Tin Cup
A look at golf's professional cups
They say golf is a game played by many but mastered by few, and it’s those few that get to go on to play in the world’s most famous golf competitions. Here are the different “Cups” at which professionals take a swing:
Lexus Cup
The Lexus Cup is an annual golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by a team representing Asia and an international team representing the rest of the world. It is sanctioned by the LPGA Tour, but any winnings are unofficial and not included in the LPGA money list standings. The title sponsor is Lexus, the luxury automobile maker. It was one of many new team golf tournaments modeled after the Ryder Cup. In women’s golf it complements the Solheim Cup, which is contested by teams from United States and Europe. The inaugural Cup was held from Dec. 9 to 11, 2005, with a total purse of $960,000 ($50,000 to each member of the winning team and $30,000 to members of the losing team).
Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup is a series of men’s golf matches between a United States team and an international team representing the rest of the world less Europe, which competes against the U.S. in a similar but considerably older event, the Ryder Cup. The Presidents Cup is held biennially and was initially held in even numbered years, with the Ryder Cup being held in odd numbered years. However, the cancellation of the 2001 Ryder Cup due to Sept. 11 pushed both tournaments back a year, and the Presidents Cup is now held in odd numbered years. It is hosted alternately in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a competition for a trophy, donated by Samuel Ryder, which takes place biennially in an event called the “Ryder Cup Matches” between teams from Europe and the United States. The PGA of America and the PGA European Tour jointly administer the Matches. The competition began following an exhibition match in 1926 of a team representing American professionals against a similar one representing the British PGA on the East Course at Wentworth Club in Surrey, United Kingdom, with the first competition taking place in 1927. Early matches between the two sides were fairly even, but after World War II, repeated U.S. dominance led to a decision to extend the representation of the British and Irish team to Europe in 1979. This change was partly prompted by the success of a new generation of Spanish golfers of the time, including Severiano Ballesteros. He and Antonio Garrido were the first Spaniards to play in the event in 1979. Since then, players have also represented Europe from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden.
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named for the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation. The Inaugural Cup was held in 1990, and the event was staged in even numbered years until 2002. As part of the general reshuffling of team golf events consequent to the postponement of the 2001 Ryder Cup due to Sept. 11, the Solheim Cup switched to odd numbered years from 2003, which means it does not clash with the Ryder Cup, the equivalent men’s event between the U.S. and Europe.