The Solheim Cup only began in 1990 but is already one of the stand-out fixtures anywhere in the women's game and is always a particular highlight when it rolls around every two years.
The record of who has won the most Solheim Cups goes to the Americans, winning 10 to Europe's seven. It's fair to say, however, that in the early days the Americans were definitely the dominant force before the momentum shifted back Europe's way in recent times.
After Suzann Petersen's team completed a stunning fightback at Finca Cortesin in 2023, rescuing a 14-14 tie, Europe created history by winning the Solheim Cup three times in a row. The Americans have done so twice, with a winning run from 1994-1998 and then again from 2005-2009, etched in the history books.
The Early Years - American Dominance
When the Solheim Cup first begun back in the early 90s the USA were dominant, winning four out of the first five matches spanning a decade, from 1990.
The margins of victory in those formative years was also quite considerable. Under Kathy Whitworth's captaincy the American side demolished the Europeans on home soil 11 1/2 - 4 1/2 in the inaugural Cup at Lake Nona, Florida in 1990. This still, to this day, stands as the biggest winning margin in Solheim Cup history.
The Tightest Contests
The two closest Solheim Cup contests have happened in recent years, 2015 and 2019, showing just how evenly matched the talented pool of players in both teams has become.
On both occasions there was just a one-point margin of victory, with the Americans claiming the 14 1/2 - 13 1/2 victory at St. Leon Rot, Germany under the tenacious captaincy of Juli Inkster, and Europe taking the spoils with the same scoreline at Gleneagles, Scotland with Catriona Matthew at the helm.
The Most Magical Winning Putt Ever
The pressure of having to sink a putt for your team’s victory in the Solheim Cup is immense. Knowing that every match on the course has finished and it's all down to you, on your final hole, with one putt left at 18 to seal the deal must be unbearable!
Yet that's the exact situation Suzann Pettersen was in at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2019.
The 42-year old Norwegian was no stranger to pressure. She had won 15 times on the LPGA Tour and seven times on the Ladies European Tour, including two Major championships.
Add to that an impressive Solheim Cup career record of 18-12-6 in an incredible nine appearances. Nevertheless, playing against American Marina Alex she faced, what was arguably, the toughest putt of her career.
The two players were all-square on the 18th hole. The score was 13.5 -13.5 in the match. Pettersen faced a seven-foot left-to-right putt to win the Cup for Europe.
She drained it, giving Europe its first Solheim Cup win since 2013. To top it off she announced her retirement from playing professional golf shortly after, ending her competitive career on the highest of highs.
