LPGA awards prestigious international women's golf event to Valhalla in 2028

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Valhalla Golf Club, which has played host to some of the biggest events in golf — including the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship — will host a significant women's golf event for the first time in 2028.

The LPGA announced during a news conference at the course Tuesday that it awarded the 21st Solheim Cup to Valhalla. The event, held every two years, is a Ryder Cup-style international match-play competition between the top players for the LPGA Tour and the best from the Ladies European Tour.

Dates for the event, held in late summer or early fall, were not announced. This year's edition of the event is being held from Sept. 10-15 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, outside Washington.

Craig Greenberg and John Lindert — PGA of America president John Lindert with Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg at Valhalla Golf Club on May 15, 2024.
ERIC CRAWFORD

Valhalla reportedly beat out Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. By hosting the event, it will join The Greenbrier (West Virginia), Muirfield Village (Dublin, Ohio) and Gleneagles (Scotland) as the only courses to host both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.

"We are thrilled to be selected," Valhalla co-owner Jimmy Kirchdorfer said. "... Valhalla has a history of providing compelling finishes and we are excited to add this event to our championship lore. We look forward to welcoming golf fans from around the globe back to our Kentucky home for what promises to be an unforgettable week of competition at camaraderie."

The Solheim Cup will bring an international crowd to Louisville. Penny Lee, chair of Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, site of this fall's Solheim Cup, told the Manassas City Council in February that between 160,000 and 175,000 people are expected to attend the event, bringing a local economic impact to the region of more than $60 million.

It will be the first return of the LPGA to Kentucky for an event since 1974. From 1965-74, the LPGA Bluegrass Invitational was held at Hunting Creek in Prospect. Six major winners captured the championship of that event in its 10-year run, including three-time winner Mickey Wright, one of the greatest women's golfers of all time and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

"Showcasing our extraordinary athletes at venues that have hosted the world's largest and most prestigious golf tournaments and that are recognizable to fans around the world will continue to elevate the LPGA Tour and the Solheim Cup," LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said. "Hosting the 2028 Solheim Cup at Valhalla Golf Club, with its rich tradition of competitive excellence, exemplifies this commitment. Throughout our search, we also saw the passion that Jimmy and the entire team at Valhalla have for women's golf, the enthusiasm of the local fans and businesses and the desire of state and city leadership to welcome professional women's sport with open arms. Together, we cannot wait to bring the most exciting team competition in women's golf to Louisville and Valhalla Golf Club."

Samaan got to see Louisville's big-event capability up close as the guest of Mayor Craig Greenberg at the Kentucky Derby earlier this year.

"Between the PGA Championship, the 150th Kentucky Derby, the upcoming U.S. Women's National Team soccer match and much more, 2024 has been a memorable and record-breaking year for sports in Louisville and this announcement solidifies our reputation as one of America's top cities for hosting major sporting events," Greenberg said. "Thanks to Mollie, the LPGA and the team at Valhalla for bringing the Solheim Cup to Louisville. I'm thrilled for golf fans and women's sports fans from around the world to visit our city for this incredible event in 2028."

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This story will be updated.