The PGA Tour season might be coming to a close this month, but the golfing thrills will continue unabated. Golf fans will be treated to not 1, but 2 momentous transatlantic clashes in the space of a fortnight, starting with the Solheim Cup from 18-24 September followed by the Ryder Cup from 27 September – 1 October.
Both biennial tournaments are comprised of match play competitions between 2 teams of 12, representing Europe and the United States. Unlike most golf events which are contested individually, the team element of these tournaments really amps up the rivalry, the drama, and the passion on display, so it’s little wonder these events are beloved by golf fans.
The Ryder Cup is the men’s competition, which this year will be held at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome. It has been played since 1927; initially contested by the United States and Great Britain, the latter was expanded to include Europe to make it more competitive in 1977. The Americans are the defending champions in 2023, having eased to a 19-9 victory in the 2021 edition on home soil at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. The teams have not been fully confirmed, but Team Europe will have both Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm in their ranks. The former is fresh from a win at the Scottish Open in July, while the latter has enjoyed a sensational year in which he’s won The Masters – his second major title – and 3 times on the PGA Tour.
Much is sold out for the Ryder Cup, but general admission Grounds tickets for the pre-tournament rounds on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are still available, starting at EUR €50 for adults. Sporadic hospitality – mostly for the Thursday – is also left starting at €245. The Captains Club has the most availability including tournament rounds and multi-day packages, starting at €995 per person.
The Solheim Cup is the women’s counterpart to the Ryder Cup and has been a fixture on the golfing calendar since 1990. This year, it will be held Finca Cortesin Golf Resort in the Costa del Sol. Team Europe will be bidding to win the competition for the third time running, having most recently edged out their opponents 15-13 in 2021. The likes of Swedish sensation Maja Stark and the in-form Celine Boutier – who just won the Evian Championship major and Women’s Scottish Open back-to-back – will be spearheading the European effort, while Team USA has a wealth of talent to draw upon including star Nelly Korda and 2023 major-winners Lilia Vu and Allisen Corpuz.
General admission Grounds tickets start at €28, while remaining hospitality starts at €1,305 for 2-day access.
For more information on the Ryder Cup, click here. For more information on the Solheim Cup, click here.