Solheim Cup drama breaks Sky Sports TV viewing records

The astonishing drama on the final day of the Solheim Cup has broken records for viewers watching live on Sky Sports.

Solheim Cups almost always deliver and the humdinger at Finca Cortesin was no different last weekend as the event captured the imaginations of the wider British sporting public.

Suzann Pettersen’s European side created history by taking home the trophy for the third straight time after an epic finish on the Costa del Sol.

• Team Europe retain the Solheim Cup

• Pettersen hails hero Ciganda 

But that wasn’t before Stacy Lewis’ side looked destined to snatch a monumental away victory, before both teams shook hands on a thrilling 14-14 draw that meant Europe had retained the cup.

Few sporting events produce almost guaranteed drama quite like the Solheim Cup and home favourite Carlota Ciganda’s birdie on the 17th to seal the vital 14th point will live long in the memory for golf fans.

It’s no surprise, then, that with the Sunday singles session finely poised at 8-8, this was the most watched Solheim Cup ever on Sky Sports.

A peak audience of 734,000 tuned into the action during the singles matches, which is the highest ever recorded.

On average, 438,000 fans were watching the action unfold throughout the nerve-shredding Sunday afternoon at Finca Cortesin.

And there was an average 281,000 over the three days of tournament play, which is 35% up on Europe’s victory over the US in Toledo back in 2021. Each day also saw a peak of over 400,000 viewers.

“It was great to see such a thrilling tournament and atmosphere in Spain, and to know that thousands of people are continuing to enjoy women’s golf,” Sky Sports Director of Golf Jason Wessely said.

“We’re delighted to see so many new and old fans engaging across all our women’s sport portfolio, and we know that we have a fantastic opportunity both with women’s golf and beyond to tell the stories of the greatest female athletes and sporting events in the world.”

• Stacy Lewis suggests Solheim Cup playoff

• DeChambeau fires dig at US skipper Johnson

Perhaps even more importantly, these numbers make golf one of the biggest success stories as Sky Sports continues to build momentum with women’s sport.

The figures make this year’s Solheim Cup the fourth highest women’s sports event at its peak ever watched on Sky Sports.

The 18th match between Europe and the US is behind the Cricket World Cup in 2017, the Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall boxing fight last year and the third Ashes T20 match this summer.

Roll on the next chapter of the Solheim Cup rivalry in Virginia in 12 months’ time.