The Solheim Cup, a biennial match-play event, is one of the biggest competitions in women’s golf. The excitement surrounding the tournament is high, with expectations of over 100,000 fans this week, a significant increase from last year’s 65,000 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. However, when it comes to prize money, there is none for the winning team. You don’t see a lot of golf events without prize money, especially in this age of amped-up purses.

Neither golfers from Team Europe nor Team America will receive any prize money for participating in the tournament. However, there is something more than money at stake: their country, continent, and sporting pride. Golfers are simply playing for their patriotic dreams. Interestingly, the same applies to the men’s Ryder Cup; the champion team doesn’t get any prize money either.

However, if the captain of any team desires, they can choose to treat their team to little personal gifts. Back in 2015, the American team’s captain, Juli Inkster, gave a lunch box to every team member. What’s more special is that the lunch box had the American flag’s theme with the Solheim Cup printed on it.

At both tournaments, the golfers join the greens in their specific team’s uniform and give it their all to win the cup. Nelly Korda has already expressed the pride she feels in wearing the uniform ahead of the tournament. “Whenever you get to wear the red, white, and blue and stars and stripes, there’s a different meaning to it. You’re playing not just for yourself but for your captains, for your teammates, and for your country, and there’s just nothing like it. We have got some unfinished business,” said the number one.

While the Solheim Cup is a patriotic tournament, the Olympics are also the same, where there is national pride at stake. Are there any differences between these two?

How’s the Solheim Cup different from the Olympics?

The Olympics and Solheim Cup play a significant role in a golfer’s life as they can fulfill their patriotic dream. However, golf has been played only five times in the Olympics, while the current one is the 19th edition of the Solheim Cup. Despite that, there are some differences in terms of prizes. Yes, indeed, the Olympic golf federation doesn’t award anything except the medal to the golfer, but respective countries do.

After Lydia Ko won gold at the Paris Olympics this year, she not only received a point to the Hall of Fame but will also receive $40,000 annually as a bonus prize from her country, New Zealand, until the next Olympics in 2028. Aside from that, she also received some world rankings points; however, the exact number of points is not known.

Meanwhile, there are no reports of America or Europe providing any special cash prize to the champion teams. Additionally, the winning team golfers also don’t receive any Rolex World ranking points from the Solheim Cup.

Do you think there should have been an additional prize at the Solheim Cup? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!