Solheim Cup Tips

The 18th edition of the Solheim Cup starts on Friday morning in Spain - at Finca Cortesin in Malaga - and Europe are seeking to become the first team to win the competition three times in a row.

Europe shocked the United States in Ohio two years ago, winning by 15 points to 13, and the balance of power appears to have shifted. If Europe triumph again this week, they will have won five of the last seven Solheims.

Finca Cortesin hosted the Volvo World Match Play men's event in 2009, 2011 and 2012. European trio Ross Fisher, Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts won those events. The course has two driveable par-fours and five par-fives, lending itself to thrilling matchplay golf, and a windy weather forecast adds to the intrigue this week.

The action starts at 7.10am UK and Ireland time on Friday, with the opening foursomes, followed by the first fourballs at 12.40pm. Saturday is a repeat, then there are 12 singles matches on Sunday.

Betting Tip 1 - Europe to win outright @ 10/11

Home advantage can tip the scales in favour of Europe in the Solheim Cup. The team teeing up at home has won 12 of the last 17 Solheims, with away supporters in short supply, and this European side look well capable of whipping the galleries into a frenzy.

There is a cool, calm, calculated Scandinavian core to this European side. Inspirational Norwegian Suzann Pettersen captains the team, with three further Scandinavians on her backroom staff, and there are five Swedes teeing up at Finca Cortesin.

This European team is full of natural harmony and obvious pairings and has only three Solheim Cup rookies on it, two of whom are fantastic players. The Americans have five rookies in their line-up.

Betting Tip 2 - Maja Stark to finish as top scorer @ 16/1

The European rookies may be the key to the home side winning this contest. Maja Stark and Linn Grant are Solheim Cup first-timers, but both are brimming with confidence and look ready to make their mark immediately.

Stark played well in the International Crown matchplay event in April, showing off her love for this format of the game, and she will be desperate to join forces with her great friend Grant.

The duo went to school together and both turned professional in August, 2021, encouraging each other throughout their careers. They won the 2019 Sunningdale Foursomes together in their amateur days.

Ludvig Aberg, who will be making his Ryder Cup debut next week, also went to school with Stark and Grant and will be taking his place in the gallery at Finca Cortesin to cheer his old pals on.

Betting Tip 3 - Linn Grant to finish as top scorer @ 14/1

Linn Grant won the Scandinavian Mixed event by nine shots last year - an incredible performance - and she was a prolific winner on the Ladies European Tour before switching her attention Stateside.

Grant made her LPGA Tour breakthrough in July and will be licking her lips about attacking a Solheim Cup debut in such strong form. A Stark-Grant foursomes or fourballs combination would be tough opposition for any American pair.