Struggling to keep up with all the different 'Cup' team competitions? Here’s a cheat sheet

In the month of September, golf’s cups runneth over. Not literally, mind you, but figuratively. And confusingly, perhaps.

Casual golf fans are likely to know that the Ryder Cup—which pits the top men’s professionals from the U.S. against the top from Europe—is taking place at the end of September in Italy. More informed golf fans are aware that the Solheim Cup, the women’s version of the Ryder Cup, is being held a week earlier in Spain. And passionate golf fans are planning to be up early on Saturday and Sunday to catch the Walker Cup—the men’s amateur equivalent, with the exception of the U.S. facing only Great Britain & Ireland—that will be held for the first time in 48 years at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

For the past few weeks, captains from each of the different competitions have been making picks and rounding out rosters in preparation for these biennial match-play events. And trying to keep everything straight as to who is playing for what has gotten a little complicated for the uninitiated. To help keep track of everything, we have this handy cheat sheet so that no matter what level of golf fan you are, you’re in the know during the next month.

WALKER CUP

Dates: Sept. 2-3

Place: Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland

Format: Foursomes Saturday and Sunday morning, singles Saturday and Sunday afternoon

Defending champ: U.S. won in 2021 at Seminole G.C., 14-12

Skinny: The Americans are starting to turn this event back into the Walk-over Cup as they aim for a fourth straight win. That length of dominance hasn’t happened since the 1980s.

Walker Cup must-reads:

• An expected 2021 Walker Cup win for the U.S. comes in an unexpected way

• The USGA is rethinking how it runs some of its amateur events, starting with the Walker Cup

• The biggest upset in Walker Cup history is still hard to fathom

U.S. team

Captain: Mike McCoy

Players

Nick Dunlap, 19, Huntsville, Ala. (World Amateur Golf Ranking: (5)

David Ford, 20, Peachtree Corners, Ga. (4)

Nick Gabrelcik, 21, Trinity, Fla. (9)

Austin Greaser, 21, Vandalia, Ohio (10)

Stewart Hagestad, 32, Newport Beach, Calif. (19)

Ben James, 19, Milford, Conn. (7)

Dylan Menante, 22, Carlsbad, Calif. (6)

Gordon Sargent, 20, Birmingham, Ala. (1)

Preston Summerhays, 21, Scottsdale, Ariz. (13)

Caleb Surratt, 19, Indian Trail, N.C. (8)

Great Britain & Ireland team

Captain: Stuart Wilson

Players

James Ashfield, 22, Wales (69)

Jack Bigham, 19, England (87)

Barclay Brown, 22, England (26)

John Gough, 24, England (14)

Connor Graham, 16, Scotland (214)

Alex Maguire, 22, Ireland (143)

Matthew McClean, 30, Ireland (54)

Liam Nolan, 23, Ireland (150)

Mark Power, 23, Ireland (98)

Calum Scott, 20, Scotland (31)

SOLHEIM CUP

Dates: Sept. 22-24

Place: Finca Cortesin, Anadulcia, Spain

Format: Foursomes and four-balls Friday and Saturday, singles Sunday

Defending champ: Europe won in 2021 at Inverness Club, 15-13

Skinny: The Americans have lost four of the last six matches, including two straight. Stopping that slide is even more important when you consider they’ll be playing again next year as the schedule adjusts to return to an even-numbered year target.

Solheim Cup must-reads:

• Europe does Europe things, overachieves to scratch out upset win 2021 Solheim Cup

• A happily retired Suzann Pettersen talks about her 2019 Solheim Cup-winning putt

• What U.S. captain Stacy Lewis has to say about her 2023 Solheim Cup squad

United States team

Captain: Stacy Lewis

Automatic qualifiers

Lilia Vu (Rolex Ranking: 1)

Nelly Korda (2)

Allisen Corpuz (8)

Megan Khang (13)

Jennifer Kupcho (28)

Danielle Kang (31)

Andrea Lee (43)

Lexi Thompson (26)

Rose Zhang (30)

Captain’s picks

Ally Ewing (33)

Cheyenne Knight (46)

Angel Yin (32)

European team

Captain: Suzann Pettersen

Automatic qualifers

Celine Boutier (5)

Maja Stark (39)

Linn Grant (16)

Charley Hull (9)

Carlota Ciganda (34)

Georgia Hall (18)

Leona Maguire (17)

Anna Nordqvist (38)

Captain’s picks

Caroline Hedwall (118)

Madeline Sagstrom (46)

Gemma Dryburgh (51)

Emily Kristine Pedersen (117)

RYDER CUP

Dates: Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Place: Marco Simone, Rome, Italy

Format: Foursomes and four-balls Friday and Saturday, singles Sunday

Defending champ: U.S. won in 2021 at Whistling Straits, 19-9

Skinny: It didn’t take that long for the Europeans to go from a home dog to a sneaky favorite as Viktor Hovland takes his rightful recognition among the tops of the men’s game.

Ryder Cup must-reads:

• Victorious 2021 U.S. team sends clear message in dominate Whistling Straits win 

• Justin Thomas absolutely should have made the 2023 U.S. team and here's why

• LIV golfer Paul Casey has no regrets, but it doesn't mean he won't miss playing in Ryder Cup

United States team

Captain: Zach Johnson

Automatic qualifiers

Scottie Scheffler (Official World Golf Ranking: 1)

Wyndham Clark (10)

Brian Harman (9)

Patrick Cantlay (5)

Max Homa (7)

Xander Schauffele (6)

Captain’s picks

Sam Burns (21)

Rickie Fowler (25)

Brooks Koepka (14)

Collin Morikawa (19)

Jordan Spieth (12)

Justin Thomas (26)

European team

Captain: Luke Donald

Automatic qualifers: Six players will earn spots on the team from two points lists after the end of the Omega European Masters this weekend.

Captain’s picks: Donald will pick six more players to join the team on Monday (Sept. 4)