It’s Solheim Cup week, but it’s also the eve of the Ryder Cup. There’s been so much buzz about the lead-up to Rome, that it’s been difficult for the biggest event in women’s golf to enjoy the spotlight it deserves.
Many believed that back-to-back Cups in Europe would generate more interest in the women’s game with a dramatic fortnight of team golf.
But before Judy Rankin boarded a plane for Spain last week, the legendary commentator and LPGA player lamented that media outlets hadn’t done more to promote this unique time in the game, telling Golfweek, “all I have heard about basically is the Ryder Cup.”
During her Wednesday press conference, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis was asked about what little connection there’s been between the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. She called it a “massive missed opportunity” for golf.
Solheim Cup: Photos
“I thought this could have been marketed together as two weeks in Europe, two Cups for play,” said Lewis. “I think it was a missed opportunity for the sport of golf. I wish that, you know, people could get the sponsorship things out of their head and let’s figure out how we can work together, because this may not ever happen again of the two Cups being in the same year.”
The Solheim Cup has been contested in odd years since 2003. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing Ryder Cup officials to cancel in 2020, the biennial men’s event opted to stay with odd years after the 2021 contest at Whistling Straits.
The change gave the two Cups a chance to go back-to-back for the first time on European soil and gave golf organizations a unique opportunity to work together.
“I tried. I tried really hard, actually,” said Lewis. “I probably spent more time on it than I should have. But whether it was timing or it was too late in the process, I don’t know. I mean, to really market it correctly, like, this probably had to happen two years ago. So it’s something that going forward, I think the game of golf needs to get on the same page and do better with.”
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– NYC Media Tour ✅The Solheim Cup took over the Empire State today 😎 pic.twitter.com/QLGsWvh23X
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2023
What if, for example, last week Nelly Korda had been joined by Scottie Scheffler or Justin Thomas on NBC’s “Today” to promote the two Cups? Joint commercials promoting the two events and cross-promotion on social media platforms could’ve grown interest. The official Ryder Cup USA Twitter account has more than 300,000 followers compared to Solheim Cup Team USA’s 17,000. The gap is similar on Instagram.
Any kind of bump from the men’s game would be beneficial.
With the USGA hosting its men’s and women’s U.S. Opens in California this year, the organization once again held back-to-back media days to maximize coverage for both events. The USGA went so far as to charter a flight for the media, making it seamless to get from Los Angeles Country Club to Pebble Beach last May for championship previews.
The women’s preview day felt every bit as important as the men’s.
With the Solheim Cup moving to even years again in 2024, this kind of opportunity isn’t likely to come around again. Lewis really liked the potential that came with having the events in the same year.
But if 2023 is any indication, this likely would hurt the Solheim Cup in the long run, given the lack of connection between the events and how much Ryder Cup news largely overshadows.
With so much of the golf world already focused on storylines in Rome, imagine what Monday will look like once the Solheim Cup has finished. How many will still be talking about what happened at Finca Cortesin?
“Think what a big deal these two weeks are and the first week I won’t say has been ignored,” said Rankin, “but almost.”
“Somebody missed the proverbial boat, and whoever somebody is, I hope I never hear again ‘for the good of the game.’ ”