Curtis Cup - History

History

The first Curtis Cup Match was played in 1932 at the Wentworth Club in England, and was won by the American team. The trophy, a silver bowl of Paul Revere design, was donated by Harriot Curtis (who had won the United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship in 1906) and her sister Margaret (who had won it in 1907, 1911, and 1912). The Curtis sisters had competed in the 1905 British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship, where an informal match had occurred between teams of American and British golfers, and they wanted to promote the international friendships in the world of women's golf. The cup is inscribed, "To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands."

Discussions between various golf associations had been underway since 1924—the Curtis sisters had originally donated the trophy in 1927 to help these discussions along—but it was not until 1931 that the USGA and LGU agreed to co-sponsor the event. It was hoped that the French Golf Union would eventually participate, but that never occurred.

The Curtis Cup Match is played every two years in even numbered years, alternating between the two sides of the Atlantic. Each team consists of eight golfers. In 2004, then fourteen year old Michelle Wie played for the U.S. becoming the youngest player in Curtis Cup history. She won both of her singles matches. The United States won the 2008 event, extending its overall lead to 26 wins to 6, with 3 ties. This match also saw a historic first, with Team USA's Stacy Lewis becoming the first player ever to go 5–0 in a single Curtis Cup Match.