Well, well, well. Who’d have given Europe a chance of going into the Sunday singles level after the USA whitewashed them yesterday morning? Not too many folk, I’ll be bound. But here we all are. It’s set up deliciously for a day of drama and rollocking entertainment tomorrow. Hope you’ll join us as it all unfolds. See you then!
4&3 Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 2UP
2&1 Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee
2&1 Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu
Europe 8-8 USA
Europe captain Suzann Pettersen speaks to Sky Sports. “I am out of words. We have to remember we are not there, there are still 12 points up for grabs tomorrow. But we made quite a comeback and now we are tied, and now we put it into fifth gear and keep going. It was unbelievable golf. It’s only in the Solheim Cup. It keeps happening, every single time! I couldn’t be more proud. We will be ready to go in the morning.”
Europe 8-8 USA
… hits a putt that always looks like dying away to the right. Europe secure a precious point! Ciganda/Grant beat Kang/Vu 2&1
2&1 Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (F)
Europe 8-8 USA
Ciganda up first. She wedges up from the bottom of the bank at the front of the green to a couple of feet. That should secure the par. In fact it’s conceded by Kang. No point messing about. And the USA nearly get some karmic reward for their sportsmanship when Vu so nearly holes out from the sand! That one’s conceded too … and Kang, presumably with adrenaline coursing through her veins, picks up the ball and absent-mindedly flings it towards Vu’s head in the manner of a baseball pitcher! Vu is forced to take evasive action, bending backwards and batting it away. Every member of the watching USA team creases up with laughter. Grant can’t make her birdie putt, so it’s over to Kang, who …
To the 17th. Linn Grant sends her tee shot straight at the flag, but it only just lands on the green and spins back towards the fringe. Carlota Ciganda comes up well short, the ball dropping back down the false front. The door swings ajar for the Americans … but Lilia Vu dumps her tee shot into the bunker on the left. Danielle Kang is up last … and sends a gorgeous one over the flag to 12 feet. Chance for the USA here!
Danielle Kang and Lilia Vu both have birdie putts on 16. Kang goes close, her straight uphill effort sliding inches wide to the left. Vu goes even closer, her 15-foot right-to-left drifter lipping out, surely just the width of a dimple away from dropping. So now Carlota Ciganda has a look at birdie herself from a similar place to Vu … and in it goes! Europe are dormie two!
2UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (16)
Europe 7-8 USA
Just the one match out on the course now, and it’s delicately poised. So much of tomorrow’s mood music relies on this.
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (15)
Europe 7-8 USA
Europe 7-8 USA
Hedwall and Nordqvist both set up mid-range looks at birdie on 18. But it’s surely all in vain, because first up, Yin rolls her 35-foot eagle putt to a couple of feet. Hedwall’s never looks like dropping; Nordqvist’s closer attempt squirts apologetically wide right; Nordqvist picks up Yin’s coin, no making her putt out from close range this time, and the USA hit the overall lead again! Knight/Yin beat Nordqvist/Hedwall 2UP
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (F)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (15)
Europe 7-8 USA
Updated
Europe 7-7 USA
Emily Pedersen’s tee shot at 17 finds the fringe on the left. Rose Zhang arrows straight, but 20 feet short. The other two find the thick stuff to the left, and are effectively out of it. Zhang races her birdie putt six feet past, Pedersen lags up to kick-in distance, and the match is conceded. It’s all level on the scoreboard, though not for too long I’ll be bound, given the way things are going on 18. Sagstrom/Pedersen beat Zhang/Lee 2&1
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (17)
2&1 Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (F)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (15)
Europe 7-7 USA
Updated
It’s advantage USA on 18. Hedwall’s drive heads towards the lip of a bunker and she’s forced to wedge out. Nordqvist doesn’t have the length to get on in two anyway, and lays up. Cheyenne Knight ditto, but Angel Yin blooters a long tee shot down the middle … then lashes a long iron that makes it onto the front of the green! A huge opportunity to close this out now for the States. Yin has been sensational since being accidentally fired up on the 10th green.
As the shadows lengthen, Lilia Vu has a chance to level the final match from 15 feet on 15. It drifts harmlessly left. So much heading inexorably for the crunch.
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (17)
2UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (16)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (15)
Europe 6-7 USA
A chance for Andrea Lee to halve the USA’s deficit on 16. She’s pin high, just in the fringe, 12 feet to the right of the flag. Her putt always looks like missing on the left, though in the end it doesn’t miss by too much. Over to Rose Khang, who also has a chance from similar distance … but she shoves her effort wide right. Europe are dormie two.
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (17)
2UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (16)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (14)
Europe 6-7 USA
… makes it. No fuss. Everyone’s going up 18. The USA certain of at least half a point.
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (17)
2UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (15)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (14)
Europe 6-7 USA
Nordqvist’s effort is pretty poor as well, always destined to die off to the left, never with a chance. And she’s left it four feet away too. The Europeans have left themselves a little work to do for their pars. A bronze cent for Angel Yin’s thoughts. She must be thinking about karma, and the chickens coming home to roost for Europe after their saucy cheek in asking her to clean up from 18 inches on 10. And she really must be thinking about it now, as Hedwall hoicks another dreadful putt miles wide and long! Nordqvist has to make hers now to keep the match alive. And she …
For a second, Angel Yin thinks she’s drained her putt. She takes an excited step after the ball, but it shaves the right-hand side of the hole and stops a couple of feet past. Caroline Hedwall up next. She gives it a rare old rattle and it’s always missing wide right, and flying five feet past too. Always an erratic putter, today she’s gone from the ridiculous to the sublime and now back again. Up to Nordqvist now.
Tell you what, Knight gives her bunker shot a good go. She splashes out aggressively, her ball skirting the hole and ending up three feet past. It’s hardly a gimme, especially in these circumstances, but it makes the par much more likely, and gives her partner Yin more licence to go for the birdie. Yin prowls the green before lining up her putt. She’s first up.
It’s going to be a putting contest on 17. Nordqvist, Hedwall and Yin surround the flag, all around 20 feet away. Nordqvist the only one on the green, the other two on the fringe. Knight in the bunker … so having set it up as a test of the flat stick, what price her holing out from the sand to secure the point for the USA? Entertainment ahoy!
Yeah, it’s a difficult one all right. She sends her putt flying off the fringe and skittering wildly past the hole … and not in anything like the right direction either! No matter, it was in or nothing. A half. The players move on to the par-three 17th … and there’s cheers ringing in their ears, because back on 15, Emily Pedersen drains a much easier putt from the fringe to put Europe two up in the third match! Meanwhile it’s two putts for Carlota Ciganda on 14 and that’s a tied hole as well.
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (16)
2UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (15)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (14)
Europe 6-7 USA
Anna Nordqvist lags a long rake up close to secure Europe’s par on 16. So it’ll be a putting contest between Angel Yin and Caroline Hedwall. In fact Yin is a little further out than I first thought … but she nearly drains the 25-footer! Millimetres wide right. Over to Hedwall then. With holes running out quickly, this is crucial for Europe. It’s not easy, though, putting through the shadows and with the fringe bothering her backswing.
Carlota Ciganda cracks her drive at 14 into the heart of the green. She’ll have a gently uphill look at eagle from 50 feet. Up on 16, Cheyenne Knight has found herself out of position, up a bank along the right of the hole. No matter! A soft-handed swipe with the wedge, and she bounces her ball down to kick-in distance. Par secured! And immediately back to 14, where Danielle Kang flashes a long bunker shot to pick-up range. Birdie secured!
An outrageously good shot by Caroline Hedwall at 16. Her drive ends up on a grassy bank just above a bunker. She forced to play it with both feet in the sand, the ball above her. She flashes a 4-iron into the heart of the green, the ball only just rolling off the back, not too far from the pin. Anna Nordqvist’s more traditional approach isn’t as close to the pin, but firmly on the shortest stuff. But neither are as close as Angel Yin, who continues to propel her team towards the line, and will be putting for birdie from 15 feet.
Lee’s putt is weak and dies off to the left. Par. All down to Zhang now … and she curls the right-to-left 12-footer into the hole for a street-fighting birdie! Sagstrom is told to pick up her coin and the teams move on. That’ll feel like a mini-victory for the USA. Meanwhile up on 15, a similar sensation for Europe, as Angel Yin’s birdie effort from 30 yards stops a turn short, whereupon Caroline Hedwall scrambles par with a staunch up and down. Finally it’s a hole back for the US on 13, reward for Lilia Vu sending one of her trademark heatseeking approaches towards the flag and a foot or so away.
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (15)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (14)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (13)
Europe 6-7 USA
Zhang and Lee both whip their second shots into the green. Not close, but not miles away either. Both will have looks at birdie from 15 feet or so. Then it’s the turn of Pedersen, whose drive stopped just short of a fence and the woods behind. She lobs up to similar distance. Then finally Sagstrom, putting from the fringe at the back. What she’d give for an eagle now. A 30-foot putt with a gentle right-to-left break. She rolls the rock well, the ball briefly threatening to drop before skating past the right lip. A couple of feet past. That’ll be a birdie, surely. One of the USA team really has to make their putt now.
A slight advantage to Europe on 14. Madelene Sagstrom’s drive ends up on the fringe at the back of the green, while Rose Zhang finds a bunker to the right and Andrea Lee almost skies a fairway wood, though she’ll still be hitting wedge in. Emily Pedersen’s drive disappeared into bother far right. Up on 15, meanwhile, Angel Yin and Anna Nordqvist are both on in regulation.
Danielle Kang has pulled off some outrageous feats with her flat stick this afternoon. Not so on 12, where she races a hysterical 20-foot birdie putt at the hole. Despite the ball hitting the cup, it still has enough juice to roll off the green and away down a swale! From the sublime, etc. Then Lilia Vu lips out for par from five feet to give Carlota Ciganda the opportunity to snatch the hole from similar distance! The home favourite makes no mistake, and Europe double their lead in that crucial last match.
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (14)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (13)
2UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (12)
Europe 6-7 USA
On 13, Andrea Lee sinks a must-make 15-foot birdie putt. Must-make because Madelene Sagstrom was well inside her, and she follows her in … albeit only just, the ball briefly threatening to stop on the lip. Hole tied.
One of the shots of the week by Cheyenne Knight at the short par-four 14th! Her drive left her with a long bunker shot. She blasts it out with maximum power … and maximum action, the ball landing and spinning gloriously to a halt a couple of feet from the flag. That was necessary, as well, because Anna Nordqvist had gone equally close with a more textbook second having laid up from the tee. This should be honours shared.
Europe 6-7 USA
Two long birdie putts on 15 for the USA. One of them could keep this match going. Nelly Korda gives hers a good roll from distance, but it’s always dying to the left. So can Ally Ewing do it again? A seriously fast downhill slider from 30 feet. That one’s always heading left as well. That leaves Charley Hull with two putts from 15 feet for the match. She lags up to kick-in distance, and that’s the first of the afternoon points to Europe! Hull/Maguire beat Korda/Ewing 4&3
4&3 Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (F)
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (13)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (12)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (11)
Europe 6-7 USA
Updated
Better news for Europe back on 11, as Linn Grant makes her seventh birdie of the day! Having knocked her approach to 15 feet, she guides in a right-to-left slider to regain the lead in the final match for the hosts. There is some sensational golf being played this afternoon by both sets of players, and good luck correctly predicting how these final three matches are going to turn out!
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (14)
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (13)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (12)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (11)
Europe 5-7 USA
Angel Yin pours in another! She curls in her right-to-left birdie putt from 15 feet, and Nordqvist and Hedwall really shouldn’t have asked her to make that one-and-a-half footer on 10. Since then, fuelled by righteous indignation, she’s brought the hurt to the European duo! Three holes on the bounce, and the USA have some red on the board for the first time in a while!
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (14)
Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin 1UP (13)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (12)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (10)
Europe 5-7 USA
Ah, Hedwall’s ball stuck on the bank above the bunker. So she’s chipping on. Whether that’s a stroke of luck or not, coming out of the sticky Bermuda rough, is a moot point. She only gets to within ten feet. But Nordqvist keeps her head, drawing the old Texas wedge from the holster and rolling up from off the back of the green to tap-in distance. Knight and Yin will still have good looks at birdie, but at least they’re being asked the question now.
Having lost the previous two holes, Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall are severely rattled. The former goes over the back of 13, the latter into a bunker to the right. Cheyenne Knight and Angel Yin are both on the dancefloor, and there’s trouble afoot here for Europe.
Yes, Ally Ewing is in survival mode all right. She rams home her birdie putt, forcing Leona Maguire to tidy up for her birdie. In that one goes, and it’s dormie four to Europe. That’s Maguire’s seventh birdie today!
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (14)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (12)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (11)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (10)
Europe 5-7 USA
Ally Ewing gets a free drop from the cart path behind 14 and wedges up to 12 feet. Nelly Korda is similarly close in two. But Leona Maguire has sent her second straight at the flag to three feet. One of the Americans will surely have to make their birdie putts if this match is to continue.
Neither Anna Nordqvist nor Caroline Hedwall can make their par at the par-three 12th. And so, in the blink of an eye, their two-hole lead has evaporated. Suddenly there’s a little bit of momentum on America’s shoulder.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (13)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (12)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (11)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (10)
Europe 5-7 USA
An awful stroke of luck for Ally Ewing, who absolutely batters a drive down the short par-four 14th. It lands on the green and springboards through the back, before bouncing off down a hill and along a cart path. No idea where that’s going to end up. Meanwhile back on 10, Danielle Kang makes yet another big birdie putt, curling in a left-to-right 25-footer on the par three to square the match! That’s her fifth birdie of the round, and yet her team isn’t in the lead. You see, for the record, Linn Grant has made six.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (13)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (11)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (10)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (10)
Europe 5-7 USA
Ally Ewing isn’t going down without a fight. She rams home a 12-foot birdie putt on 13, turning the pressure onto Leona Maguire, who is pin high, ten feet away after that lovely approach. Maguire doesn’t betray any nerves, though, and calmly slots her own putt to keep Europe four up with five to play.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (13)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (11)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (10)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (9)
Europe 5-7 USA
A near miss for Emily Pedersen at 10. Her birdie putt lips out. Meanwhile Leona Maguire sends a glorious hybrid into 13. So I’d love to say that Europe aren’t giving the USA any encouragement right now … but having angered Angel Yin by making her putt out from close range on 10, they pay the price at 11. Yin rattles in a birdie putt from 15 feet, spooking Caroline Hedwall who has one of her own from ten feet. Hedwall can’t make it, and the lead in the second match is down to one.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (12)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (11)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (10)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (9)
Europe 5-7 USA
That rare thing: a Danielle Kang missed putt. Her birdie effort lips out on 9, and she grimaces, fearing the worst with Linn Grant stepping up to attempt a straight ten-foot birdie putt of her own. But Grant’s effort slides off to the right, and the chance to double Europe’s lead goes by with it.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (12)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (10)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (9)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (9)
Europe 5-7 USA
Leona Maguire restores Europe’s four-hole lead in the first match. A glorious tee shot at the par-three 12th, creamed to three feet. Birdie. Ally Ewing and Nelly Korda both missed the green, and though Ewing chipped up and rolled in a 12-footer to save par, it wasn’t enough.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (12)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (10)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (9)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (8)
Europe 5-7 USA
Emily Pedersen with yet another dart. But before she can take her birdie putt, Rose Zhang rolls a 15-foot one of her own. Pedersen isn’t to be denied, though, and makes her putt for the half. Meanwhile up on 10, Cheyenne Knight and Angel Yin both miss good birdie chances, allowing Anna Nordqvist to scramble a tie with par. The Europeans then ask Yin to tidy up from a couple of feet – they’d not allowed Knight to pick her marker up either, from even closer – and once Yin completes the task, she stands with her hands on her hips, half perplexed, half insulted. Let’s see how this develops, then.
3UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (11)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (10)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (9)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (8)
Europe 5-7 USA
Lilia Vu nearly backspins her third at 8 in for eagle. A pick-up birdie, but it’s not enough to win the hole, because Carlota Ciganda chips up to 12 feet then rolls in a forensic birdie effort of her own.
3UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (11)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (9)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (8)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (8)
Europe 5-7 USA
Updated
In order: Leona Maguire, Ally Ewing, Charley Hull and Nelly Korda go close with birdie putts on 11. Close but no cigar. Europe remain three up. “Hoping Maguire and Hull can close their match out early to give Leona a rest,” writes Paul Maguire. “Five rounds in three days would be a killer on the calves.”
Meanwhile up on 9, it’s a birdie shootout between Cheyenne Knight, Angel Yin and Caroline Hedwall, who have the pin surrounded. Knight and Yin pass their six-footers up, leaving Hedwall with a downhill five-footer. A huge chance to put Europe three up … but she pulls it straight off the bat. Everyone will walk off the green sick, ruing the excellent chances they’ve just let slide. We move on.
3UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (10)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (9)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (8)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (7)
Europe 5-7 USA
Emily Pedersen goes very close with a downhill 30-foot birdie effort on 8. Her ball dies to the right one turn before it reaches its destination. Just the half, Rose Zhang having made a very adventurous par, her second shot disappearing down a cart path and ending on a nearby patch of mud; she chipped back onto the green with one foot on the path, getting no free drop because the nearest point of relief was in the bushes.
Some joy for the Americans in the first match at last! Ally Ewing putts up from a swale to the left of 10, over the bump, a right-to-left swing and in. She’d been given a read by Charley Hull, who had gone close from a similar position; she clearly learns fast. She also follows orders well, her captain Stacy Lewis having popped up at the 10th tee to offer encouragement and bark at her players to keep going despite their unpromising position. Well, that’s one back. They couldn’t, could they?
3UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (10)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (8)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (7)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (7)
Europe 5-7 USA
Caroline Hedwall is a streaky putter all right. A dismal three-putt at 4, but that 20-footer to snatch an unlikely half at 7, and now another from similar distance for birdie at 8. A little cushion for Europe in match two … and they’d thought they’d built a similar buffer in the final match, Carlota Ciganda curling a birdie putt in from the back of 7. But Danielle Kang is a putter of street-fighting brilliance, and not for the first time today she rattles one in to deny Europe, just as she did with Linn Grant on 6. This is an astonishing display by Kang, who has kept the US in contention in that fourth match!
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (9)
2UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (8)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (7)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (7)
Europe 5-7 USA
Updated
Leona Maguire can’t make her birdie putt at 9, the ball always staying high on the right side. The door’s open for Ally Ewing, then. Not wide open, mind: it’s a tricky downhill 12-foot right-to-left slider. She sets it off on its journey … but is quickly up and out of it in disgust, fully aware it’s always going to miss wide on the left. Europe hit the turn four up.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (9)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (7)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (7)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (6)
Europe 5-7 USA
Emily Pedersen makes her fifth birdie of the day, this time at 7. She’d sent her approach pretty much pin high, and rolls in the putt from 15 feet. That puts Europe up in all four matches. Three of the leads are tissue-paper thin, but a lead’s a lead’s a lead, ain’t that the truth. The USA need to check Europe’s momentum. Over to Ally Ewing …
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (8)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (7)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (7)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (6)
Europe 5-7 USA
Charley Hull and Nelly Korda both find themselves stuck up on a bank to the right of the 9th fairway. From tricky positions and with awkward stances, Hull sends her wedge just over the back of the green while Korda can’t quite get up and over the false front. Over to their partners, perhaps, and from the centre of the fairway Leona Maguire wedges pin high, 20 feet to the right of the flag, while Ally Ewing sets up the best opportunity from the heart of the green, ten feet over the flag. Advantage USA in this lead match, and they really need something here.
Updated
Carlota Ciganda makes a birdie putt from the fringe at the back of 6, and suddenly Europe are up in three again! Her home fans start with the olés, and it’s bedlam at the moment. Ciganda celebrates with her putter in the air, shades of Jack Nicklaus on 17 at Augusta in 1986.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (8)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (7)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (6)
1UP Ciganda/Grant v Kang/Vu (6)
Europe 5-7 USA
Leona Maguire didn’t make too many big putts this morning. She’s made one now, though, confidently stroking a birdie effort at 8 straight at the cup from 20 feet. In it drops, and Europe are racing away in the lead match. Meanwhile in the second match, Cheyenne Knight bumps a chip up from a swale back-left of the 7th green, and rattles it in for an extremely unlikely birdie! The crowd go quiet as the USA cavort … but then Caroline Hedwall tickles in a 20-foot left-to-right downhill slider for a spectacular half! The crowd start making quite a lot of noise again, and that’s going to be a super-sickener for the Americans. This Solheim Cup is very much in the balance, and the assorted back and forths are extremely entertaining.
4UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (8)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (7)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (6)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (5)
Europe 5-7 USA
Updated
Linn Grant makes another big birdie putt! She rakes this one across 5, and punches the air in delight. The young Swede is making a real mark on her first Solheim Cup. That cranks up some pressure on Danielle Kang, who is much closer and would have fancied herself to win the hole. Now she needs to make a ten-footer to halve it. But in it goes. She’s made a series of ice-cool putts this week, and there’s another. Meanwhile up on 6, Andrea Lee drains a monster of her own, and the birdie snatches the hole and takes the lead away from Europe.
3UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (7)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (6)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (6)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (5)
Europe 5-7 USA
Charley Hull fizzes a long iron in the general direction of the green at the par-five 8th. Sort of. The ball slices to the right and nearly takes her captain Suzann Pettersen’s head off! Pettersen thankfully takes evasive action, toppling backwards to the turf and out of the road of danger. That’s what you get for dropping Hull for the last two sessions, huh.
Madelene Sagstrom drains a wonderful birdie putt from off the front of green at 5. It effectively salvages a half, because Andrea Lee is close and she rolls in a four-footer for her birdie. Meanwhile up on 7, Charley Hull knocks her second to six feet and – with the US only good for Nelly Korda’s par, Ally Ewing having had some chipping issues – guides in a right-to-left curler for birdie and the hole. Europe flying in this opening rubber!
3UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (7)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (5)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (5)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (4)
Europe 5-7 USA
Updated
Emily Pedersen is on a flag-hunting mission today. Now she sends an arrow straight at 5, where she’ll have a great look at birdie from eight feet. But so will Rose Zhang, who follows her in with a glorious wedge of her own. Putting competition coming up.
The tree guarding the 5th green gets in Cheyenne Knight and Angel Yin’s way. Neither can get close with their approaches, and they end up facing mid-range par putts. They don’t drop, while Caroline Hedwall, who had the foresight to lay back from the tee so she could easily get over the aforementioned tree, has a ten-foot birdie putt coming up. Coins are picked up and the hole is conceded. Europe are now up in three.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (6)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (5)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (4)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (3)
Europe 5-7 USA
Emily Pedersen follows Caroline Hedwall in finding the par-five 4th green in two mighty blows. She’s a more dependable putter, though, truth be told, and illustrates that by nearly making her long eagle putt. A tap-in for birdie suffices for the win. Europe up in two.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (6)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (4)
1UP Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee (4)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (3)
Europe 5-7 USA
Lilia Vu drains a 40-footer across 3 for birdie. Huge celebrations, more of relief than anything else, because Linn Grant is in close, and she makes sure of her birdie to tie the hole. Meanwhile up on 6, Charley Hull nearly makes a 30-footer to snatch an unlikely hole, but the ball drifts to the left one turn shy. Europe still two up in the lead fourball match.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (6)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (4)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (3)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (3)
Europe 5-7 USA
Caroline Hedwall’s putt from the fringe at the back of 4 is as clumsy as her second shot was sensational. She reads the big right-to-left break well, but seriously overhits it. That leaves her with a gentle left-to-right five-foot slider coming back … and she doesn’t make it. A really poor three-putt. Europe should be leading in the second match now, but they’re not. Halved in par, and the USA go to the next tee with an unexpected spring in their step.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (5)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (4)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (3)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (2)
Europe 5-7 USA
Nelly Korda’s putter let her down terribly at Walton Heath last month. It doesn’t seem to have warmed up much in the meantime. She shoves a weak short birdie putt wide right at 5, and the chance to half America’s deficit is gone. Leona Maguire makes her par putt and the opening group moves on to the next hole.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (5)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (3)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (3)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (1)
Europe 5-7 USA
Emily Pedersen tidies up for her birdie at 3 and punches the air in satisfaction. That’s levelled up match three, though the irrepressible Rose Zhang nearly snatched an unlikely half, millimetres away from draining a monster putt right across the green. So, so close to an eagle-birdie-birdie start. Major championships coming up soon for America’s breakthrough star of 2023.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (4)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (3)
Sagstrom/Pedersen A/S Zhang/Lee (3)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (1)
Europe 5-7 USA
Emily Pedersen, fresh off her ace on 12 yesterday, goes hunting another one today at 3. A lovely iron that takes one bounce and stops three feet short of the flag. The US may have to make a sizeable putt here if they’re to remain one hole up. Meanwhile up on 4, Caroline Hedwall absolutely blooters her second at the par-five to send her ball over the back of the green. Nobody else comes close. She’s only just off the back, as well, so will have a good look at eagle with the pin nearby.
It’s been a hell of a start for Rose Zhang. She follows up her opening eagle with birdie at 2, and walks off the green laughing, perhaps a response to her putt doing the full 360 around the lip before dropping. It’s just a half, though, as Emily Pedersen had already drained one across the green for a birdie of her own. The US remain one up in that match.
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall take turns to shave the lip with birdie putts at 3. So close, but the door is ajar for the USA, and Angel Yin expertly zips through it, rolling a confident 15-footer into the cup having sent a superb tee shot over the flag. That match is all square again … but Europe now lead the first fourball after Leona Maguire makes a 12-footer for birdie at 4 and Nelly Korda misses from similar distance.
2UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (4)
Nordqvist/Hedwall A/S Knight/Yin (3)
Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee 1UP (2)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (1)
Europe 5-7 USA
Thanks Dominic. Now then, what do we have here. Some golf right out of the top drawer, is what. We’ve already seen one eagle on 1 thanks to Rose Zhang; now Lilia Vu nearly makes another, hitting the flagstick with her chip. Not much work left, but that two-footer won’t be conceded. Then it’s the turn of Linn Grant, who had found the fringe of the green with her opening drive. Her eagle putt never looks like dropping, but that’s going to be a pick-up birdie. Back to the Chevron and British Open champion Vu, and anyone who followed the final day at Walton Heath will know she’s not going to be giving any cheap holes away by missing short putts. Tied. Every match up and running now!
1UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (3)
1UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (2)
Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee 1UP (1)
Ciganda/Grant A/S Kang/Vu (1)
Europe 5-7 USA
Lilia Vu goes right, but well positioned, off the first. Danielle Kang is in a similar spot. Linn Grant takes the more aggressive approach and is rewarded for it, close to the pin. Ciganda’s name is chanted by her home crowd before they fall silent and watch her find the back-right bunker, or thereabouts.
And now all four fourball matches are underway, Scott Murray returns to guide you through the heat of the afternoon.
A birdie for Sagstrom. But it matters not, as Zhang drops in her eagle putt. One up for the USA there.
Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant will tee off on the first next, against Danielle Kang and Lilia Vu.
1 UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (2)
1 UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (1)
Sagstrom/Pedersen v Zhang/Lee 1UP (1)
There’s not enough juice on Sagstrom’s eagle putt, so the birdie is no gimme. Emily Pedersen grazes the lip with her effort from just off the green. Another birdie chance there. Andrea Lee will card a par, so … Rose Zhang will soon have the chance to make it all immaterial if she can make eagle.
Over on the second and Leona Maguire holes a seven-footer – for a birdie, birdie start – to put the European pair one up. A bit of early blue on the scoreboard this afternoon.
1 UP Hull/Maguire v Korda/Ewing (2)
1 UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (1)
Rose Zhang launches an almighty greenfinding drive down the first and she’ll have an eagle putt there. Sublime!
Andrea Lee laid up, Emily Pedersen is wayward right and Madelene Sagstrom finds the green, albeit from further out than Zhang. And just like that, the third group are away.
Anna Nordqvist holes her birdie putt from eight feet! A great start from the European team, going one up after one.
Hull/Maguire A/S Korda/Ewing (1)
1 UP Nordqvist/Hedwall v Knight/Yin (1)
“That song’s not going away,” says Paul McGinley wryly, describing the playing of Spice Girls’ Wannabe as if it were a 45-year-old evergreen golfer, lovely stuff from the affable Irishman.
Madelene Sagstrom and Emily Pedersen are preparing to lock horns with Rose Zhang and Andrea Lee on the first tee, as the second grouping finish up. No birdies for either American, Yin and Knight both doing enough for gimme pars, though. Two chances for a European birdie …
Knight and Yin are both some distance from the flag, albeit still on the dancefloor, on the first. Nordqvist runs it much closer off the back edge to much applause, while Hedwall is also within the range. The Swedes have the better birdie chances, here.
Cheyenne Knight goes first in the second US pairing, landing it way right. Angel Yin takes iron, rather than wood, and lays up securely. Europe’s Swedish pair are next off the tee, with Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall – her first appearance this week – both playing safe, too.
Birdie for Maguire! A fist pump, too. So with Ewing doing the same, they go to the second all square.
Hull/Maguire A/S Korda/Ewing (1)
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall take on Cheyenne Knight and Angel Yin in the second fourballs match, teeing off shortly. Ally Ewing sends a sensational chip close to the flag from the sand. That’s a nailed-on birdie.
They’re singing Sweet Caroline down by the first tee. It’s bordering on bedlam down there. Maybe the midday Marbella heat is finally getting to everyone?
Meanwhile, Leona Maguire goes close with a good chip – she’ll have a chance of birdie. Charley Hull has a tricky one from the lip of the bunker but sends it beyond the back of the green. Nelly Korda can’t get close with her third and will struggle to make par after a poor second.
No player actually found the green on the short par 4 first, which measures 275 yards. The two Europeans are saddled up on the right in good chipping range; birdies are more than possible on this opener at Finca Cortesin.
Leona Maguire has played the maximum 54 holes in this tournament so far; she’ll be the only player on either side to go the full distance when these fourballs are done. World No 3 Nelly Korda sends her tee shot towards the green, paired this afternoon with veritable veteran Ewing, who does the same. We’re off.
Ok, less than 10 minutes until the first fourballs get under way. Strap yourselves in. Charley Hull and Leona Maguire will tee off with Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing very soon.
The interview Maja Stark and Linn Grant gave to Sky at the end of their match was a delight.
“Such a high right now, feels great,” roared a joyous Grant after sinking that putt. Both her and Stark wore beaming smiles under the Marbella sun. You can the two rookie Swedes are loving this experience.
Stark added: “It’s so much fun, getting thhat confidence from Suzanne putting us together. It’s amazing to play with [Linn] again, I knew we could do it. It’s just about letting loose.”
“It was ebbing and flowing in different directions ... this is very achievable,” said Paul McGinley on commentary, referring to Europe’s chances.
“It’s a 2-2 session but Europe feel giddy, but it’s important they don’t fall further behind going into the 12 singles.”
Another 2-2 is the absolute minimum, for sure, for Suzann Pettersen’s team this afternoon. 3-1 would set up a Sunday for the ages.
Thanks Scott. My word that was enjoyable, wasn’t it? A 2-2 session keeps Europe in the fight, but the afternoon fourballs will be so key. Clutch from Grant and Stark at the end.
Swedish Superstars ⭐️
— Solheim Cup Team Europe (@SolheimCupEuro) September 23, 2023
pic.twitter.com/X04DrIWI6s
That’s my cue to chip off for a bit. See you in a while. In the meantime, Dominic Booth will look after you.
Day two fourball tee times
Here’s the line-up for the afternoon fourballs (Europe first, all times BST). The out-of-sorts Georgia Hall has been rested, while we’ll see Caroline Hedwall for the first time this week, and Charley Hull is fit to play. No Lexi Thompson or Allisen Corpuz for the USA, but Rose Zhang is back. Oh, and no Maja Stark, sadly. [downbeat] doo doo doo doo doo doooo [/downbeat] But she’s earned her rest. Enough heroics for one day!
12.40pm: Charley Hull / Leona Maguire v Nelly Korda / Ally Ewing
12.55pm: Anna Nordqvist / Caroline Hedwall v Cheyenne Knight / Angel Yin
1.10pm: Madelene Sagstrom / Emily Pedersen v Rose Zhang / Andrea Lee
1.25pm: Carlota Ciganda / Linn Grant v Danielle Kang / Lilia Vu
Updated
Day two foursomes result
2&1 Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 5&3
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee
Europe 5-7 USA
Updated
Europe 5-7 USA
… in it goes! Anything Maja Stark can do, Linn Grant can match! What a huge putt under serious pressure! The win ensures Europe haven’t lost any ground this morning, the baseline requirement. And such a dramatic way to secure it! That’ll give Team Europe a huge boost going into this afternoon’s fourballs. They’re hanging on in there. They’re not out of this yet! Stark/Grant beat Kang/Lee 1UP
Andrea Lee piles on the pressure. A gorgeous wedge straight at the flag. She sets up a five-footer for birdie. Over to Maja Stark, who splashes out … 12 feet past the flag. It was a tricky downhill chip, that’s not bad at all. But it’s left Linn Grant some work to do. She’ll most likely need to make this birdie putt to win the match. The tension is palpable. She prowls around the putt, sizing it up. She steps up, and …
Maja Stark started yesterday morning’s match so nervously. But it didn’t take the 23-year-old Swedish debutant long to find her feet. About an hour, in fact. She ended up playing extremely well yesterday, and has delivered again today in some style. That putt was a proper Solheim Cup moment, and it’s secured at least half a point for Europe. Can Stark and Linn Grant complete the job for the win? Stark is in the greenside bunker at 18 after two big blows, while Andrea Lee will be chipping up from the swale front right. Big wedge contest coming up!
♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫ She sends a 35-foot tramliner into the cup on 17 for a precious birdie! The ball hits the centre of the cup, takes a little joyous leap, then slams down out of sight! That is quite outrageous. The gallery erupts, Stark wanders around with one fist in the air for a while. A series of high fives, hugs and kisses. What a putt! That registered a full 11 on the Hinako-Shibuno-winning-the-2019-British-Open-ometer! Nobody at the risk of dying wondering there. Doo doo doo doo doo dooooooooo indeed. Yes she does.
1 UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (17)
Europe 4-7 USA
Europe 4-7 USA
Oh dear. Nordqvist gets it all wrong, pulling and overhitting, the outcome obvious from the nanosecond the ball left the face of the putter. Her big mistake, though, was taking too much club on the 17th tee. The small margins, huh. Thompson/Khang beat Nordqvist/Maguire 1UP
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (F)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (16)
Europe 4-7 USA
Updated
Lexi Thompson leaves her birdie putt a couple of feet short. A little bit left in that, so it won’t be conceded, not in these desperate circumstances for Europe. But it’s over to Anna Nordqvist. Can she guide in this 20-footer to snatch half a point?
Leona Maguire wedges Europe’s third on 18 to 20 feet. Megan Khang’s long bunker shot ends up just slightly further away. Huge putting competition coming up. Meanwhile some of the European fans break out into the chant of the week so far. It’s about Maja Stark. You can probably work out the lyrics for yourself. Doo doo doo doo doo dooooo.
Anna Nordqvist lays up at 18. Lexi Thompson takes a shy at reaching the green in two, only to dump her second into a bunker guarding its front. Meanwhile back on 16, Andrea Lee drains one from 30 feet and the final match is tied up yet again. Whatever happens, it’ll be going down the last.
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (17)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (16)
Europe 4-6 USA
Leona Maguire splashes out reasonably well from the sand at the back of 17. But she’s chipping downhill and can only stop the ball 15 feet past the hole. Megan Khang lags up, the putt’s conceded, and Anna Nordqvist can’t make the putt this time. On Sky, Paul McGinley is of the opinion that the Swede took the wrong club, her hybrid too much for the short hole. It’s a big blow to Europe, but it’s time to move on. Khang and Maguire send their drives down 18.
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (17)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (15)
Europe 4-6 USA
Andrea Lee can’t make the par putt to tie 15. It’s always missing on the high side, a bit of a misread. Europe go ahead again in this yo-yo match! Meanwhile up on 17, it’s advantage USA as Anna Nordqvist sends her hybrid into the bunker beyond the green, while Lexi Thompson clacks her iron pin high.
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (16)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (15)
Europe 4-6 USA
Anna Nordqvist makes no mistake whatsoever. What nerve! What a sensational pair of putts from Nordqvist and Lexi Thompson. Everyone moves on to the par-three 17th with the match still tied. Meanwhile back on 15, Danielle Lee finds herself up on a bank to the right of the green. She utilises the camber of the hill to bounce her ball down and around a pair of bunkers, wall of death style, to 15 feet. From where she was, that is preposterously good. But Linn Grant lags her putt from the back of the green to kick-in distance, and this will be a must-make for Andrea Lee.
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (16)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (14)
Europe 4-6 USA
Leona Maguire and Megan Khang take turns to chip up from the side of 16. Maguire bundles her ball up to eight feet. Khang, from half the distance, gets a horrible hot bounce and ends up ten feet away, maybe 12. On the flip side for the USA, they’ll be putting first, matchplay conditions and all that. Lexi Thompson walks hers in, which puts huge pressure on Anna Nordqvist. With just two more holes left, and given the context of the overall match, this putt is huge.
Europe 4-6 USA
Nelly Korda drains a 25-foot birdie putt on 15 to secure the point for America in style! Korda and Allisen Corpuz were four under for their round; that’s hard to counter, even if Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier were without their best stuff. Korda/Corpuz beat Hall/Boutier 5&3
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (15)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 5&3 (F)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (14)
Europe 4-6 USA
Updated
So much depends on the next hour, with two matches now in the balance. Maja Stark can’t secure a tie on 14 from six feet, and the final foursomes match goes back to all square. With the USA almost certain of a point in match three, Europe can’t afford to concede any more ground in the other two; if they do, they’ll be in serious bother. On the other hand, sneak a win in both, and the teams will be tied going into the afternoon fourballs. No pressure, then, folks! Be about your business!
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (15)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (14)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (14)
Europe 4-5 USA
Europe 4-5 USA
Carlota Ciganda hasn’t putted well today. But she’s kept on battling, and now she delivers when it really matters. A tickly downhill four-footer for par on 17, the sort to get the knees knocking. In it drops, and Europe put today’s first point on the board! Pedersen/Ciganda beat Vu/Kupcho 2&1
2&1 Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (F)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (15)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (14)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (13)
Europe 4-5 USA
Updated
Leona Maguire sends Europe’s second into 15 to five feet. Anna Nordqvist makes no mistake with the putt and the second match is all square. A punch of the air by the three-time major winner.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (16)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (15)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (14)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (13)
Europe 3-5 USA
Allisen Corpuz with a 25-foot birdie putt on 14 to win the match. She races it five feet past. Georgia Hall, in New-York-or-bust mode, suddenly relocates her mojo and sends a right-to-left slider into the cup from similar distance! Birdie, and the match is still alive. Just. Realistically, this is just prolonging the pain, but perhaps that’ll restore a little confidence, and if nothing else will remind the US team that nothing will be offered up on a plate.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (16)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (14)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (14)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (13)
Europe 3-5 USA
With the USA out of position on 16, the European pair of Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda play it sensibly and conservatively. Par is good enough, and they’re dormie two.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (16)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (14)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 5UP (13)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (13)
Europe 3-5 USA
Maja Stark aims a dart at the flag on 13, setting up a three-foot birdie chance. Danielle Kang nearly poops the European party by steering in another long putt, this time a right-to-left swinger from the fringe, but it stops one turn short and there’s no escape for the USA. Europe regain the lead in this to-and-fro match.
Leona Maguire and Megan Khang trade not-particularly-close birdie efforts at 14 and the hole is tied. Meanwhile up on 16, Lilia Vu sends her drive into a fairway bunker and the US are up against it from the get-go.
Par for Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz on 13. It’s enough to win the hole, Georgia Hall’s five-foot effort miserably lipping out. The USA are dormie five.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (15)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (13)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 5UP (13)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (12)
Europe 3-5 USA
Andrea Lee missed a short par putt to lose 11. Her partner Danielle Kang responds by sending a 40-foot tramliner into the cup at 12 for bounceback birdie and the win! Meanwhile Carlota Ciganda can’t hole out from the bunker at 15, and with the exception of match three, everything is teetering on the knife-edge here.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (15)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (13)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (12)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (12)
Europe 3-5 USA
Lilia Vu plays perhaps the shot of the week so far at the long par-four 15th. She creams a long iron into the heart of the green, a gentle draw that rolls to kick-in distance. That’s a gimme birdie, and Emily Pedersen needs to reply with something equally sensational now if Europe aren’t to lose this hole. She can only find a bunker back-right of the green, and unless Carlota Ciganda channels her inner Seve, the US will be just one down with three holes to play.
Updated
Lexi Thompson whistles a putt from the fringe at 13 ten feet past. Anna Nordqvist has a long uphill putt for birdie and the win, lagging it a couple of feet short. Megan Khang almost certainly has to make the par putt that remains … and she steers the right-to-left swinger into the cup! A punch of the air, Europe’s putt is conceded, and the hole is halved. That’s one hell of a putt by Khang, who has holed a few this week. “It’ll be interesting to see if Georgia Hall will accompany Leona Maguire this afternoon again in the fourballs,” writes Paul Maguire. “Her form has been brutal since the start of play yesterday. Decision time for Pedersen perhaps?” Yes you’d expect her to be stood down this afternoon, it’s just not been happening for her, and she plainly knows and feels it. Her head is dropping a little. Funny game, golf; even Open champions doubt themselves sometimes.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (14)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (13)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (12)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (11)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Lilia Vu walks in a 25-footer on 14 for a birdie that asks a big question of Emily Pedersen from ten feet. Pedersen gently prods a delicate left-to-right curler through her own shadow and into the centre of the cup. Dead weight. What a pair of putts! The hole is tied. Meanwhile Andrea Lee shoves a short par putt right of the hole at 11, handing the lead back to Europe in the final foursomes match.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (14)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (12)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (12)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (11)
Europe 3-5 USA
Georgia Hall misses a five-foot par putt on 11 with the US team still to putt for birdie. The hole’s conceded, and this third match pretty much looks done and dusted. Meanwhile on 12, Leona Maguire tickles in a very missable downhill four-footer for par; just a half, but it stems the bleeding in match two.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (13)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (12)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 4UP (11)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (10)
Europe 3-5 USA
Linn Grant carelessly races a 20-foot birdie putt on 10 four feet past. She went for the win there all right. Maja Stark rattles in the return with confidence to tie the hole, and punches the air. There’s some minor celebration on 13 as well, where Carlota Ciganda splashes delicately, and brilliantly, from a greenside bunker to salvage par. That turns up the heat on Jennifer Kupcho, whose flat stick has been misbehaving all day. Kupcho sends her birdie putt four feet past, and for once Lilia Vu isn’t up to the salvage job. A hole that looked lost to Europe is won. Ah the joy of matchplay golf.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (13)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (11)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (10)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (10)
Europe 3-5 USA
Europe have seriously lost momentum in the second match. Leona Maguire pushes her approach at 11 into greenside sand, then Anna Nordqvist catches her sand shot a bit thin. Maguire does well to send the long par putt that remains to tap-in distance, but that’s bogey and two up to one down in three holes.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (12)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang 1UP (11)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (9)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (9)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Emily Pedersen aced 12 yesterday. Lightning refuses to strike twice, and her ball disappears down the bank to the right of the green. Carlota Ciganda chips up to four feet, and Pedersen secures the par that maintains Europe’s only lead … because back on 9, Danielle Kang walks in a 20-foot birdie putt, punches the air, and ties the final match.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (11)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (10)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (9)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (9)
Europe 3-5 USA
On Sky, an audibly exasperated Iona Stephen reports that Jennifer Kupcho has taken “a very long time” with a birdie putt on 11. “Let’s hope it’s worth the wait,” she sighs. It’s not. While Stephen calls the left-to-right line correctly, Kupcho doesn’t … and leaves her partner a tricky four footer coming back to boot. The super-quick, super-sharp-shooting Lilia Vu steps up, bang, and makes it. A lesson there, kids. The spoils are shared. Meanwhile on 10, Leona Maguire misses the green, Anna Nordqvist chips weakly, and it’s all square again in the second match.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (11)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (10)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (9)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (8)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
A couple of big European putts. One made, one missed. Linn Grant nails hers for birdie at 8, the Swedish debutants going one up in the last match. Leona Maguire can’t make hers on 9, however, so while Europe are now leading in three of the four matches, all of those leads are precarious.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (10)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (9)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (8)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (8)
Europe 3-5 USA
Lilia Vi misses the green at the dramatic downhill 10th. No such mistake from Emily Pedersen, who lands her tee shot ten feet from the flag. Vu nearly drains the 15-footer her partner Jennifer Kupcho leaves her, but it stops stubbornly on the lip and Europe have two putts for the win. They’re not conceded. Carlota Ciganda dribbles up to tap-in distance and Europe regain the lead in match one.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (10)
2UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (8)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (8)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (7)
Europe 3-5 USA
Nelly Korda certainly doesn’t hang about, that’s for sure. She wastes no time in rattling a birdie putt straight into the cup from six feet at 8. That makes Celine Boutier’s similar putt suddenly look a whole lot longer. But she makes it, and avoids Europe slipping four holes adrift. That was almost in must-make territory, already.
A big escape for the USA on 8. Megan Khang pulls her approach well wide of the green, leaving Lexi Thompson down the bank and tangled up in spongy rough. Thompson uses the camber of the green as a backstop, sending her chip way past the flag, the slope bringing the ball back to 15 feet. That’s a sensational chip, as wonderful as yesterday evening’s shank on 18 was woeful. Khang rolls in the par putt to salvage a half, Anna Nordqvist and Leona Maguire having assumed the worst and played the hole a little bit too conservatively in the wake of Khang’s initial pull. That could be a big matchplay moment, as the USA avoid falling three holes down.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (9)
2UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (8)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (7)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (7)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
A big chance for Carlota Ciganda on 9. Pin high, 15 feet for birdie and the win. But she pulls the putt and leaves it short to boot. Just the half, and the first foursomes match hits the turn in two hours and 18 minutes. Penny for the thoughts of Nelly Korda, who came out all guns blazing on the subject of slow play before the British Open last month.
With Europe in bother, Nelly Korda has a 25-foot birdie putt to win the hole at 7. She leaves it four feet short. Celine Boutier then cranks up the pressure by draining a 20-footer for par, asking the question of Allisen Corpuz. The US Open champion answers in the affirmative. The USA go three up, the first team to do so this morning.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (8)
2UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (7)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 3UP (7)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (6)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
The inevitable happens on 8. The lead match is now all square, Europe having been two up not so long ago. Sky commentator Paul McGinley notes that this match is on course for a two-and-a-half-hour front nine. It’s foursomes! That’s what you get when you send Carlota Ciganda out first, I guess. On that subject, Brian Moss was at the course all yesterday and notes that it was “so painfully slow. Why isn’t anyone ready to play when it is their turn?” Lilia Vu doesn’t hang around, to be fair. But in general, and with reference to both the women’s and men’s game, preach on, brother.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (8)
2UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (7)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 2UP (6)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (6)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Maja Stark lands her tee shot at the par-three 6th to ten feet. But there’s a huge left-to-right break on the remaining putt and Linn Grant doesn’t give it enough on the high side. It drifts off to the right, three feet down the green. Work for Stark to do, but in it goes for a half. Meanwhile drama on 7, where Europe opt not to concede Megan Khang’s straight uphill two-footer. The decision pays off, because Khang unexpectedly pulls it to the left, the ball horseshoeing out. No quarter being given this morning by either side.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (7)
2UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (7)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 2UP (6)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (6)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Carlota Ciganda has been off it all morning. Such a contrast to yesterday afternoon. She pulls a miserable fairway wood straight into a bush down the left of the par-five 8th, and Europe, having been two up in the lead match not so long ago, will be pegged back to all-square unless the US pair of Vu and Kupcho do something very daft indeed.
A couple of big putts missed, and it’s mixed fortunes for both teams. Georgia Hall from 12 feet at 6; the US go two up. Danielle Kang, a downhill effort from eight feet on 5; the match remains all square.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (7)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (6)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 2UP (6)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (5)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Jennifer Kupcho down a swale to the left of 7; Carlota Ciganda in a bunker to the right. Kupcho sends a crisp chip up to kick-in distance. The putt’s conceded. Ciganda can’t get particularly close from the sand, and while Emily Pedersen gives the eight-foot putt a good go, it’s always breaking sadly to the right. The USA grab one back in the lead match, and perhaps Kupcho, erstwhile winner at Augusta National and major champion, has relocated her mojo at last. Danger for Europe if so.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (7)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (6)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (5)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (4)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Leona Maguire dunks her tee shot at 6 into a bunker. The door’s open for Megan Khang, but she doesn’t take advantage, landing her tee shot on the false front, her ball rolling back behind the same bunker. Lexi Thompson does well to wedge to six feet, and Anna Nordqvist splashes to a similar distance. It’s a putting contest, then … and though Khang sends hers dribbling four feet past, Maguire misses a chance to snatch the hole and Thompson tidies up for the half. Both pairs will feel a mixture of relief and irritation about that one.
Andrea Lee leaves an eagle putt short on 4. But Linn Grant can’t make a left-to-right birdie slider from 12 feet, the ball missing on the low side, and Danielle Kang tidies up to take the hole.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (6)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (5)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (5)
Stark/Grant A/S Kang/Lee (4)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
… but they’re not making their putts. A four-footer for Jennifer Kupcho on 6 for the win. She leaves it out on the high side, and it rolls the same distance past. Lilia Vu, normally so dependable, can’t make the one coming back, and in the blink of an eye, a match that looked to be heading all square has turned into a two-hole lead for Europe! Meanwhile on 5, Lexi Thompson and Anna Nordqvist trade mid-range birdie putts. The former’s never threatens to drop; the latter curls a big right-to-left breaker into the cup, and suddenly Europe are in control of the board.
2UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (6)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (5)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (4)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (3)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Nope, don’t expect too many concessions. Nelly Korda finds the water to the left of 4. Alissen Corpuz sends the next one into a bunker, from which Korda effectively has to hole out, Georgia Hall having hit Europe’s third close. Korda doesn’t make it, Europe have two for the win, and it takes a good while before the Americans tell Celine Boutier to pick up. The USA obviously in the mood to play hard this morning.
Interesting to note that Lilia Vu and Jennifer Kupcho didn’t concede Carlota Ciganda’s putt there. Europe had two putts from five feet for the win. Ciganda made it anyway, much to the glee of the gallery. Don’t expect too many concessions going forward from here.
Anna Nordqvist finds water down 4. For a moment, it looks as though Europe will get away with another one, as Lexi Thompson’s approach sails right, snookering Megan Khang behind a bunker, into which she then dunks. But Thompson redeems herself by splashing close, and the USA make the par they need. Errors meanwhile by both Lilia Vu and the misfiring Jennifer Kupcho on 5, the former leaving her partner short of the green, the latter skinning a chip through it. Europe hit the front in the lead match.
1UP Pedersen/Ciganda v Vu/Kupcho (5)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (4)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 2UP (2)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (2)
Europe 3-5 USA
Maja Stark rolls in a long par putt on 2. It’s a huge save, because it ramps up the pressure on Danielle Kang’s birdie putt. Kang can’t make it for the win and the hole is unexpectedly tied.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (4)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (3)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 2UP (2)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (2)
Europe 3-5 USA
Updated
Carlota Ciganda has momentarily mislaid her hot form of yesterday. On the par-five 4th, she leaves partner Emily Pedersen in an awkward position in a greenside bunker. Pedersen, one foot in the trap, one foot out, splashes out wonderfully to five feet, the best she could do. But Ciganda misses the birdie putt. However Jennifer Kupcho hasn’t brought her best stuff this morning either, and she yips a short putt for the win, her second such miss of the morning. Europe, and Ciganda in particular, get away with one.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (4)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (3)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 2UP (2)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (1)
Europe 3-5 USA
It’s two birdies in the first two holes for the USA in match three. The fastest of starts. And when things are going well, they keep going well. Nelly Korda pushes her tee shot at the par-three 3rd and the ball looks for all the world like dunking into the bunker on the right. But it pings off the shoulder and rolls into the heart of the green, from where the USA will have a look at another birdie.
Maja Stark chips to six feet at 1, and Linn Grant steers in the right-to-left slider. Birdie, and an opening statement by the European duo. “What does it say that Caroline Hedwall is still not getting a match?” wonders Richard Hirst. “Her confidence must be taking a battering.” The 34-year-old Swede certainly hasn’t been on top of her game in recent years – her tie for 66th at the recent British Open was the first time she’s made the cut at a major in four years – but she’s a captain’s pick so for that reason alone it’ll be a surprise if she doesn’t get a run-out this afternoon. Either way, Hedwall has a world of experience to fall back on, having become the first player in Solheim Cup history to win all five of her matches, back in 2013. So all is not lost.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (3)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (3)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (1)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (1)
Lexi Thompson’s mind may still be slightly addled. Leona Maguire wedges Europe’s third shot close at the par-five 2nd. It’s an almost surefire birdie. Megan Khang sets up Thompson from six feet, and the half looks on, but then Thompson races the putt almost the same distance past. She almost shapes to stand over it and take the putt back, before remembering she’s playing foursomes. A quick discussion with Khang and the hole is conceded.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (3)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (2)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (1)
Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee
The final foursomes match of the morning takes to the tee. Maja Stark and Linn Grant versus Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee. Kang’s 3-wood is short of the green; Grant’s drive bounds through it. A couple of chips coming up, and given what’s gone before, there’s no point trying to call the likely outcome from here.
Georgia Hall chips gracefully to a couple of feet. That’s almost certainly a birdie, though it’s not been conceded, and the pressure’s on Allisen Corpuz to pull out a sand shot here. But the US Open champ hits it a bit thin, and the ball races a good 20 feet past the hole. You’d think a win for Europe is in the bag … but Nelly Korda sends a tramliner into the middle of the cup at speed! That suddenly puts the pressure on Celine Boutier, whose two-and-a-half footer suddenly looks a lot longer. It lips out, and what a classic matchplay turn of events! All three opening matches to-ing and fro-ing on the 1st!
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (2)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (1)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (1)
Updated
The third match sees Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier take on Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz. Korda flies the green with her drive and ends up in the bunker at the back; Boutier makes the conservative play down the right of the hole. The first match this morning where neither team is favourite after the opening tee shots. Perhaps someone will go on to win the hole this time; golf’s a bit like that.
Megan Khang isn’t giving this up lightly, and knocks a fine chip from the dropzone to 12 feet. Then an uncharacteristically poor chip from Leona Maguire stops well short of the green. Anna Nordqvist opts for the Texas Wedge and lags up to kick-in distance. She’s not an Open winner at Carnoustie for nothing. Thompson then steers in a perfectly paced right-to-left curler to salvage par and make up for her mistake. The famous Lexi moxie; after last night’s shank, she then wedged to close range from the bottom of a swale. Anyway, that’ll make her feel a whole lot better.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (1)
Nordqvist/Maguire A/S Thompson/Khang (1)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz
Vu’s eagle putt dribbles four feet past the cup. A bit of work left for Kupcho … and after Pedersen tidies up for Europe’s par, she pulls the short putt on the dewy morning green and that’s a half that will feel like a loss for the USA. Back on the tee, Lexi Thompson takes driver and goes for the green … only to hit the face of the pond wall and plummet into the drink. Given her last meaningful shot was last night’s shanked chip on 18, that won’t settle her mind. No thousand-yard stare, but a steely look of concern all right. Anna Nordqvist makes the smart matchplay move and takes a safe 3-wood down the right.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (1)
Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang
Pedersen’s chip is pretty dismal. She’s got plenty of green to work with but seriously underhits it. Back to Ciganda, who could seriously do with draining the 30-footer that remains. She gives it a good run, but America now have two putts to win the hole and make the fastest of starts.
Here we go, then, as the first match takes to the first tee. Jennifer Kupcho is up first … and she hits an absolute pearler into the heart of the green. Her partner Lilia Vu will have a great look at eagle. That was a high tariff shot in foursomes and a statement of intent from the Americans. Over to the home hero Carlota Ciganda, who pulls her drive and is forced to shout fore, scattering a few punters to the left of the green. At least it’s dry. Emily Pedersen has some work to do. Immediate advantage USA.
Preamble
A wild to-and-fro opening day included a session whitewash, a hole-in-one, a dramatic shank, and a determined afternoon fightback by the hosts. More please! More please! Here are the tee times for the day two morning foursomes (Europe first, all times BST) …
7.10am: Emily Pedersen / Carlota Ciganda v Lilia Vu / Jennifer Kupcho
7.22am: Anna Nordqvist / Leona Maguire v Lexi Thompson / Megan Khang
7.34am: Georgia Hall / Celine Boutier v Nelly Korda / Allisen Corpuz
7.46am: Maja Stark / Linn Grant v Danielle Kang / Andrea Lee
… and we’ll get going immediately. It’s on!
