By Cord Rankin
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 13, 2024 – The LPGA announced today that Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., will host the 21st Solheim Cup in 2028. The Solheim Cup is the biennial international match-play competition showcasing the best American players from the LPGA Tour against the top European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET).
With the 2028 Solheim Cup, Valhalla will join The Greenbrier, Muirfield Village and Gleneagles as the only venues to host both a Solheim Cup and a Ryder Cup. This will be the first major women’s competition held at Valhalla, which has hosted numerous major men’s individual and team events in its illustrious history. Dates for the 2028 Solheim Cup, which will be held in the late summer or early fall, will be announced later.
“We are thrilled to be selected to host the 2028 Solheim Cup. Valhalla has a history of providing compelling finishes and we are excited to add this event to our championship lore,” said Valhalla Owner Jimmy Kirchdorfer. “We look forward to welcoming golf fans from around the globe back to our Kentucky home for what promises to be an unforgettable week of competition and camaraderie.”
Ticket Waitlist: https://lpga.formstack.com/forms/2028_solheim_cup_early_access
Valhalla Golf Club opened in 1986 with an 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The name Valhalla comes from Norse mythology, describing the great hall where the souls of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the gods. The club has hosted the 1996, 2000, 2014 and 2024 PGA Championships, as well as the 2004 and 2011 Senior PGA Championships and the 2008 Ryder Cup.
“Showcasing our extraordinary athletes at venues that have hosted the world’s largest and most prestigious golf tournaments and that are recognizable to fans around the world will continue to elevate the LPGA Tour and the Solheim Cup. Hosting the 2028 Solheim Cup at Valhalla Golf Club, with its rich tradition of competitive excellence, exemplifies this commitment,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. Throughout our search, we also saw the passion that Jimmy and the entire team at Valhalla have for women’s golf, the enthusiasm of the local fans and businesses and the desire of state and city leadership to welcome professional women’s sport with open arms. Together, we cannot wait to bring the most exciting team competition in women’s golf to Louisville and Valhalla Golf Club.”
The 2028 Solheim Cup marks the LPGA Tour’s return to the commonwealth of Kentucky for the first time in more than 50 years. From 1965 to 1974, the Bluegrass Invitational was held at Hunting Creek Country Club in Prospect, just outside Louisville. The list of Bluegrass winners comprises six major winners: Donna Caponi (1970, 1973), JoAnne Carner (1971, 1974), Kathy Cornelius (1972), Carol Mann (1968), Kathy Whitworth (1965) and Mickey Wright (1966, 1967, 1969).
“Organizations big and small are choosing Kentucky and that includes the LPGA,” said Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman. “We are so excited with today’s announcement and looking forward to, once again, showcasing Team Kentucky’s hospitality to the entire world.”
“Between the PGA Championship, the 150th Kentucky Derby, the upcoming U.S. Women’s National Team soccer match and much more, 2024 has been a memorable and record-breaking year for sports in Louisville and this announcement solidifies our reputation as one of America’s top cities for hosting major sporting events,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Thanks to Mollie, the LPGA and the team at Valhalla for bringing the Solheim Cup to Louisville. I’m thrilled for golf fans and women’s sports fans from around the world to visit our city for this incredible event in 2028.”
The 2024 Solheim Cup will be held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., on Sept. 13-15, with Stacy Lewis serving as captain for the U.S. Team and Suzann Pettersen serving as captain for the European Team. The 2026 Solheim Cup will be held at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands. The U.S. Team leads the European Team, 10-7-1, all-time in Solheim Cup competition.
Fans can see full 2024 Solheim Cup ticket details at www.solheimcupusa.com/tickets.
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About the Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with passion for one’s country and continent. This biennial international match-play competition features the best U.S. players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten and Louise Solheim and family, the founders of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in conjunction with the LPGA and the LET, developed the concept and became the title sponsor for the Solheim Cup. Today, the Global Partners of the Solheim Cup are PING, Hilton, Skyscanner, Virginia Tourism Corporation and Rolex.
Held every two years, the event has grown into the most prestigious international women’s professional golf team event. The 2024 Solheim Cup will be held Sept. 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. The U.S. Team leads the European Team, 10-7-1, all-time in Solheim Cup competition.
For more information, visit www.solheimcup.com.
About Valhalla Golf Club
Valhalla is a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course that has ranked among Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” for the past 30 years. It is the culmination of Louisville Businessman Dwight Gahm’s dream to build a world-class course capable of hosting a major golf championship. With 480 acres stretching across rolling hills and a breathtaking golf theater, it has become one of golf’s most storied venues. It has hosted the 2008 Ryder Cup (where the US was victorious), two Senior PGA Championships, and four PGA Championships won by Mark Brooks in 1996, Tiger Woods in 2000, and Rory McIlroy in 2014, and Xander Schauffele in 2024. In 2022 Valhalla began the third chapter in its storied history when it was purchased by four Valhalla Members and prominent Louisville businessmen Jimmy Kirchdorfer, Junior Bridgeman, David Novak, and Chester Musselman. Their passion for great golf has allowed Valhalla to present firm, fast and fun playing conditions and a Championship experience combined with a unique brand of Southern Hospitality which can only be found in Kentucky.
COURTESY LPGA TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
