Everything You Need to Know About The 44th Curtis Cup Match

LOS ANGELES, Ca. — If you want to know who the next stars of women’s golf are, start with the 44th Curtis Cup Match. For those who are familiar with and enjoyed watching the talent on display at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, quite a few of players will be teeing it up this week—only this time, they’ll be competing as teammates and opponents in a match-play showdown between the United States, Great Britain and Ireland.

The biennial match is women's amateur golf very own version of the Ryder Cup, and this year, for the 44th iteration has landed at the formidable Bel-Air Country Club, just a week after the U.S. Women's Open at Riviera.

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Team GB&I with captain and LPGA legend Catriona Matthew at the helm are looking to defend its 2024 victory, but they are going up against a stacked American squad eager to reclaim the Cup on home soil. There’s no shortage of storylines worth watching, and the stage is now set for one of the most compelling amateur events of the year. Here's your viewer's guide to the 44th Curtis Cup Match.

The History

Since 1932, the Curtis Cup has been showcasing the best in women’s amateur golf. Born from the vision of two sisters, Harriot Curtis and Margaret Curtis, the biennial competition created a display of talent on the international level. And for nearly a century the event has become one of the most prestigious proving grounds as generations of future major champions, world No. 1s, and LPGA stars representing their countries before turning professional. Think names like JoAnne Carner a.k.a Big Mama, Paula Creamer, Juli Inkster, Michelle Wie West, Beth Daniel, Jessica Korda, Stacy Lewis, Nancy Lopez and Lexi Thompson.

And this new generation of the next ones up have an opportunity to write themselves into history this weekend with one of the purest courses as their stage.

The Course

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of playing Bel-Air Country Club, the host venue of this year's Cup, alongside U.S. captain Meghan Stasi and got to pick her brain about how the course will play/be set up during this week.

And for those of you unfamiliar with Bel-Air, all you need to know that it is a beautifully challenging track highlighted by the striking suspension bridge that overlooks the 18th hole and the clubhouse sits perched atop of a hill.

From the mind of George C. Thomas (who also designed Riv), this course is equipped with elevation changes—so much so that you have to take an elevator from the 9th green to the 10th tee. There's so much variation in length, and it demands your undivided attention almost immediately with an impressive opening par 5. Bel-Air is the type of course that rewards precision and creativity over power, making it an ideal stage for the shot-making and match-play drama that define the Curtis Cup.

Team USA

The eight young women repping the red, white, and blue this week are names that we've all seen many, many times before. Headlined by top-ranked am Kiara Romero, who is fresh off of her top-10 finish at the USWO, the rising senior at Oregon is making her Curtis Cup debut.

But the U.S. also has World No. 3 Farah O’Keefe and No. 8 Asterisk Talley, who is one of the veteran's on the team despite being the youngest. Talley competed in the 2024 Curtis Cup and took down then top-ranked player Lottie Woad in Sunday Singles.

Former ANWA champion Anna Davis also made the team via selection committee, is ranked No. 12 in the WAGR.

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Team Great Britain and Ireland

Team GB&I are a bit of underdogs with it's highest ranked player, Patience Rhodes sitting at No. 20 in the world. Rhodes is also one of the team’s two returners from the victorious GB&I 2024 Curtis Cup team.

But it's match play, and rank doesn't make putts drop. It's anyone's cup to win and the pressure will definitely be on.

How to Watch

All times are eastern!

Friday, June 12

Morning Four-Balls: GolfChannel.com, 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Afternoon Foursomes: Golf Channel, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday, June 13

Morning Four-Balls: GolfChannel.com, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Afternoon Foursomes: Golf Channel, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday, June 14

Singles Matches: Golf Channel, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Curtis Cup Preview