Solheim Cup Rules 2026: Match Players, Foursomes, Fourballs and Singles explained

The Solheim Cup 2026 is the most prestigious team event in women's golf. But who wins will not be decided by the traditional stroke count over four days. The tournament will be held in a thrilling match-play format. To fully enjoy the duel between Europe and the USA at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, it is essential to know the special Solheim Cup rules and the scoring system.

Over a total of three tournament days - from Friday to Sunday - the best female golfers will battle for victory in a total of 28 matches.

Find out everything about the Solheim Cup 2026 here - TV coverage, streams, live scoring and teams.

The points system: Who will win the Solheim Cup?

Every single match is worth exactly one point. If both parties are tied after 18 holes, the match is halved and each team receives half a point. There is no play-off at the end of the round. Basically, the match-play format is about winning individual holes. If one team needs fewer strokes than its opponents on a hole, it wins the hole. Whoever has won more holes at the end of the match wins a point for the team.

• Victory for Europe: Team Europe needs at least 14.5 points to win back the trophy.
• Defending the USA title: As Team USA won the 2024 Solheim Cup, the Americans need 14 points for a draw in 2026 to retain the trophy.

The three Solheim Cup playing forms in detail

The captains Anna Nordqvist (Europe) and Angela Stanford (USA) must decide tactically on the first two days which pairings harmonize best. All 24 players will then compete on the final day of the Solheim Cup. A total of three different formats will be used:

1. Foursomes: teamwork and nerves of steel

When? Friday and Saturday mornings (4 matches each). Foursomes are considered the most difficult discipline in golf.

• The mode: Two players per team play with only one ball.
• Alternate shots: Player A tees off, player B plays the second shot, A the third and so on.
• Alternating tees: The players take turns teeing off - one takes the even holes, the other the odd holes. Special feature: As you have to continue playing the ball where your partner left it, this Solheim Cup form of play requires extreme confidence and coordination.

2. Fourball: Offensive duels and lots of Birdies

When? Friday and Saturday afternoons (4 matches each) In contrast to the Foursome, the Fourball (often called Bestball) is designed for maximum aggression.

• The mode: All four players in a group play their own ball over the entire hole. This means that four balls are in play at the same time.
• Scoring: At the end of each hole, only the best score of the two partners of a team is counted. Special feature: As one partner acts as a "backup", the players can take full risk to improve the Solheim Cup score for their team.

3. Individual matches: The grand final on Sunday

When? There will be 12 singles matches on the last day of the tournament. On Sunday, each player is on her own. All 12 members of Team Europe and Team USA will compete in direct one-on-one duels.

• The mode: Whoever has won more holes at the end of the 18 holes receives the full point for the team account. Special feature: The singles on Sunday often provide the most dramatic scenes, as the Solheim Cup leaderboard can change by the second and the pressure on the individual player is at its highest.

Match Players terminology: terms you should know

To help you follow the Solheim Cup Live Scoring or the TV broadcast in the best possible way, it helps to take a look at the technical terms:

• All Square (AS): The match is even (tied).
• X Up (e.g. 3 Up): A team leads with a difference of three holes won.
• X and Y (e.g. 4 & 3): The match ends prematurely. "4 & 3" means that a player is leading by 4 holes with only 3 left to play.
• Dormie: A player is ahead with exactly as many holes left to play. In this case, the match can no longer be lost, but can only be shared.

With this knowledge of the Solheim Cup rules, you are well prepared for the 2026 sporting highlight. Whether live on site at Bernardus Golf or via Solheim Cup Live Stream - the Match Players promise pure golfing excitement.