The 43rd Curtis Cup gets under way at Sunningdale Golf Club this week, with the opening ceremony taking place on August 29 ahead of the three days of competitive action from Friday to Sunday.
The format of the matches sees eight female amateurs from Great Britain & Ireland taking on their counterparts from the USA.
Each of the first two competition days features three foursomes and three four-ball matches. On Sunday, eight singles matches are contested.
One full point is awarded for each victory, while a half-point is earned for matches that are tied after 18 holes. The USA needs 10 points to retain the Cup, while GB&I requires 10.5 points to reclaim it.
USA handed out a heavy 15.5-4.5 defeat to GB&I when the matches were held at Merion Golf Club in 2022, and the visiting side will be strong favourites to lift the title again.
Of the 42 matches played to date, USA have won 31 times, GB & Ireland have won 8, with three matches tied (1936, 1958 and 1994).
The home side, which is being captain by Catriona Matthew, will have the benefit of having current women’s world amateur no.1 Lottie Woad in its ranks.
Fresh off her top-10 finish in the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, Farnham-based Woad is looking forward to competing alongside her amateur peers again, and at a course with which she is very familiar.
“I’m really looking forward to the Curtis Cup,” she said. “It is one of the big goals that I think any amateur wants to play in and being near where I live, there’s going to be a lot of supporters. It’s one of my favourite golf courses in the world – I just love heathland courses. It’s going to be really fun.
“I’ve played Sunningdale quite a bit, so I know the course. It looks like the weather is going to be a lot better than it was in Scotland last week, and I’m looking forward to being able to hit the ball in the air again after playing knock-down shots all week at St Andrews!
The home side also includes Mimi and Patience Rhodes, with the English duo the first sisters to compete in the same match since Leona and Lisa Maguire in 2010.
Patience said: “I’m so excited to be here. Being here with my sister, Mimi, as well, it’s just making it that more special. We’ve been saying it since we were younger that it would be really cool to play together in the Curtis Cup and having that happen is like a dream come true.
“I love match play, you kind of just go for things and it’s more exciting. Anything can happen. Sunningdale is a gorgeous course. The greens are amazing and rolling so well. Just being here at home with the home crowds is great.”
HOW THE TEAMS LINE UP
Great Britain & IrelandSara Byrne, 23, IrelandBeth Coulter, 19, IrelandHannah Darling, 21, ScotlandAine Donegan, 21, ScotlandLorna McClymont, 23, ScotlandEuphemie Rhodes, 22, EnglandPatience Rhodes, 20, EnglandLottie Woad, 20, England
United StatesZoe Campos, 21, Valencia, Calif.Anna Davis, 18, Spring Valley, Calif.Rachel Kuehn, 23, Asheville, N.C.Asterisk Talley, 15, Chowchilla, Calif.Catherine Park, 20, Irvine, Calif.Jasmine Koo, 18, Cerritos, Calif.Melanie Green, 22, Medina, N.Y.Megan Schofill, 23, Monticello, Fla.
Tickets to watch the 43rd Curtis Cup can be bought at Sunningdale on the day, with walk-up prices at the gate each day being £25 for adults, with 50% off for youths and free for under-16s.
The whole event is being screened live on Sky Sports from August 30-September 1.
