GOLF
How many points does Team USA need to win the 2024 Solheim Cup?
The United States are well in control at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club but need more points than Europe do to lift the trophy.
After the first two days of the 2024 Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, Team USA have given themselves a wonderful chance to win the trophy for the first time since 2017.
Stacy Lewis’ team has built up a 10-6 lead as a result of a stellar performance on Friday, when they won both the morning foursomes and the afternoon four-balls 3-1 for a 6-2 advantage.
Things were more evenly contested on Saturday, with both sessions ending level, allowing Team USA to maintain their four-point advantage going into Sunday’s single session. Late in the afternoon, the hosts led 10-4 but Europe crucially edged the last two four-ball matches to give themselves a glimmer of hope of retaining a trophy that has been theirs since 2019.
While teamwork was the name of the game on Friday and Saturday, Sunday is all about the individuals. There will be 12 singles matches, in which each player from either either will go head to head with a golfer from the opposing team in match play. Each match is worth one point, which means there are 12 points at stake.
2024 Solheim Cup day 3: singles tee times
8:50am ET
Nelly Korda (USA) vs. Charley Hull (Europe)
9am ET
Megan Khang (USA) vs. Emily Pedersen (Europe)
9:10am ET
Alison Lee (USA) vs. Georgia Hall (Europe)
9:20am ET
Allisen Corpuz (USA) vs. Anna Nordqvist (Europe)
9:30am ET
Rose Zhang (USA) vs. Carlota Ciganda (Europe)
9:40am ET
Andrea Lee (USA) vs. Esther Henseleit (Europe)
9:50am ET
Lexi Thompson (USA) vs. Celine Boutier (Europe)
10am ET
Lauren Coughlin (USA) vs. Maja Stark (Europe)
10:10am ET
Lilia Vu (USA) vs. Albane Valenzuela (Europe)
10:20am ET
Sarah Schmelzel (USA) vs. Madelene Sagstrom (Europe)
10:30am ET
Ally Ewing (USA) vs. Leona Maguire (Europe)
10:40am ET
Jennifer Kupcho (USA) vs. Linn Grant (Europe)
Why does Team USA need more points than Europe does?
In order to win the Solheim Cup, either side must reach 14.5 points (there are 28 on offer in total). As a result, the United States need to amass 4.5 points on Sunday, while Europe must collect 8.5.
However, the Europeans, as the current holders, have an added advantage. If the contest ends in a 14-14 tie, they will retain the trophy and keep it until the next edition at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands in 2026. This already happened at Finca Cortsein two years ago, which was the first Solheim Cup ever to finish level.
If Europe are to retain the Solheim Cup, they will have to equal the greatest ever Sunday singles comeback in tournament history, which the United States produced in Germany in 2015.