Solheim Cup US TV Ratings Fell to 170,000 for Sunday Singles

By Staff Writer

September 25, 2026

2 min read

The Solheim Cup trophy at the 2023 matches in Spain

Junta de Andalucía / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Key takeaways

Golf Channel's Solheim Cup Saturday audience was 179,000, dropping to 170,000 for Sunday singles.
Three years ago, when the event was played in Spain, Sunday viewership on Golf Channel reached 277,000.
European vice captain Mel Reid called the LPGA's marketing budget for the event "horrific."
Reid says Ryder Cup content teams begin promotion two years out, while Solheim Cup promotion starts closer to the event.
The Solheim Cup is a significant revenue source for both the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour.

US television viewership for this year's Solheim Cup dropped sharply from three years ago, according to figures shared by Sports Business Journal's Josh Carpenter, prompting European vice captain Mel Reid to call for the LPGA to overhaul how it markets the event.

How far did Solheim Cup ratings fall?

Golf Channel drew 179,000 viewers for Saturday's play and 170,000 for Sunday singles, even though the match was tied 8-8 heading into the final session before Europe won. When the Solheim Cup was held in Spain three years earlier, Golf Channel's Sunday audience was 277,000.

Why does Reid think the numbers dropped?

Reid, a vice captain under Anna Nordqvist and a four-time Solheim Cup player who retired from the LPGA after the 2024 season, raised the ratings on her podcast, Quiet Please!, with NBC and Golf Channel reporter Kira Dixon. She said the players are delivering competitive golf that the marketing isn't matching. Dixon noted that Ryder Cup promotion begins roughly two years ahead of the event, while Solheim Cup content only ramps up as the competition nears, and that the event also needs venues with stronger name recognition.

Reid argues the product on the course has outpaced the budget built to promote it.

Reid said LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler's top priority should be marketing, calling the current budget "horrific" and adding that team facilities and course setup lag far behind what the men's game provides. She noted the Solheim Cup is a significant profit source that helps fund both the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Solheim Cup's US TV rating this year?

Golf Channel averaged 179,000 viewers on Saturday and 170,000 on Sunday for singles.

How does that compare to past Solheim Cups?

Three years ago, when the event was held in Spain, Golf Channel's Sunday viewership was 277,000, well above this year's figure.

Who criticized the LPGA's marketing of the event?

European vice captain Mel Reid, a four-time Solheim Cup player, said the marketing budget is inadequate for what the competition delivers on the course.