Solheim Cup vs Ryder Cup: Key Differences Explained
Solheim Cup vs Ryder Cup is a comparison of two events that share almost everything. Same 12 player teams, same 28 matches, same 14.5 points to win, same Europe against the United States. The Solheim Cup is the women’s version, founded in 1990.
The Ryder Cup is the men’s, founded in 1927. The biggest gap between them now is money.
Jump to: At a glance | What is the same | What is different | The money split | History | FAQ
Solheim Cup vs Ryder Cup at a Glance
| Solheim Cup | Ryder Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 | 1927 |
| Named after | Karsten and Louise Solheim | Samuel Ryder |
| Players | Women, 12 a side | Men, 12 a side |
| Editions | 20th in 2026 | 45th was 2025 |
| Matches | 28 | 28 |
| Points to win | 14.5 | 14.5 |
| Years played | Even, since 2024 | Odd |
| Player payment | None, either team | USA $500,000, Europe none |
| Series record | USA lead | USA lead 27-16-2 |
| Current holders | United States | Europe |
What the Two Events Share
The format is identical, not just similar.
- Twelve players per team, Europe against the United States
- Three days, 28 matches, one point each
- Four foursomes and four fourballs on each of the first two days
- Twelve singles on the final day
- Eight players from each side in every team session
- 14.5 points wins it, and a 14-14 tie leaves the trophy with the holder
- Held every two years, alternating between Europe and America
- Captains and vice-captains rather than a coaching staff
That is not a coincidence. The Solheim Cup was designed as the women’s Ryder Cup and copied the structure deliberately.
What Is Actually Different
Age and scale. The Ryder Cup is 63 years older and has been played more than twice as often. That gap shows up in crowd size, broadcast money and the depth of the history.
The calendar. The Ryder Cup runs in odd years and the Solheim Cup in even years, so they never clash. The Solheim Cup moved back to even years in 2024 after the Ryder Cup shifted to odd years following the 2001 postponement.
Who is winning. The Americans lead both series, but the recent trend runs opposite ways. Europe has taken the last two Ryder Cups, including a 15 to 13 away win at Bethpage Black in 2025. The United States won the last Solheim Cup and arrives at Bernardus as holder.
Points records. Sergio Garcia leads the Ryder Cup with 28.5 points. Laura Davies leads the Solheim Cup with 25. Given the Ryder Cup has had 25 more editions to accumulate them, that is closer than it looks.
Prize Money: Where They Split
For 35 years neither event paid a penny to anyone. That changed in 2025.
| Event | Team | Player payment |
|---|---|---|
| Solheim Cup | United States | None |
| Solheim Cup | Europe | None |
| Ryder Cup | United States | $500,000 |
| Ryder Cup | Europe | None |
The PGA of America voted in December 2024 to pay each American Ryder Cup player $500,000, split into $300,000 for charity and a $200,000 personal stipend. European Ryder Cup players still receive nothing and said publicly they did not want it.
Neither Solheim Cup team is paid. Full detail is on our Solheim Cup prize money page.
Which Came First and Why
The Ryder Cup started in 1927, funded by Samuel Ryder, an English seed merchant who put up the trophy for a match between British and American professionals. Europe replaced Great Britain and Ireland in 1979.
The Solheim Cup arrived 63 years later. Karsten and Louise Solheim, founders of PING, wanted women’s golf to have the same thing and put their name and money behind it. The first match was at Lake Nona in Florida in 1990.
Comparing Solheim Cup vs Ryder Cup on prestige misses the point. They were never meant to compete with each other. One was built as the answer to the other, and the format they share is the proof.
Solheim Cup vs Ryder Cup FAQ
What is the difference between the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup?
The Solheim Cup is for women and the Ryder Cup for men. Both are Europe against the United States with 12 players a side, 28 matches and 14.5 points to win. The Ryder Cup started in 1927, the Solheim Cup in 1990, and American Ryder Cup players are now paid while Solheim Cup players are not.
Is the Solheim Cup the same format as the Ryder Cup?
Yes, identical. Four foursomes and four fourballs on each of the first two days, then 12 singles on the final day. Twenty eight matches in total, eight players per team in each team session, and a tie leaves the trophy with the holder.
Which is older, the Solheim Cup or the Ryder Cup?
The Ryder Cup, by 63 years. It began in 1927 and the 45th edition was played in 2025. The Solheim Cup began in 1990 and the 2026 matches at Bernardus Golf are the 20th.
Do Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup players get paid the same?
No. Since 2025 the PGA of America pays each American Ryder Cup player $500,000, made up of $300,000 for charity and a $200,000 stipend. European Ryder Cup players get nothing, and neither Solheim Cup team gets anything.
Are the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup played in the same year?
No. The Ryder Cup is played in odd numbered years and the Solheim Cup in even numbered years since 2024, so the two never clash.
Who has scored the most points in each event?
Sergio Garcia leads the Ryder Cup with 28.5 points from a 25-13-7 record. Laura Davies leads the Solheim Cup with 25 points from 46 matches. The Ryder Cup has had 25 more editions in which to build that total.
Who holds each trophy right now?
Europe holds the Ryder Cup after winning 15 to 13 at Bethpage Black in 2025, their second consecutive victory. The United States holds the Solheim Cup after winning 15.5 to 12.5 in 2024.
More on the Solheim Cup side: the 2026 teams, the schedule, the all time records and the trophy.
Last updated: 6 September 2026