17th edition of the biennial match-play competition heads to Toledo for first time
TOLEDO, Ohio, November 9, 2016 - The 2021 Solheim Cup is headed to the renowned Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio, the LPGA announced today. Inverness will play host to the 17th edition of the Solheim Cup, pitting the best players from the United States against the best from Europe.
“We’re thrilled to have Inverness host the 2021 Solheim Cup,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “Inverness is one of the premier venues in golf and will serve as a great test for a match-play competition. Additionally, Toledo has been part of the LPGA family for over 30 years and we can’t wait to see the excitement, enthusiasm and hospitality that this great community will undoubtedly bring for the Solheim Cup.”
The Donald Ross-designed Inverness Club boasts a major championship pedigree having hosted many of the premier championships in golf including four U.S. Opens (1920, 1931, 1957, 1979), two PGA Championships (1986, 1993) and, most recently, the 2003 & 2011 U.S. Senior Open Championships.
“Inverness Club and its members are thrilled to have been selected to host the 2021 Solheim Cup,” said Inverness club president Steve Mitchell. “Our historic Donald Ross-designed course has been host to six major championships and five national championships and I’m especially proud that this tradition will now be elevated to include the biggest event in women’s golf.”
The 2021 Solheim Cup will continue to build on the strong history and tradition of LPGA golf in Toledo, which began in 1954 at the Inverness Four-Ball hosted at the Inverness Club. The Glass City has also played host to the Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I since 1984, making it the second-longest running non-major tournament on the LPGA Tour.
“I am extremely proud of northwest Ohio’s effort to bring the Solheim Cup to Inverness,” said long time Marathon Classic tournament director Judd Silverman. “The community has not only supported the LPGA for 32 years, but they put together a compelling bid encompassing many exciting elements that ultimately captured the LPGA’s decision. With all of the positive development that is happening in Toledo presently and over the next few years I can’t think of a better time for our community to host such a prestigious international event like the Solheim Cup.”
Tournament officials today also announced Marathon Petroleum Corporation as the third global partner for the 2021 Solheim Cup alongside PING and Rolex. Marathon has been the title sponsor of the LPGA’s regular season stop in Toledo since 2013.
“We’re proud to support the 2021 Solheim Cup here in northwest Ohio where our corporate roots are firmly planted,” said Tom Kelley, Marathon Petroleum’s senior vice president of marketing. “Along with our sponsorship of Stacy Lewis and title sponsorship of the Marathon Classic, being a global partner for this world-renowned competition is a tremendous opportunity to extend our positive experience with the LPGA.”
Making the announcement today in Toledo were U.S. Solheim Cup Team star Stacy Lewis, PING Board Member Allan Solheim, LPGA Chief Commercial Officer Jon Podany and Tournament Chairman Richard Hylant.
“I think Inverness is going to be an unbelievable venue for us with all of the history with the guys playing there and just the history of the golf course itself,” Lewis said. “It’s such a cool course to play with a bunch of holes really close and I think it’s going to help make for a very loud Solheim Cup.”
The U.S. leads Europe 9-5 all-time in Solheim Cup competition following their historic comeback win in September at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club in Germany. The Americans trailed 10-6 heading into Sunday’s singles matches and overcame the largest deficit in the event’s history, winning 8 ½ points in the final session. Team USA won by a score of 14½ to 13½, the closest score in the history of the Cup.
The 2017 edition of the Solheim Cup will take place at Des Moines Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa, August 14-20, 2017. The PGA Centenary Course at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland, will host the 2019 Solheim Cup.
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