What is the Solheim Cup format?

The Solheim Cup format has chopped and changed a lot since the tournament’s inauguration in 1990.

Before we get to that or, indeed, the current format, it’s important to brush up on a couple of things…

What is fourballs and foursomes?

Foursomes is otherwise known as alternate shot. The teams of two will use one golf ball between them and take alternate shots until the hole is completed. Team members will also take turns in teeing off on each hole.

Fourballs – also known as better ball or best ball and sometimes abbreviated to 4BBB – sees each player in the pair play their own ball, with the lowest score of the two counting to the team score.

• Which players will compete in this year’s Solheim Cup?

• Where is the next Solheim Cup being held?

• When and where can you watch the Solheim Cup on TV?

What was the original Solheim Cup format?

Before we get to the current format, here’s a brief history of how they decided the points down the years…

In the first Solheim Cup in 1990, which featured eight players on each team, there were 16 points available through four foursomes matches on day one, four fourball matches on day two, and eight singles matches on day three.

The second Solheim Cup in 1992, and the first on European soil, followed the same format as the first, with the only difference being that there were 10 players on each team, so two more singles matches and therefore 18 points available.

The third Solheim Cup in 1994 also had 10 players on each side, but there were 20 points up for grabs with the addition of one extra foursomes and fourball matches on each of the first two days.

We’ll jump to 2000 now – for reasons that will become clear shortly – when there was 26 points available. That Solheim Cup was contested by 24 players, with two sessions of four foursomes matches on day one, two sessions of four fourball matches on day two, and 12 singles matches on day three.

The 1996, 1998 and 2002 Solheim Cups – and every edition since then – has used the current system.

Speaking of which…

What is the current Solheim Cup format?

The Solheim Cup is three days of match play between two teams of 12 from the United States and Europe.

On each of the first and second days, there are four foursomes matches in the morning, followed by four fourball matches in the afternoon. As these are pairs matches, a total of eight players will play in each of those sessions.

On the final day, each of the 12 American players will take on one of the 12 European players head-to-head.

Each match is worth one point, so there is a total of 28 points up for grabs – with 14½ required to win the Solheim Cup outright or 14 points to tie – in which case the trophy is retained by the defending champions.

All matches are played to a maximum of 18 holes. If the match can’t be separated at this point, half a point will be awarded to each foursomes or fourball pairing, or each player if a singles showdown finishes all-square.

Make sure you listen to our Solheim Cup preview episode of The bunkered Podcast.