2021 Solheim Cup format, match types and day-by-day games
LPGA Tour

2021 Solheim Cup format, match types and day-by-day games

FOLLOW: iHEART | TUNEIN


The 2021 Solheim Cup format has been announced for the 17th edition of the event, which is the LPGA Tour-owned biennial event pitting 12-woman teams against each other, to be played at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

The Solheim Cup field consists of two 12-person teams. The American team is captained by Pat Hurst, with the Europeans led by 2018 winning captain Catriona Matthew.

For the American team, the top seven players on the LPGA Solheim Cup points list qualified automatically, along with the top two available players in the Women's World Golf Ranking not inside that top seven. Pat Hurst had three captain's picks.

For the European team, the top two players on the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points list qualified automatically, along with the top four available Ladies European Tour players in the Women's World Golf Ranking not inside that top two. Catriona Matthew had six captain's picks.

The Solheim Cup format is a three-day event with 28 total matches that start on Friday.

On Saturday and Sunday, there are two four-match session each day.

On both days, one session of four matches is played as fourball, also known as best ball. The other session of matches is played as foursomes, also known as alternate shot.

Foursomes is also called alternate shot. On each hole, one player (Player A) from each team hits their team's respective tee shots. Then the other player (Player B) from each team hits the second shot. Then the third shot is hit by Player A, and so on, until the ball is holed. The teams compare scores, and the team with the lower score wins the hole. Whichever team wins the most holes wins the match.

Fourball is also called best ball. On each hole, all four players play out the hole using their own ball, just like they were playing individually. At the end of each hole, each team uses the better score of the two partners and compares it to the other team. The team with the better score wins the hole. Whichever team wins the most holes wins the match.

On Monday, there will be 12 singles matches. Players compete against each other one-on-one, and the player to win the most holes wins the match.

Each match is worth 1 point toward the total. If a match is tied after 18 holes, the match is halved, and both teams earn 0.5 points toward their tally. The first team to earn 14.5 points will win the Solheim Cup. In the event of a tie after 28 matches, the match ends in a tie and the Europeans retain the cup.

The players on the winning and losing teams do not earn money.

About the author

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is the founder, owner and operator of Golf News Net.

Sometimes we post sponsored content from this account, and it is labeled as such.

We also occasionally include links to products and services from merchants of our choice. GNN may earn a commission from sales generated by those links. See more in GNN's affiliate disclosure.