The Solheim Cup is one of the biggest contests in golf, a sell-out matchplay spectacle, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that the tournament would offer a sizeable purse for the professionals taking part.
Yet in an era where golfers are earning unprecedented amounts of money for playing the sport professionally you might be surprised to read that there is no money changing hands for participating in the Solheim Cup. No renumeration paid.
Instead, players are simply competing for their country, continent and sporting pride.
Ask any one of the players selected to represent Europe or the USA what it means to them and they’ll tell you that they play for the sheer love of the competition and the personal pride it brings to be able to represent their nation.
This is also the case for the men’s equivalent, the Ryder Cup. There is no prize money for the winning or losing team, or the player that gets the most points or anything like that.
European captain Suzann Pettersen with vice captains Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Martens and Laura Davies
That’s not to say that Solheim Cup players aren’t looked after like royalty for the week. They usually arrive via a team private jet, have chauffeur driven vehicles to whisk them to the venue, a lavish hotel to stay in and wonderful meals.
Sponsors love the Solheim Cup because it is one of the few weeks when no player can have a brand allegiance, they all have to wear the same clothing so that they look super smart and united in their team uniform.
The Solheim Cup captain’s can also choose to treat their team to little personal gifts. There have been a few aptly chosen gifts over the years but the one we love was from back in 2015, when the United States’ team arrived at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club in Germany on a Monday to a team room laden with lunch boxes! Captain Juli Inkster had been saying to the press in the run-up to the tournament that she wanted her American team to take their lunch boxes to the Solheim Cup, in other words adopt a blue-collar, workman-like approach to winning the Cup back. So she decided that the most appropriate gift she could give each team member was indeed a lunchbox, which was waiting for them in the team room.
-
Amanda Sambach Facts: 10 Things To Know About The College GolferThe University of Virginia's Amanda Sambach has been a keen golfer since she was five - here are 10 things to know about her
-
Tommy Fleetwood Holes Out For Los Angeles In TGL Overtime But Atlanta Drive Secure Tight WinThe Los Angeles Golf Club player produced a moment of brilliance in overtime against Atlanta Drive GC, but it wasn’t quite enough to secure the team a third successive win
-
7 Tips To Help You Play Faster... And Keep Other Golfers HappyPGA Professional Emma Booth shares tips for keeping the pace of play smooth and enjoyable for everyone
-
Casual Sexism Is Rife In Golf. Men, Do You Say Any Of These Things?Unintended or not, casual remarks and actions reveal why sexism still exists in golf
-
'The LPGA’s New Policy Might Seem Brutal, But If There Are No Real Consequences, Players Won’t Adjust'Suzann Pettersen on launching VOXA and backing the LPGA's slow play policy
-
'If Golf Truly Wants To Be Inclusive, We Don’t Just Need Diverse Faces In Ads, We Need Boots On The Ground Actively Educating Families On Where And How They Can Start Playing'Coach Shayain has experienced first-hand the barriers that minority golfers face, but the sport is ready for a shift and she's helping to lead the way
-
7 Things That Irritate Women Golfers... And It's Not Men!Golf can be a frustrating game, but beyond the challenges of hitting a ball, there are plenty of other things that get under golfers’ skin
-
'I’m Still Practicing, Maybe Not Spending As Many Long Days On The Course, But Every Time I Tee It Up, I Still Want That Feeling Of Competing To Win' – Why Lexi Thompson Isn’t Walking Away From Golf Just YetWe caught up with fan favourite Lexi Thompson to discuss golf, love, and life beyond the LPGA
-
Who Are The New Brand Ambassadors For LPGA*USGA Girls Golf?Meet the LPGA ambassadors who have been selected for their unique qualities to empower, enrich, engage, exercise and energize
-
The Equipment Every Female Golfer Needs... But Often OverlooksTop 50 Coach Katie Dawkins explains why many golfers are missing out on equipment that will add enjoyment and improve their game
