What is Solheim Cup? Where can you WATCH the Solheim Cup 2024 online for FREE?

The Solheim Cup is a golf tournament that pits the top American female golfers against the top European female golfers.

It is similar to the Ryder Cup, but for women. The event is held every two years, and teams earn points by winning days of competition. The team with the most points at the end wins the Solheim Cup.

This year’s Solheim Cup will be held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, about 45 minutes from Washington, D.C.

The Solheim Cup is a highly anticipated event in women’s golf, showcasing fierce competition and friendship among players. Fans on both sides of the Atlantic eagerly await this prestigious tournament to see which team will take home the title.

When does it begin?

The biennial event will be held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, USA from Friday, September 13 to September 15. This is the 19th event. Top professional golfers from all over the world will compete for more than $1 million in prize money.

Which teams are there?

There are 24 players participating in the Solheim Cup, 12 of whom are from the United States and 12 from Europe. They are:

Team USA:

  • Automatic Qualifiers: The seven highest-scoring players on the U.S. Solheim Cup standings are named to the team. These players are Allisen Corpuz, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Megan Khang, Nelly Korda, Andrea Lee and Lilia Vu.
  • World Ranking Qualifying: Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu, ranked 1st and 2nd in the world (Rolex Rankings), also qualified even though they were not yet in the standings.
  • Captain’s Choice: Captain Stacy Lewis selected Jennifer Kupcho, Sarah Schmelzel and Lexi Thompson to complete the U.S. roster.

European Team:

  • Automatic Qualifiers: Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit qualified by finishing in the top two spots in the European Solheim Cup standings.
  • World Ranking Qualifying: The top five players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking (Celine Boutier, Carlota Ciganda, Linn Grant, Madelene Sagstrom, Maja Stark, Leona Maguire) automatically qualify for Team Europe.
  • Captain’s Choice: Captain Suzann Pettersen added Georgia Hall, Anna Nordqvist, Emily Pedersen and Albane Valenzuela to the European team via captain’s choice.

Who is the captain of the team?

The captains from last year’s Solheim Cup in Spain will be back this year. Susan Pettersson will captain Europe again, while Stacey Lewis will captain the United States for the second time.

Pettersson has hired Anna Nordqvist, Dame Laura Davies and Caroline Martens as vice-captains. In addition, Mel Reid has been named vice-captain, a position he previously held in 2019.

On the U.S. team, Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome will also return as assistant captains, and will be joined by Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford to complete Lewis’ assistant staff.

How does the game work? When does it start?

The Solheim Cup is a three-day golf tournament with 28 matches in three formats: Foursomes, Fourball and Singles. The first team to reach 14.5 points wins the trophy, while if the match is tied at 14-14, Europe keeps the trophy.

In foursomes, two players from each team take turns hitting a ball, alternating shots until a hole is completed. There are four foursomes games each morning on the first two days, starting at 7:05 a.m. local time.

In four-ball, each player has his or her own ball, and the highest-scoring ball in each pair of balls goes to that team. Four four-ball games are played each day starting at 12:05 p.m.

On the final day, all players will compete in singles matches, where each player will play one-on-one against an opponent from the other team. Matches will begin at 8:50am and will continue every 10 minutes until the last match at 10:40am.

Where can you watch the 2024 Solheim Cup?

You can watch the 2024 Solheim Cup, which will be held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia from September 13-15, through various channels:

Sky Sports: In the UK, Sky Sports will provide extensive coverage, including the opening ceremony and all matches. Key times include:

  • Friday, September 13: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 14: 7am-3pm (Golf Channel), 3pm-6pm (NBC)
  • Sunday, September 15: 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Golf Channel), 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (NBC).

NBC and Golf Channel: In the United States, NBC and Golf Channel will broadcast the tournament. Golf Channel will cover all three days of the tournament, and NBC will broadcast the final rounds of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday. The tournament schedule includes:

  • Friday, September 13: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Golf Channel)
  • Saturday, September 14: 7am-3pm (Golf Channel), 3pm-6pm (NBC)
  • Sunday, September 15: 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Golf Channel), 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. (NBC).

Streaming options: For streaming, Peacock will offer live coverage of NBC’s coverage, especially on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. You can also access the Golf Channel through the NBC Sports App.

What are the best streaming options for the Solheim Cup?

There are several options for streaming the 2024 Solheim Cup:

  • Peacock: NBC’s streaming service will offer live coverage of the Solheim Cup, including a simulcast of the NBC broadcast. Subscriptions start at $7.99 per month for an ad-supported plan and $13.99 for an ad-free version.
  • FuboTV: This service offers a 7-day free trial for new users, allowing you to watch the Solheim Cup without paying right away. After the trial, plans start at $74.99 per month. FuboTV packages include NBC and the Golf Channel.
  • Sling TV: As an affordable option, Sling TV offers NBC Sports for around $40 per month. It supports multiple devices and has a DVR feature.
  • YouTube TV: Another option is YouTube TV, which costs $72.99 per month and includes NBC Sports. It allows streaming on multiple devices and offers a DVR service.
  • NOW TV: In the UK, NOW TV offers access to Sky Sports, where the Solheim Cup will be shown. You can start with a 7-day free trial or purchase a pass.

Based on these options, Sling TV is the most affordable option for US viewers, while FuboTV and YouTube TV offer more comprehensive features with free trials. For UK viewers, NOW TV’s trial options offer great flexibility.

Why is it called the Solheim Cup?

The cup is named after Karsten Solheim, who founded golf equipment maker Ping and came up with the idea for a women’s Ryder Cup.

Who is the current holder of the trophy?

The Solheim Cup is a golf tournament held every two years between European and American teams. It has been held 18 times since 1990, with the American team winning 10 times and the European team winning 7 times.

The most recent edition, held in 2023, ended in a 14-14 tie, with Europe emerging as the defending champions after winning the 2019 and 2021 titles.

Named after Norwegian-American golf club maker Karsten Solheim, who was instrumental in its creation, the Solheim Cup is considered the women’s version of the Ryder Cup.

Related Stories | List of Solheim Cup champions (1990 – 2023)