be part of the U.S. Team again, back in the team atmosphere,” said Kupcho. I’m most excited to be back on U.S. soil and just representing the U.S. in my country is so special to me. I’m so, so excited to do this for my third time and to play under Stacy, who is a great captain.”

“It’s obviously something that I’ve thought about ever since I started getting invited to the Solheim meetings last year,” said Schmelzel. “It’s something that just kind of sits in the back of your mind, and it’s always there in the back of your mind. It’s always something that you’re working toward, so to finally get to that moment and realize that it had come to fruition, it was honestly really surreal.”

The Solheim Cup 2024

Players started accruing points toward the U.S. Solheim Cup points standings at the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Points were awarded to the top 40 participants at each ranking event, with double points awarded at the five major championships. In the Solheim Cup year, all points values increased by 50%. The full points breakdown is available at www.solheimcupusa.com/usa-points-standings/how-to-qualify.

The biennial Solheim Cup is the most prestigious international team event in women’s professional golf. In 2022, the European Team retained the Cup following a 14-14 tie with the U.S. Team at Finca Cortesin in Spain. The U.S. Team leads the European Team, 10-7-1, all-time in Solheim Cup competition.

Solheim Cup 2024: Team USA

Player Qualification
Nelly Korda U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Lilia Vu U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Lauren Coughlin U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Ally Ewing U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Allisen Corpuz U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Megan Khang U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Andrea Lee U.S. Solheim Cup Standings
Rose Zhang World Rankings
Alison Lee World Rankings
Lexi Thompson Captain’s Pick
Jennifer Kupcho Captain’s Pick
Sarah Schmelzel Captain’s Pick
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Ladies Tours

Women’s Open 2024: Lydia Ko Wins Record Prize Money – Full Earnings Breakdown

At the Women’s Open 2024, there was record prize money totalling 9.5 million dollars. As the winner, Lydia Ko from New Zealand collected the lion’s share. Ko received almost 1.5 million dollars for the third major victory of her career. The table below shows the total distribution and the prize money received by each player.

Women’s

Position Name Earnings
1 Lydia Ko $1,425,000
T2 Lilia Vu $641,546
T2 Ruoning Yin $641,546
T2 Nelly Korda $641,546
T2 Jiyai Shin $641,546
6 Ariya Jutanugarn $344,457
T7 Akie Iwai $254,960
T7 Casandra Alexander $254,960
T7 Mao Saigo $254,960
T10 Angel Yin $172,856
T10 Linn Grant $172,856
T10 Pajaree Anannarukarn $172,856
T10 Nanna Koerstz Madsen $172,856
T10 Lottie Woad (a)
T10 Alexa Pano $172,856
T10 Jin Hee Im $172,856
T17 Anne van Dam $130,519
T17 Jeeno Thitikul $130,519
T17 Jenny Shin $130,519
T20 Albane Valenzuela $116,750
T20 Charley Hull $116,750
T22 Momoko Osato $98,605
T22 Georgia Hall $98,605
T22 Ashleigh Buhai $98,605
T22 Linnea Strom $98,605
T22 Celine Boutier $98,605
T22 Andrea Lee $98,605
T22 So Mi Lee $98,605
T29 Paula Reto $73,966
T29 Minami Katsu $73,966
T29 Julia Lopez Ramirez (a)
T29 Sarah Schmelzel $73,966
T29 Yui Kawamoto $73,966
T29 Rose Zhang $73,966
T29 Alison Lee $73,966
T29 Hyo Joo Kim $73,966
T37 Wichanee Meechai $49,152
T37 Grace Kim $49,152
T37 Ayaka Furue $49,152
T37 Sei Young Kim $49,152
T37 Nasa Hataoka $49,152
T37 Hye-Jin Choi $49,152
T37 Nicole Broch Estrup $49,152
T37 Carlota Ciganda $49,152
T37 Ally Ewing $49,152
T37 Amy Yang $49,152
T37 Leona Maguire $49,152
T37 Esther Henseleit $49,152
T49 Arpichaya Yubol $33,102
T49 Weiwei Zhang $33,102
T49 Kristen Gillman $33,102
T49 Haeran Ryu $33,102
T49 Caroline Inglis $33,102
T49 Gaby Lopez $33,102
T55 Haruka Kawasaki $26,906
T55 Xiyu Lin $26,906
T55 Lee-Anne Pace $26,906
T55 Lexi Thompson $26,906
T55 Mi Hyang Lee $26,906
T60 Lily May Humphreys $20,608
T60 Narin An $20,608
T60 Gabriella Cowley $20,608
T60 Shannon Tan $20,608
T60 Alexandra Forsterling $20,608
T60 Marta Martin $20,608
T60 Shuri Sakuma $20,608
T60 Louise Rydqvist (a)
T60 Nuria Iturrioz $20,608
T60 Stephanie Kyriacou $20,608
T60 Patty Tavatanakit $20,608
T71 Manon De Roey $15,088
T71 Emma Spitz $15,088
T71 Johanna Gustavsson $15,088
T71 Maja Stark $15,088
T71 Peiyun Chien $15,088
T76 Morgane Metraux $11,500
T76 Emma Grechi $11,500
T78 Bailey Tardy $10,923
T78 Ela Anacona (a)
T78 Auston Kim $10,923
81 In Kyung Kim $10,491
82 Ursula Wikstrom $10,203

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Ladies Tours

Solheim Cup 2024: Eight Players Qualify for Team Europe

Over the past two years, professional golfers have had the opportunity to qualify for the Solheim Cup in three different ways. Six players qualified via the Rolex Ranking, the women’s world ranking list. Four players will be selected by European team captain Suzann Pettersen and two players, including Esther Henseleit, qualified via the LET Solheim Cup points list.

Esther Henseleit will be the sixth German player to compete in the most famous women’s team competition. Over the past two years, Henseleit has delivered consistently good performances and most recently catapulted herself into the top two on the LET Solheim Cup points list after winning silver at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with second place at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Only Charley Hull earned more points than the Hamburg native. After the AIG Women’s Open, both players were guaranteed a ticket for the European team – as were Celine Boutier, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Leona Maguire, Carlota Ciganda and Madelene Sagström, who are regarded as the six best European players in the world rankings.

Suzann Pettersen, the team captain, said of her team: ‘The European team is looking very good at the moment for the Solheim Cup 2024. Congratulations to the eight players who have qualified automatically.
‘We have so much experience in the team, but it’s also great that Esther is making her Solheim Cup debut this year. The European players have shown great performances this year and we are looking forward to September.’

Pettersen will name her four captain’s picks on Monday 26 August at 4pm (BST) live on Sky Sports News and streamed on the LET website.

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Ladies Tours

Nine Automatic Qualifiers Named for 2024 U.S. Solheim Cup Team

With the completion of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, U.S. Captain Stacy Lewis has learned the names of the nine automatic qualifiers who will represent the Red, White and Blue at the 2024 Solheim Cup, to be held Sept. 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.

Rolex Women’s World Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda, who has six victories on the 2024 LPGA Tour season, leads the list of seven players named to the team via the U.S. Solheim Cup Team points standings. She is joined (in order of ranking) by Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang and Andrea Lee.

Additionally, Rose Zhang and Alison Lee will represent the U.S. as the two highest Americans in the Rolex Rankings not among the seven qualifiers from the U.S. Solheim Cup Team points standings.

“I’m just excited to have the team finalized. Much of this crew is repeating from 2023, so a lot of them have experience,” said Lewis. “We had five that were qualified coming into the week, and I’m happy to have Megan and Andrea back again. They were big parts of last year’s success.”


Alison Lee will be playing on her second U.S. Solheim Cup Team and first since 2015. The nine years between individual Solheim Cup appearances is the longest in U.S. Team history; Sherri Steinhauer had a span of seven years between U.S. Team appearances in 2000 and 2007.

“I’m really happy for Alison Lee to be back at the Solheim Cup, with the largest gap between two Solheim Cups,” said Lewis. “It’s been nine years since her last one and I’m excited for her to have a second go at it, to have a great experience and to do it at home as well.”

Experiences Team USA for Solheim Cup 2024

2024 will mark the fourth Solheim Cup appearances for Ewing, Khang and Korda, who all played on the 2019, 2021 and 2023 U.S. Teams. Corpuz, Andrea Lee, Vu and Zhang will also be making their second Solheim Cup appearances, while Coughlin will be a rookie on the U.S. squad.

Lewis also receives three captain’s picks to round out the 12-player American squad. Those players will be announced on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. EDT.

Players started accruing points toward the U.S. Solheim Cup Team points standings at the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Points were awarded to the top 40 participants at each ranking event, with double points awarded at the five major championships. In the Solheim Cup year, all points values increased by 50%.

The biennial Solheim Cup is the most prestigious international team event in women’s professional golf. In 2023, the European Team retained the Cup following a 14-14 tie with the U.S. Team at Finca Cortesin in Spain. The U.S. Team leads the European Team, 10-7-1, all-time in Solheim Cup competition.

Fans can see full 2024 Solheim Cup ticket details at www.solheimcupusa.com/tickets. Various daily and weekly ticket and hospitality packages are available so fans can enjoy every moment of the action at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Written by LPGA

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Ladies Tours

Valhalla Golf Club to Host 2028 Solheim Cup

The LPGA Tour announced that the prestigious Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, will host the 21st edition of the Solheim Cup in 2028. The Solheim Cup, a biennial international match-play competition, pits the top American players from the LPGA Tour against the best of the Ladies European Tour (LET). This announcement marks a significant milestone as Valhalla joins an elite group of courses that have hosted both the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup, including The Greenbrier, Muirfield Village, and Gleneagles.

A New Chapter in Valhalla’s Illustrious History

Valhalla Golf Club, designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and inaugurated in 1986, is no stranger to high-profile golf tournaments. The course has previously hosted the PGA Championship in 1996, 2000, 2014, and 2024, as well as the Senior PGA Championships in 2004 and 2011, and the Ryder Cup in 2008.

“We are thrilled to be selected to host the 2028 Solheim Cup. Valhalla has a history of providing compelling finishes, and we are excited to add this event to our championship lore,” said Jimmy Kirchdorfer, Owner of Valhalla Golf Club. “We look forward to welcoming golf fans from around the globe back to our Kentucky home for what promises to be an unforgettable week of competition and camaraderie.”

LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan emphasized the significance of choosing venues with a rich tradition of competitive excellence. “Showcasing our extraordinary athletes at venues that have hosted the world’s largest and most prestigious golf tournaments and that are recognizable to fans around the world will continue to elevate the LPGA Tour and the Solheim Cup,” she said. “Hosting the 2028 Solheim Cup at Valhalla Golf Club, with its rich tradition of competitive excellence, exemplifies this commitment. We are eager to bring the most exciting team competition in women’s golf to Louisville and Valhalla Golf Club.”

Road to 2028 Solheim Cup

As the LPGA Tour and the LET prepare for the 2028 Solheim Cup, the U.S. Team leads the all-time series against the European Team with a record of 10-7-1. The 2024 Solheim Cup will be held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, and the 2026 edition will take place at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands.