Solheim Cup through the years: Details on all the matches from 1990 to 2024

The 2026 Solheim Cup marks the 20th time the U.S. will face off against its counterparts from Europe in the premier women’s team competition in golf.

The U.S. leads the all-time series 11-7-1 after winning the Cup back two years ago. It was the first U.S. win since 2017. The two squads actually tied in 2023, but Solheim Cup rules state the previous winner retains in the event of a tie.

Nonetheless, the biennial competition returns this week, and it’ll be played on European soil at Bernardus in Netherlands.

Advertisement

Take a scroll through each event below to learn about the past captains, top performers, results and more.

2024

• Location: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Virginia

• U.S. captain: Stacy Lewis

• Europe captain: Suzann Pettersen

• Best performer: Rose Zhang (U.S.), 4 points out of a possible 4

Team USA’s first Solheim Cup victory in seven years came in large part to the flawless performances of Rose Zhang and Megan Khang, who combined to win seven of Team USA’s 15 ½ points. Zhang, playing in her second cup, finished 4-0-0 to become only the eighth player in Solheim history and third American to finish 4-0-0 or better. Combined with Lauren Coughlin’s 3-0-1 week and Khang’s 3-0-0 record, it’s the first time three Americans have gone 3-0-0 or better in one Solheim Cup. In 1994, both Dottie Pepper and Brandie Burton finished 3-0-0.

Advertisement

2023

• Location: Finca Cortesin, Spain

• Winner: Teams tied 14–14 but Europe retained by virtue of its 2021 win

• Europe captain: Suzann Pettersen

• U.S. captain: Stacy Lewis

• Best performer: Carlota Ciganda (Europe), 4 points out of a possible 4

So much of the 18th Solheim Cup centered around the opposing styles of captains Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen. While Lewis worked to keep everyone fresh after jumping out to an historic 4-0 start, Pettersen played catch-up by putting out her best every session. In the end, no amount of planning and strategizing could stop destiny. Walking down the 16th hole, Pettersen turned to her longtime friend Carlota Ciganda and said, “Is this how you wanted it? It’s all yours.” With the hopes of a nation on her back, Ciganda birdied the 16th and stuffed one inside an already close Nelly Korda on the par-3 17th to win the match and retain the Cup for Europe.

2021

• Location: Inverness Club, Ohio

• Europe captain: Catriona Matthew

• Best performer: Leona Maguire (Europe), 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.

Advertisement

2019

• Location: Gleneagles, Scotland

• Winner: Europe, 14½–13½

• Europe captain: Catriona Matthew

• U.S. captain: Juli Inkster

• Best performer: Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall (Europe), 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, 6½–5½, and claim the Cup for the first time since 2013.

2017

• Location: Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Iowa

• Winner: U.S., 16½ – 11½

• U.S. captain: Juli Inkster

• Europe captain: Annika Sorenstam

• Best performers: Cristie Kerr (U.S.), 3½ points out of a possible 4; Anna Nordqvist (Europe), 3½ points out of a possible 4

After losing Friday Foursomes the U.S. swept the afternoon four-ball 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 (18½).

Advertisement

2015

• Location: Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, Germany

• Winner: United States, 14½ – 13½

• U.S. captain: Juli Inkster

• Europe captain: Carin Koch

• Best performer: Charley Hull (Europe), 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 8½ 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

• Europe captain: Liselotte Neumann

• Best performer: Caroline Hedwall (Europe), 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, Ireland

• Europe captain: Alison Nicholas

• U.S. captain: Rosie Jones

• Best performer(s): Morgan Pressel (U.S.), 4 points out of a possible 4; Sophie Gustafson (Europe), 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.

Advertisement

2009

• Location: Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois

• U.S. captain: Beth Daniel

• Europe captain: Alison Nicholas

• Best performers: Michelle Wie (U.S.), 3 ½ points out of a possible 4; Gwladys Nocera (Europe), 3 ½ points out of a possible 4

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, Sweden

• Europe captain: Helen Alfredsson

• Best performer: Paula Creamer (U.S.), 3½ 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 8½ – 3½ and take the Cup, 16-12.

Advertisement

2005

• Location: Crooked Stick Golf Club, Indiana

• Winner: U.S., 15½ – 12½

• U.S. captain: Nancy Lopez

• Europe captain: Catrin Nilsmark

• Best performer: Annika Sorenstam (Europe), 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 four-balls to maintain the edge. The U.S. squared the match with a 3-1 win 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 15½ – 12½ victory for the U.S.

2003

• Location: Barseback Golf & Country Club, Sweden

• Winner: Europe, 17½ – 10½

• Europe captain: Catrin Nilsmark

• U.S. captain: Patty Sheehan

• Best performers: Suzann Pettersen and Annika Sorenstam (Europe), 4 points out of a possible 5

The Solheim Cup moved to odd years in the wake of several events worldwide rescheduling after 9/11. In this one, the Euros came ready to play. Five players earned three or more points as the Euros rolled to a 17½ – 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 of them officially ending 1 up. 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.

Advertisement

2002

• Location: Interlachen Country Club, Minnesota

• Winner: U.S., 15½ – 12½

• U.S. captain: Patty Sheehan

• Europe captain: Dale Reid

• Best performer: Carin Koch (Europe), 4½ 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. On Sunday, the U.S. rolled in the singles matches, winning 8½ out of a possible 12 points to win the Cup, 15½ – 12½.

2000

• Location: Loch Lomond Golf Club, Scotland

• Winner: Europe, 14½ – 11½

• Europe captain: Dale Reid

• U.S. captain: Pat Bradley

• Best performers: Kelly Robbins (U.S.), 3 points out of a possible 4; Carin Koch and Catrin Nilsmark (Europe), 3 points out of a possible 3

The Euros swept Friday morning foursomes and held a five point lead entering Sunday singles, 9½ – 4½. 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.

Advertisement

1998

• Location: Muirfield Village, Ohio

• U.S. captain: Judy Rankin

• Europe captain: Pia Nilsson

• Best performer: Dottie Pepper (U.S.), 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. The Euros did make 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, UK

• U.S. Captain: Judy Rankin

• Europe Captain: Mickey Walker

• Best performer: Annika Sorenstam (Europe), 4 points out of a possible 5

In year four the event grew to 12 players and 28 points and five sessions, with two on Friday, two on Saturday and then the 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. Sunday, the U.S. rolled through singles again, earning 10 of 12 points to retain the Cup.

Advertisement

1994

• Location: The Greenbrier, West Virginia

• U.S. captain: JoAnne Carner

• Europe captain: Mickey Walker

• Best performers: Brandie Burton and Dottie Pepper (U.S.), 3 points out of a possible 3

The event moved to total 20 points with an extra foursome and four-ball 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 four-ball. 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 and reclaim the Cup.

1992

Location: Dalmahoy Country Club, UK

Winner: Europe, 11½ – 6½

Europe captain: Mickey Walker

U.S. captain: Kathy Whitworth

Best performer: Laura Davies (Europe), 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 for 1992, and European captain Mickey Walker returned seven players from the previous matches to take their revenge and win the Cup for the first time. The U.S. lost the Friday foursomes by one point and matched the Euros in Saturday four-balls, but come Sunday Singles the Euros won the first three matches and never looked back, eventually claiming the session, 7-3.

Advertisement

1990

• Location: Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Florida

• Winner: U.S., 11½ – 4½

• U.S. captain: Kathy Whitworth

• Europe captain: Mickey Walker

• Best performer: Beth Daniel (U.S.), 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, 11½ – 4½. The U.S. won both Friday foursomes and Saturday four-balls, 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 5½ – 2½ and claim the Cup. Pat Bradley rolled Trish Johnson, 8 and 7, while Beth Daniel added a 7-and-6 shellacking of Liselotte Neurmann.

Todd Kelly is an assistant managing editor at Golfweek.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Solheim Cup through the years: Details on all the matches from 1990 to 2024