When is the Solheim Cup and where is it being held? Who will feature for Team Europe and Team USA? What time does coverage start,? All you need to know ahead of the 2023 contest, live from September 22-24 on Sky Sports Golf
Team Europe will be chasing a historic threepeat over Team USA this September at the Solheim Cup, exclusively live on Sky Sports.
Sky Sports will have round-the-clock from Andalucia, with live coverage before the first tee time until after play has finished for each of the three days, plus daily highlights and a host of extra programming available to enjoy.
Here is all you need to know to make sure you don’t miss any of the action…
A look back at the best of the action from a thrilling final day at the Solheim Cup, where Team Europe made it back-to-back victories against Team USA
When and where is the 2023 Solheim Cup?
The Solheim Cup is a biennial competition played over three days between teams of 12 players from the USA and Europe, with this year’s event heading to Spain for the first time.
Finca Cortesin in Andalucia will make Spain the sixth European country to host the competition and is one of the longest courses in Europe, with the par-72 layout measuring at nearly 7,500 yards.
The course has previously Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and should provide a challenging test for players when the Solheim Cup is played there from September 22-24.
What time is the first tee shot?
Play is scheduled to begin at 8.10am local time (7.10am BST) on Friday and Saturday, with foursomes matches going off in 12-minute intervals and the last of the four games getting under way at 8.46am (7.46am BST).
The fourballs action is then set to begin at 1.40pm (12.40pm BST) on both days, although could be pushed back slightly, with 15 minutes between each match and the final game beginning at 2.25pm (1.25pm BST).
All 24 players will then be involved in the Sunday singles, with the opening match starting at 11.10am in Spain (10.10am BST) and the last of the 12 fixtures set to go off at 1.22pm (12.22pm BST).
Who is playing for Team Europe?
Captain: Suzann Pettersen (Nor)
Catriona Matthew and Suzann Pettersen look back at the winning moment from Team Europe’s dramatic 2019 Solheim Cup victory
Vice-captains: Laura Davies (Eng), Caroline Martens (Nor) and Anna Nordqvist (Swe – serving as playing vice-captain)
The qualification campaign ended after the ISPS Handa World Invitational, where the top two players on the LET European Solheim Points List and next six in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings secured, with Pettersen then having four picks to complete her line-up.
Automatic qualifiers: Celine Boutier (Fra), Carlota Ciganda (Esp), Linn Grant (Swe), Georgia Hall (Eng), Charley Hull (Eng), Leona Maguire (Irl), Anna Nordqvist (Swe)
Speaking ahead of the AIG Women’s Open, Anna Nordqvist confirmed she had no concerns with being a playing vice-captain at this year’s Solheim Cup
Captain’s picks: Gemma Dryburgh (Sco), Caroline Hedwall (Ger), Emily Pedersen (Den), Madelene Sagstrom (Swe)
Who is playing for Team USA?
Captain: Stacy Lewis
Assistant captains: Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis and Angela Stanford
Automatic qualifiers: Lilia Vu, Nelly Korda, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang, Jennifer Kupcho, Danielle Kang, Andrea Lee, Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang
Captain’s picks: Ally Ewing, Cheyenne Knight, Angel Yin
Which team has the better record?
Catriona Matthew captained Europe to successive wins, following a dramatic success at Gleneagles in 2019 by winning in Ohio in 2021, with Pettersen now looking to continue that streak and claim a third consecutive European victory for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Pettersen registered the winning point in her final professional appearance during the 14.5-13.5 win in 2019 and then served as a vice-captain two years ago, with the Norwegian having plenty of the team that claimed a 15-13 victory at her disposal for this year’s contest.
Team USA have won 10 of the 17 editions since the Solheim Cup was launched in 1990, although are without a win since following a 2015 victory in Germany by prevailing 16.5-11.5 on home soil at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in 2017.
When and how can I watch live on Sky Sports?
All three days will be exclusively live on Sky Sports, along the opening ceremony, while you can download the Sky Sports App to get the latest news, interviews, highlights, clips, leaderboard scores and a dedicated live blog. Sky Sports News will also be in Spain to bring you the best storylines from a huge week in women’s sport.
TV times (all on Sky Sports Golf and subject to change)
Thursday September 21 – 1700-1800 – Opening ceremony LIVE!
Friday September 22 – 0630-1830 – Day one LIVE!
Saturday September 23 – 0630-1830 – Day two LIVE!
Sunday September 24 – 0900-1800 – Day three LIVE!
We take a closer look at Team Europe’s eight automatic qualifiers and Suzann Pettersen’s four captain’s picks for this year’s Solheim Cup in Spain.
What is the format?
There are 28 matches played over the three days, under three different types of match play – foursomes, fourballs and singles, with each match worth one point to the team total. The team who gets to 14.5 points first will win the Solheim Cup, while Europe will retain the trophy if the tournament ends in a 14-14 draw
Foursomes sees two golfers from Europe compete against a pair from the USA, with team members alternating between shots and each team using one ball. Four matches are played on Friday morning and four on Saturday morning.
Fourballs also sees two golfers from each team compete, but each player uses his own ball. The lowest score from each pair will count for the score for their side. There are four fourball matches each afternoon for the first two days.
The final day sees all 24 players compete in singles matches, where every member from the USA team plays against a European opponent in a head-to-head contest.
Who will win the 2023 Solheim Cup? Watch exclusively live this September on Sky Sports! Live coverage from the opening ceremony begins at 5pm on Thursday September 21, with the opening day’s play live on the Friday from 6.30am. Stream the Solheim Cup and more with NOW.