The Solheim Cup consistently provides thrilling spectacles, a trait that has become quite fondly associated with it. The 2000 event in Europe was marked by controversy when Annika Sörenstam was alleged to have taken her turn prematurely at Loch Lomond. In 2015, Alison Lee ended up in tears following a notorious confrontation with Suzann Pettersen. Six years on, Madelene Sagström found herself in a similar state after collecting Nelly Korda’s ball too hastily. A monumental dispute sparked in 2013 over a European penalty drop. It’s usual to see a distinct change in the otherwise unexciting realm of professional golf when the Solheim Cup kicks in.
Wednesday brought another instance of such tension. Stacy Lewis, the American captain, pointed out some “problems” with the European headquarters, a building adjacent to the training ground. Lewis reported, “Their team base sort of spread onto our practice ground. We put it in check. We made a few adjustments to the layout of the practice area and moved our team a bit further away so Europe could have their way.”
“As our team was doing their warm-ups, they were there having their breakfast and chit-chatting. We made an effort to create some distance to avoid the distractions of their morning routine,” she added. So, the verbal sparring begins.
This unique intensity also sets the Solheim Cup apart from the Ryder Cup. When the female golfers from America and Europe compete, the results often hang in the balance. The last five Solheim Cup events saw four intense matches won by a mere two points. Whereas, in the Ryder Cup, major victories on home ground have gradually become a usual occurrence, overshadowing the competition itself.
The rapid progress of the Solheim Cup is evident in the anticipation of over 100,000 fans at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. It is forecasted that the event in Virginia will break previous records for attendance and revenue. Solheim Cup veteran, Laura Davies, drew a comparison between the 1990 Lake Nona event and the present Cup, “The difference is night and day,” she claimed. “The organisational structure, the support the teams receive now, is comparable to a world-class sporting event. In my view, it could very well be the superior global women’s sporting event.”
The excitement of the recent four to five iterations of the Solheim Cup has been captivating and has gained international interest. Its growing reputation is drawing in larger crowds than ever before. The growing contingent of fans engaging in this year’s event is a striking contrast to the situation in 1990, when even though big names like Nancy Lopez and Pat Bradley were playing, the audience was quite limited. The event has since evolved, gaining a significant profile.
Nevertheless, credit for its inception goes to the Solheim family, whose foresight is commendable. Their concept was ideally timed with the increasing popularity of the Ryder Cup. Their proactive approach gave birth to an event that has become immense, and it’s a thrill to participate in it.
However, the lack of extensive coverage by Sky Sports demonstrates the relative importance of the Solheim Cup in comparison to its male counterpart. This is illustrated by the minimal presence of Sky’s UK-based team.
Additionally, the upcoming rematch inevitably generates anticipation, especially for the US team which has seen Europeans claim the trophy thrice consecutively. Their loss of a 4-0 lead in the last match, ending in a 14-14 draw, was particularly disappointing. Nevertheless, a win by the Pettersen-led team would be a considerable surprise given the robustness of the home squad. This event also signals the impending retirement of 29-year-old Lexi Thompson, whose contributions have been instrumental in the advancement of women’s golf.
This Solheim Cup is expected to exceed the lacklustre spectator experience at Spain’s Finca Cortesin last year. There, the event’s organisation left much to be desired, saved only by the stunning on-field performances.
The lack of synchronicity between the Solheim and Ryder cups is lamentable, given the fragmented state of golf. Financial support from Saudi Arabia has introduced the Aramco Series to the Ladies European Tour, and the prize money is more than satisfactory compared to other non-major tournaments. It is noteworthy that the Saudi’s engagement in women’s golf didn’t come with the same controversy as their entry into men’s golf. Within the United States, the individual tours are considerably profitable; the rest of this year, following the Solheim Cup, will see no winnings on the LPGA Tour fall below $2 million (£1.5 million).
Vice-captain Angela Stanford, who made her Solheim Cup debut in 2003, observed, “The quality of each team is consistently improving”. Every time a Solheim Cup concludes, she is left wondering: ‘How can we outdo that? How can it keep improving?’
Undeniably, the intensity that the Solheim Cup team competition brings to the game will likely capture the heart of golf enthusiasts more than they might realise.
– Guardian