SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

The Solheim Cup seems to grow in significance and excitement with every staging, and this year's encounter in Virginia promises to be no exception...

- Alison Root

Another thrilling encounter between the USA and Europe is being eagerly anticipated almost a year on from the last Solheim Cup matches at Finca Cortesin in Spain. It seems that just when you think the Solheim Cup can't surpass itself for drama and excitement, it does! This time it's at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, from September 13-15.

Close encounters

The last three editions have gone down to the wire, providing edge-of-the-seat viewing. In 2019 at Gleneagles, wildcard pick Suzann Pettersen's birdie on the 18th secured a 14-1312 victory for Europe, creating one of the most sensational moments in Solheim Cup history. A miss would have allowed the USA to reach 14 points and retain the cup.

Two years later at Inverness Golf Club in Ohio, Europe, considered the underdogs, resisted a final-day USA singles surge to narrowly defend the cup with a score of 15-13. This was only the second time Europe had won on US soil and afforded European captain Catriona Matthew back-to-back wins.

Europe in the ascendancy

In 2023 at Finca Cortesin in Spain, Europe bounced back from a clean sweep in the Friday foursomes, winning two and tying one of the next three sessions. This left the teams tied at 8-8 going into the Sunday singles. Momentum swung back and forth, culminating in a gripping final hour.

Arguably the most significant turning point came when Caroline Hedwall, one of Pettersen's slightly questionable wildcard picks, repaid her captain in full to pull off a stunning comeback by playing, possibly, the best nine holes of her life.

The five-time Solheim Cup player, who a decade earlier became the first to win five matches in a single competition at Colorado Golf Club, won five of the last six holes to triumph over Ally Ewing after being 3-down through 12.