While the Ryder Cup is the most revered men’s team event in golf, because it only includes US and European players, many of the world’s best players inevitably miss out on one of the biggest occasions the game has to offer.
Since 1994, that has been partially addressed with the Presidents Cup, which shares similarities with the Ryder Cup’s format as US players take on a team of international players minus Europeans.
Over the years, that has allowed world-class talent, including Fijian Vijay Singh, Zimbabwean Nick Price, South African Ernie Els, Australian Adam Scott and Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, to experience a team event similar to the Ryder Cup. But what about the women’s game? Does it have its own version of the Presidents Cup?
It would be easy to assume it does, particularly as the women’s game already has the Solheim Cup, which is its equivalent of the Ryder Cup, but it’s not quite that straightforward.
The short answer is that there isn’t a women’s version of the Presidents Cup.
However, there is a competition that bears some similarities and helps ensure the inclusion of players outside the US and Europe.
In 2011, Team Europe produced a dramatic comeback to win the Solheim Cup, and that helped quell calls for future editions of the match to feature an International Team following three US wins in a row.
With that pressure put on the back burner, the LPGA Tour had scope to create a new competition – the International Crown – with a decidedly different formula. Crucially, it also included players from nations not eligible for the Solheim Cup.
The women’s version of the Ryder Cup is the Solheim Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)
At the time, then LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan said: “The International Crown will take women’s golf to the next level and allow fans to rally behind their homelands. In sports, there is simply nothing greater than wearing your nation’s flag, fans singing your national anthem, and bringing ‘the crown’ home.”
First, the similarities. Like the Presidents Cup, the International Crown is a match play contest, while it is also held biennially. It also features rounds of fourball, foursomes and singles matches at various points, while the scoring system is similar, offering one point for a win and half a point for a…
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