The history of the Solheim Cup is relatively short; having only been created in 1990, but its popularity and sense of prestige have risen immeasurably as the profile of women's golf has continued to increase.

After 10 tournaments the Americans have been the more dominant side with seven victories. Europe have had their moments too, although their most recent triumph came back in 2003.

The first competition in 1990 was a fairly one-sided affair and saw the American team cruise to a comfortable 11½ -4½ victory, the only halved match coming in the final singles pairing with the result already sewn up.

However, Europe got their revenge two years later as they triumphed 11½-6½ under the captaincy of England's Mickey Walker.

Walker was less fortunate in the next two encounters, though, losing both by a six-point margin (13-7 in1994 and 17-11 in 1996), before the USA made it three in a row, this time beating Swede Pia Nilsson's Europeans in Judy Rankin's second consecutive win as American captain.

Europe got back to winning ways in 2000 at Loch Lomond under the stewardship of home favourite Dale Reid with a thrilling 14½-11½ win. Carin Koch of Sweden came from three behind against Michele Redman to hole the winning putt.

Two years later, though, the Americans came out on the right side of another thriller, winning 15½-12½.

Europe were comfortable winners in 2003 at Barseback in Sweden, the first time the Cup had been held outside the US or UK, but two wins in a row for America, including their 16-12 win at Halmstad GK, mean they are the Solheim Cup holders heading into the 2009 event.