Solheim Cup: The Format
The Solheim Cup pits 12 American women’s golfers against 12 Europeans in a three-day, match-play competition. This year’s edition of the biannual showdown will take place Aug. 21 to 23 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. The first two days feature four foursomes and four four-ball matches each day. The final day consists of 12 singles matches.
The foursomes format features two-member teams, with players hitting alternate shots using the same ball. At the end of the hole, one score is recorded for the team.
A four-ball match has each player playing her own ball throughout the match. At the end of each hole, the best score of the two teammates is recorded, and that score counts toward the team’s score.
In the singles competition, 12 American and 12 European players go one on one in match play.
Scoring for the competition as whole features 28 available team points over the three days. One point is awarded for each match won, and a half-point is awarded to each team for any match ending in a tie. The defending champion (the U.S. in this case, having won in 2007 in Sweden) needs at least 14 points to retain the Cup, while the other team requires at least 14½ points to wrest it away.
