Why Is the Solheim Cup On Again This Year?

The Solheim Cup is fast approaching, pitting the top 12 female European golfers against the 12 best American golfers. 

The Solheim Cup format sees the teams compete across three days with a mixture of fourballs, foursomes and singles to decide the winning side. 

Team Europe are the current holders after a 14-14 tie last year in Spain saw them retain the trophy after their brilliant 15-13 victory at Inverness Club, Ohio in 2021.

This year the match takes place at Virginia's Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, meaning it's Solheim Cups in back-to-back years for the first time in over 20 years.

The last time that happened was in 2002 and 2003, which was due to the exact same reason as in the modern day.

The 2001 Ryder Cup was postponed until 2002 due to the September 11 2001 New York attacks, therefore the Solheim Cup moved to odd-numbered years to avoid clashing with the Ryder Cup which had moved to even-numbered years.

And after having to postpone the 2020 edition of the Ryder Cup due to Covid-19, the organizers moved it to 2021, which was the same year as the Solheim Cup. 

Moving forward, however, it was decided that the matches would move back to alternate years so not to clash.

The Ryder Cup will remain in the odd years, therefore meaning that the Solheim Cup would be held twice in as many years and then continue to be held on even years after 2024, hence why the next one is in two years' time in 2026.

The Presidents Cup takes place in the same year as the Solheim, with the 2021 edition also being postponed a year to avoid a clash with the Ryder Cup.