The 34th Solheim Cup will be starting in just five days, on September 13th, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The Virginian plains will welcome the twelve European players and their captains to duke it out against the Americans and attempt to win it again on their home soil. Last year, the Americans tied for the Solheim Cup, which resulted in Team Europe retaining the decorated trophy. But this time, Team USA will not let it slip away so easily.

Speaking of the coveted trophy in women’s golf, who made it? Since the start of the Solheim Cup in 1990, the trophy has been made by Waterford Crystal. The company was started in 1783 by two brothers, and in the past decades, it has made many decorated trophies, including those for the Memorial Tournament, WM Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, and more.

The Solheim Cup was designed by Waterford Crystal’s infamous designer, Billy Briggs. The trophy features the event’s logo in the middle and stands at 1.58 feet in height, including the base of the cup. After hours of blowing, cutting, and engraving the molten glass, the cup begins to take shape. The Rheintour cut is used for the diamond-shaped carvings on the trophy, giving it the shine it is known for. This year, the Solheim Cup introduced a custom-made 19-degree aluminum case from Tumi, which will surely keep it safe.

In the three-decade-long history of the Solheim Cup, the Americans have lifted the trophy 11 times, while the Europeans have won only nine times, including the tie from the 2023 edition. Over these decades, have you ever wondered how the event got its name?

Who is the Solheim Cup named after?

In 1990, when the first Solheim Cup was held at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, it was indeed inspired by the Ryder Cup and the need for women’s golf to have a similar fervent team event. The vision was first put forth by Karsten and Louise Solheim, who founded the golf club manufacturing firm, PING.

PING has sponsored the LPGA Tour event since 1975. The first event was the Karsten-PING Open. Karsten was also an advocate for growing women’s golf. As his son, John A. Solheim, said, “Karsten loved ladies’ golf. He felt the lady professionals did not get as much recognition as their male counterparts and that is why he sponsored various LPGA events dating back to 1975.” So when the opportunity came to them, they were happy to take it up and give women’s golf a new event to celebrate.

Hence, the name “Solheim Cup,” and PING has been a partner of the event since then. Everything related to the Solheim Cup has been unique, setting it apart from any other regular event. It remains to be seen what the players will do at Robert Trent Jones GC to elevate the event even more.