GOLF
List of Solheim Cup captains for Team USA and Europe: past and present
Since its beginning, the Solheim Cup has become a prestigious golf event, with the captains playing a crucial role in guiding their teams to victory.
The Solheim Cup is a biennial women’s team golf tournament first played in 1990 to provide the finest female golfers in the world with a competition modeled after the Ryder Cup. This tournament features teams representing the United States and Europe.
The LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour are responsible for selecting the captains for Team USA and Team Europe respectively. The team captains have a range of duties, including selecting players for their teams, known as “captains’ picks,” and choosing their assistants. Additionally, they must decide how to pair off their players for the doubles formats (foursomes and fourballs), and determine their players’ playing order.
Since its inception, the Solheim Cup has become a prestigious event, with the captains playing a crucial role in guiding their teams to victory. Overall, this tournament has become a highlight of the golfing calendar, allowing fans to witness some of the world’s best golfers competing in a thrilling and exciting event.
List of Solheim Cup captains
| Year | Europe | USA |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Suzann Pettersen | Stacy Lewis |
| 2023 | Suzann Pettersen | Stacy Lewis |
| 2021 | Catriona Matthew | Pat Hurst |
| 2019 | Catriona Matthew | Juli Inkster |
| 2017 | Annika Sorenstam | Juli Inkster |
| 2015 | Carin Koch | Juli Inkster |
| 2013 | Liselotte Neumann | Meg Mallon |
| 2011 | Alison Nicholas | Rosie Jones |
| 2009 | Alison Nicholas | Beth Daniel |
| 2007 | Helen Alfredsson | Betsy King |
| 2005 | Catrin Nilsmark | Nancy Lopez |
| 2003 | Catrin Nilsmark | Patty Sheehan |
| 2002 | Dale Reid | Patty Sheehan |
| 2000 | Dale Reid | Pat Bradley |
| 1998 | Pia Nilsson | Judy Rankin |
| 1996 | Mickey Walker | Judy Rankin |
| 1994 | Mickey Walker | JoAnne Carner |
| 1992 | Mickey Walker | Kathy Whitworth |
| 1990 | Mickey Walker | Kathy Whitworth |
Captains’ Assistants
At the Solheim Cup, the captains’ assistants are known as Assistant Captains in Team USA and Vice Captains in Team Europe. The number of assistants is not limited, and each captain is responsible for selecting their team. While there are no formal roles for others, captains may invite them to serve in informal roles during the competition. Only those officially listed as assistants are considered part of the team.
- 2024: Europe — Laura Davies, Caroline Martens, Mel Reid. United States — Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lincicome.
- 2023: Europe — Anna Nordqvist, Laura Davies, Caroline Martens. United States — Morgan Pressel, Natalie Gulbis, Angela Stanford.
- 2021: Europe — Laura Davies, Kathryn Imrie, Suzann Pettersen. United States — Stacy Lewis, Angela Stanford, Michelle Wie.
- 2019: Europe — Laura Davies, Kathryn Imrie, Mel Reid. United States — Pat Hurst, Nancy Lopez, Wendy Ward
- 2017: Europe — Marta Figueras-Dotti, Maria Hjorth, Suzann Pettersen. United States — Pat Hurst, Nancy Lopez, Wendy Ward
- 2015: Europe — Sophie Gustafson, Maria Hjorth, Annika Sorenstam. United States — Pat Hurst, Wendy Ward
- 2013: Europe — Carin Koch, Annika Sorenstam. United States — Laura Diaz, Dottie Pepper
- 2011: Europe — Joanne Morley, Annika Sorenstam. United States — Juli Inkster, Sherri Steinhauer
- 2009: Europe — Joanne Morley, Liselotte Neumann. United States — Meg Mallon, Kelly Robbins
- 2007: Europe — Marie-Laure de Lorenzi. United States — Beth Daniel
- 2005: Europe — Alison Nicholas. United States — Donna Caponi
- 2003: Europe — Alison Nicholas. United States — Jane Geddes
- 2002: Europe — Pamela Wright. United States — Jane Geddes
- 2000: Europe — Pamela Wright. United States — Debbie Massey
The 2024 Solheim Cup is the first time the same two captains have gone against one other in back-to-back editions.
Although a number of captains have led either Team USA or Europe twice, never before had both sides stuck with their captain for the same two editions of the tournament.