The Solheim Cup is becoming one of the most prevalent events on the golfing calendar.
While the Masters, The Open and the Ryder Cup are impossible to displace as the big three, Great Britain and Ireland's dramatic success in the Walker Cup, combined with Europe's latest Solheim Cup victory, has brought team golf more into focus.
Like the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup was dominated by the Americans throughout its early editions, but a series of close-fought affairs -- only two of the last seven editions of the Solheim Cup have been won by more than two points -- have created exhilarating viewing, occasionally in contrast to the Ryder Cup, where many contests have been forgone conclusions with a day to spare.
This year's Solheim Cup was no different, with Jennifer Kupcho holing two putts from a combined 120 feet late on Saturday to change what looked like a 9-7 deficit heading into Sunday into parity at 8-8. The two putts sparked premature celebrations, with Team USA videoed drinking beer on the bus on Saturday evening. Europe couldn't help but retaliate when actually winning the cup, singing 'they drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday'.
Rory McIlroy has always shown a burning passion for Europe in the Ryder Cup, partly due to his love for team golf and playing for something bigger than individual accolades, but also for the opportunity to get one over on the Americans.
Asked about the Solheim Cup, McIlroy said in his press conference ahead of the BMW PGA Championship: "I saw the Americans drinking beer on the bus on Saturday night. That was interesting. But obviously a great result for the European side.
"After what we did in Bethpage, what the Walker Cup guys did, all we need now is the internationals to do it in a couple of weeks [at the Presidents Cup vs the USA], that'd be great."
