CASARES, Spain — While you were sleeping the U.S. made history in the morning foursomes session of the 2023 Solheim Cup.
The Americans got off to a hot start and swept the opening matches to take an early 4-0 lead over their European counterparts. It’s the first time the U.S. has swept a foursomes session and just the second time they’ve swept a session in the event’s 17-year history (2017 Saturday fourball).
Europe’s Caroline Hedwall will be the only player to not tee it up on Friday as all 12 players from the U.S. will be involved in the action, including highly-touted rookie Rose Zhang.
Europe just barely leads the U.S. in all-time fourball play, 51-50-22.
Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the second session of matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Note: Spain is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S.)
7:40 a.m. ET — Rose Zhang/Megan Khang vs. Gemma Dryburgh/Madelene Sagstrom
Rose Zhang will make her debut alongside Megan Khang, who won 2-and-1 alongside Lexi Thompson in the morning session.
On the European side, two players who sat in the morning will be in action in the afternoon. Rookie Gemma Dryburgh will make her first appearance in the event alongside Madelene Sagstrom, who is 0-3-0 in fourballs in two previous appearances.
7:55 a.m. ET — Lexi Thompson/Lilia Vu vs. Leona Maguire/Georgia Hall
U.S. captain Stacy Lewis said two-time major champion Lilia Vu wouldn’t sit long and she was right as the world No. 2 will make her debut alongside the veteran Thompson, who is 2-3-3 in five Cups for the U.S.
Leona Maguire and Georgia Hall won when paired together in 2021, and European captain Suzann Pettersen will roll out the group to try and get some mojo back on the blue-and-yellow side.
8:10 a.m. ET — Jennifer Kupcho/Allisen Corpuz vs. Emily Pedersen/Maja Stark
Allisen Corpuz got a point alongside Nelly Korda in the morning and will be paired with Jennifer Kupcho, who went 1-1-0 with Lizette Salas in the 2021 matches.
Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark will pair up after both lost with other partners in the morning. Pedersen went 1-1-0 in fourballs in 2021, winning with Charley Hull and losing with Carlota Ciganda.
8:25 a.m. ET — Angel Yin/Ally Ewing vs. Carlota Ciganda/Linn Grant
Two-time U.S. team members Angel Yin and Ally Ewing will take on a stout pairing of home-country favorite Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant, who, along with Leona Maguire, was one of the few bright spots for the Europeans in the morning session. Yin and Ewing went 1-1-0 in 2019 fourballs.
Sitting out Friday afternoon
Europe
Caroline Hedwall will sit out for a second straight session and will be joined by Anna Nordqvist, who has a duel role this week as a playing assistant captain, Celine Boutier and Charley Hull, who has been battling a neck injury this week.
United States
Two veterans and two rookies will be cheering from the sidelines in the afternoon as Danielle Kang, Nelly Korda, Cheyenne Knight and Andrea Lee will sit for the U.S.
