Stacy Lewis raises the Solheim Cup into the blue Virginia sky. The light dancing through its gorgeous glass. Lexi Thompson, at the end of the road, and draped in the stars and stripes, hugs the trophy tightly with a huge smile on her face. What a way to end a glorious career. What a way to end another week of sensational Solheim drama. Hats off to Europe for making a proper go of it today; congratulations to Team USA for flatly refusing to buckle in the face of unexpected levels of stress and pressure. The hosts were the better team from the get-go this week, and fully deserved their victory. Congratulations to Team USA, commiserations to Europe, and thanks to everyone for reading this blog. See you in a couple of years for the 2026 Solheim Cup at the Bernardus in the Netherlands? It’s a date!
Updated
European captain Suzann Pettersen speaks to NBC: “We gave them a run for their money … I don’t think anyone expected us to be here at 2.30 and still have a chance … it’s kind of hard to believe we actually had a chance … we gave them such a head start … I had fun today … several times we thought we could get it done … happy for Stacy on her home turf … we’ll come back very hungry … I’ve truly enjoyed it, win or lose … it’s fun to win but a little more painful to lose … we’ve had a lot of fun and good laughs … moments I will cherish forever … Solheims, they’re the best!”
USA captain Stacy Lewis talks to NBC: “This is so cool … it’s so stressful to watch … it’s awful watching … I’m so proud of the players … it’s amazing how these things come down to half a point here and there … fortunately this time we were on the right side of it … it really could have gone either way … I was just hoping and praying … Lilia’s finish was unbelievable but what you expect from one of the best players in the world!”
Singles result
6&4 Charley Hull v Nelly Korda
Emily Pedersen v Megan Khang 6&5
4&3 Georgia Hall v Alison Lee
Anna Nordqvist v Allisen Corpuz 4&3
Carlota Ciganta v Rose Zhang 6&4
Esther Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee
1UP Celine Boutier v Lexi Thompson
Maja Stark A/S Lauren Coughlin
Albane Valenzuela A/S Lilia Vu
1UP Madelene Sagstrom v Sarah Schmelzel
4&3 Leona Maguire v Ally Ewing
Linn Grant v Jennifer Kupcho 2&1
Final score: USA 15½-12½ Europe
Madelene Sagstrom and Sarah Schmelzel trade two-putts on 18, and the last match to finish goes Europe’s way.
Madelene Sagstrom beat Sarah Schmelzel 1UP
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (17)
USA 15½-12½ Europe
USA 15½-11½ Europe
Birdie for Jennifer Kupcho at 17. She flew out of the blocks, winning the first three holes; Linn Grant came back hard with a trifecta of her own at 9, 10 and 11. But the former Augusta National and Dinah Shore champion bounces back to win the anchor match.
Jennifer Kupcho beats Linn Grant 2&1
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (17)
Grant v Kupcho 2&1 (F)
USA 15½-11½ Europe
There are still two matches out there. Madelene Sagstrom, having won 17 to regain the lead in her ding-dong battle with Sarah Schmelzel, finds the back of 18 in regulation. Schmelzel chips close, though. Polite applause right now, because everyone, from victors to the vanquished, has been put through the ringer this afternoon. It’s been a lot closer today than anyone expected.
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (17)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (16)
USA 14½-11½ Europe
Vu: "I thought oh shoot, I’d better birdie this, let me try my best!"
The USA team cavorts all across the course! Well, mainly at the 18th green, but Sarah Schmelzel and Jennifer Kupcho are also jigging around, despite competing in matches yet to finish. And who can blame them? Lilia Vu, who looks a little shell-shocked at becoming the player to bring the Solheim Cup back into American possession for the first time in four stagings, is asked about her amazing late surge to claim that crucial half-point by NBC. “I felt like I didn’t do my part this week and wanted to get something done … I said to my caddie on 16 I felt like I haven’t done anything for this team … on 16 I was in the back bunker and thought oh no … I ended up making up and down from the bunker and somehow birdied 17 and got it done on 18 to get the half point! … I knew [how important the match was] on the 18th hole, I thought oh shoot, I’d better birdie this, let me try my best!”
What a star!
USA 14½-11½ Europe: USA win 2024 Solheim Cup!
… but like Esther Henseleit 20 minutes earlier, Valenzuela’s putt is dead on line but a few joules of energy short. Vu has a two-footer to win the Solheim Cup! In it goes, and the USA celebrations begin! A birdie-birdie finish for Lilia Vu, America’s hero!
Lilia Vu and Albane Valenzuela tie
Valenzuela A/S Vu (F)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (16)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (15)
USA 14½-11½ Europe
Updated
Lilia Vu may well have just won the Solheim Cup for the USA! A stunning wedge to kick-in distance on 18. It’s not immediately conceded, because Albane Valenzuela has a 30-foot putt for birdie and the match. It’s got to go in …
That really was an outrageous display of street-fighting brilliance by Maja Stark. Europe will probably go on to lose the Solheim Cup, but let’s take this opportunity for one last hoedown while it’s still there. All together now: ♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫
USA 14-11 Europe
What moxie, Maja Stark! She raps in the ten-footer to save her par, a putt as stunning as the one before was awful. That’s one of the all-time clutch putts, and Europe are still alive! Just. They can’t win the cup now, but they can retain it if they manage to win all three of the remaining matches. That’s the mother, father and extended family of all asks, though … especially as Jennifer Kupcho has just won the 14th against Linn Grant.
Lauren Coughlin and Maja Stark tie
Stark A/S Coughlin (F)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (17)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (14)
USA 14-11 Europe
Updated
Lilia Vu sends a straight 12-footer for birdie into the cup at 17 to extend her match with Albane Valenzuela. But never mind that, because up on 18, Maja Stark sends a hysterical long birdie putt ten feet past the hole! Lauren Coughlin can’t make her birdie putt, but she’s in for par, and now Stark has to make her putt coming back, because otherwise Coughlin has secured the cup for the USA!
USA 13½-10½ Europe
Maja Stark overcooks her approach into 18. Over the flag, 30 feet past. That opens the door for local hero Lauren Coughlin, who could record an all-time Solheim Cup record of 4-0-0 for a rookie if she wins this hole … and with it secure the cup for the USA. She doesn’t wedge close, though, short of the flag, but she’ll have a better look at birdie, uphill from 20 feet. But over on 15, par for Leona Maguire secures another point for Europe! She’s simply blown Ally Ewing away; with zero points, Ewing will want to forget this week.
Leona Maguire beats Ally Ewing 4&3
Stark A/S Coughlin (17)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
4&3 Maguire v Ewing (F)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-10½ Europe
Updated
USA 13½-9½ Europe
… and in it goes! Boutier wins four of the last seven holes to overturn Lexi Thompson’s three-hole lead. Boutier delighted, Lexi drained.
Celine Boutier beats Lexi Thompson 1UP
1UP Boutier v Thompson (F)
Stark A/S Coughlin (17)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-9½ Europe
Updated
You could hear grass grow as Lexi Thompson prowls around her birdie putt. It could be her last stroke in Solheim Cup … which it still might be, depending on what Celine Boutier does, but Lexi sends a dismal effort wide right of the cup, and there’s still work to do. Boutier from six feet to win the match …
Maja Stark rams home her birdie putt and her match with the irrepressible Lauren Coughlin remains tied as they head to the last. On 18, Lexi Thompson’s drive nearly ends up in some dude’s upturned hat, but he snatches his titfer from the ground before it causes a rules brouhaha. Thompson finds the green from there in two, and she’ll have a look at birdie from 15 feet, but Celine Boutier is in closer, having wedged spectacularly to six feet. Drama here!
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (17)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-8½ Europe
USA 13½-8½ Europe
Esther Henseleit hits her 15-foot birdie putt at 18 on the perfect line. If she hits it, it’s in, but it stops one turn short. Andrea Lee tidies up and fist-pumps the air, knowing just how crucial that half-point can be. Henseleit not so happy. She’ll feel she let that one slip, but Lee was simply relentless.
Andrea Lee and Esther Henseleit tie
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (F)
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (16)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (14)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-8½ Europe
Andrea Lee sends a nice putt down the 18th green, but it’s never going in, and rolls three feet past. That won’t be conceded. Meanwhile on 17, the outstanding rookie Lauren Coughlin walks in a 25-foot birdie putt to turn the pressure back onto Maja Stark!
Esther Henseleit nearly holed out from 87 yards yesterday on 18. Today she’s wedging in from 100. She sends her ball straight at the flag, but 12 feet short. She’ll have a much better look at birdie, though, because from the rough, Andrea Lee couldn’t get any spin on her second, and only just held the green at the back. Meanwhile birdie for Leona Maguire at 14, and a stunning approach into 17 for Maja Stark, who will have a great birdie chance from four feet. The momentum this afternoon has been all over the shop!
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (17)
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (16)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (14)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13-8 Europe
Birdie for Sarah Schmelzel on 14, and her match with Madelene Sagstrom continues to ping back and forth! Neither Celine Boutier nor Lexi Thompson can make their birdie efforts on 17, and they’ll be going down the last. Meanwhile on 18 it’s advantage Esther Henseleit, who finds the centre of the fairway, while Andrea Lee’s tee shot ends up in the thick rough to the right. And on 15, Albane Valenzuela nearly drains a long birdie putt for the win, but claims the hole anyway with Lilia Vu missing a 12-foot par putt.
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (17)
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (16)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (14)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (13)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13-8 Europe
Celine Boutier gets a friendly bounce off the bank to the right of the 17th green. Her ball rolls to 20 feet. She probably deserved that break after coming so close with that putt on the previous hole. Lexi Thompson finds the dancefloor too, but she’s another 20 feet further back.
It’s right edge for Andrea Lee, just as it was for Esther Henseleit. It’s all about execution … and she pulls one wide left and three feet past. All of a sudden, the pressure has turned back on Lee! She does extremely well to gather herself, like Henseleit before her, responding to a careless mistake by tidying up. The pressures of Singles Sunday at the Solheim, ladies and gentlemen!
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (17)
Boutier A/S Thompson (16)
Stark A/S Coughlin (15)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (14)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (13)
Grant A/S Kupcho (12)
USA 13-8 Europe
Esther Henseleit simply has to make the 15-foot par putt she’s carelessly left herself. Even then Andrea Lee will have a chance to make her birdie effort to win the hole. But she calms herself down and sends the gentle right-to-left slider into the middle of the cup. In the circumstances, that took industrial quantities of moxie. But Lee has the chance to go dormie from 12 feet with a very similar putt, and she’s had a great teach from Henseleit.
Despite her flagstick-hitting misadventures, Linn Grant has a short putt to win 12. It’d be her fourth hole in a row … but she pulls it carelessly wide left. A big let-off for Jennifer Kupcho. Celine Boutier’s birdie putt on 16 stops one dimple short of dropping. The small margins. Meanwhile Andrea Lee wedges to ten feet at 17, while Esther Henseleit can only find the back left of the green, a good ways from the flag. Her long birdie putt is seriously underhit, and this could be a huge gift for the USA, who can suddenly sense some momentum turning back their way!
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (16)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (14)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (12)
Grant A/S Kupcho (12)
USA 13-8 Europe
The current projected score is USA 15-13 Europe. If Europe are to hold on to their treasure, they need to win all the matches they’re currently leading, and nick three of the four they’re currently tied. Linn Grant’s iron into 12 clatters the flagstick and rebounds 20 feet, but at least stays on the green; Celine Boutier is much closer at the par-three 16th than Lexi Thompson, who carves her tee shot a long way right of the pin … but at least that’s stayed on the green, too. This is something else.
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (16)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (12)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Updated
Some much-needed momentum for the USA courtesy of Andrea Lee! She makes her left-to-right slider from ten feet for birdie at 16, and though that gives Esther Henseleit a read, the German can’t follow her in! These singles are outrageously dramatic. Good luck accurately predicting the outcome.
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (16)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (12)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Madeline Sagstrom sends her second at 13 to three feet, and regains the lead against Sarah Schmelzel in a to-and-fro match. Celine Boutier meanwhile makes her ten-foot birdie putt on 15, and from three holes down, the French major-winner has tied the match up with three holes. to play. All of a sudden, there’s no red on the board, though the USA are still projected to win.
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (15)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Every match is on a knife-edge, and anything is possible. The tension is palpable. Lexi Thompson drives into a fairway bunker on 15 but is able to find the green with her second; Celine Boutier goes much closer, though. Andrea Lee and Esther Henseleit take turns to pepper the flag at the par-three 16th; putting competition from ten feet coming up. And on 14, Lauren Coughlin inevitably wins the hole after Maja Stark’s error, but only after hitting a hysterical putt 15 feet past the hole from the fringe, Stark nearly keeping her outside hopes alive but shaving the lip with her par putt. Stark concedes the hole.
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (15)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (14)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Updated
A huge mistake by Maja Stark on 14. A mishit from the centre of the fairway, and she pulls her second into the drink. She wedges her fourth to 15 feet, but with Lauren Coughlin in the fringe at the back of the green in two, it’s serious advantage to the USA here. Stark was three holes up after 10.
Andrea Lee and Esther Henseleit trade magnificent blows on 15. They take turns to set up 15-foot birdie chances. Henseleit up first. She’s this close to draining the gentle right-to-left slider, but it turns left just as it looks like dropping. Lee’s effort from similar distance somehow stays up on the other side! Hole halved. Meanwhile back on 13, Albane Valenzuela sends a tramliner into the cup for birdie and the lead against Lilia Vu!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (15)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (14)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (13)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Celine Boutier nearly steers in a big right-to-left swinger on 14 to level up her match with Lexi Thompson. It lips out. She looks shocked it didn’t drop. There are European celebrations on 11, though, as Linn Grant makes another birdie putt to win her third hole in a row against Jennifer Kupcho. It’s all tied up there!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (14)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (14)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (13)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Sarah Schmelzel has missed some teeny putts this week. But now she rakes an eagle putt from downtown to level up her match against Madelene Sagstrom! That’s two holes in three for the US rookie, and Solheim Sunday is really beginning to heat up now!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (14)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (13)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (13)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (10)
USA 13-8 Europe
Leona Maguire fires a dart at the flag on 11, but misses the short birdie putt. These things could end up being very costly. Andrea Lee wedges her third to three feet on 14 and makes the birdie to halve her deficit against Esther Henseleit. And Linn Grant rattles a birdie putt in on 10 to get right back into her match with Jennifer Kupcho. She’s taken a while to warm up after the coldest of starts – three down after three – but now two holes on the bounce sees her right back in it!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (14)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (13)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (11)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (10)
USA 13-8 Europe
Celine Boutier nearly holes out from 100 yards at 13. It’s enough to take another hole off Lexi Thompson, who has a long history of allowing her nerves to consume her talent. Europe might need that to happen again here if they’re to have any hope of retaining their trophy. Meanwhile birdie for Albane Valenzuela on 12, and her match against Lilia Vu is all square again. The USA are so close … and yet still so far away.
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (13)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (13)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (11)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (10)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 13-8 Europe
USA 13-8 Europe
Anna Nordqvist needs to steer in a downhill left-to-right 20-footer for birdie on 15 to extend her match against Allisen Corpuz. It’s always staying up on the high side, and that’s another point on the board for the hosts, who now need just one-and-a-half more for victory!
Allisen Corpuz beats Anna Nordqvist 4&3
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4&3 (F)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (13)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 13-8 Europe
Esther Henseleit birdies 13 to extend her lead over Andrea Lee. But it’s a birdie for Lauren Coughlin at 12, and suddenly Maja Stark’s three-hole lead is chiselled down to one.
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4UP (14)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (13)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 12-8 Europe
USA 12-8 Europe
Rose Zhang replicates Charley Hull’s stunning shot into 14! A majestic hybrid drawn into the heart of the green, making use of the backstop to bring her ball around to six feet! She’ll have an uphill putt for eagle. She won’t have to make it, though. Carlota Ciganda finds the green in two as well, but can’t steer in her 20-foot eagle effort, and doesn’t need to see Zhang’s effort in. What a display by the young star, who at 21 is five years younger than anyone else on the team! And to beat the beating heart of the European side too!
Rose Zhang beats Carlota Ciganda 6&4
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4UP (14)
Ciganda v Zhang 6&4 (F)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 12-8 Europe
Updated
It certainly doesn’t look as though Europe are going to turn around either of the matches in which Allisen Corpuz and Rose Zhang are dominating. Corpuz makes another birdie, this time at 14, and she’s dormie four. Meanwhile on 10, Sarah Schmelzel chips in again, this time from thick rough to the back of the green, to snatch a hole back off Madelene Sagstrom. This isn’t beyond Europe yet, but a lot of things have to go their way if they’re to stun the USA.
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4UP (14)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (13)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 11-8 Europe
Celine Boutier’s birdie at 12 grabs a hole back from Lexi Thompson. Linn Grant meanwhile does the same at 9 to reduce arrears against Jennifer Kupcho. Much needed for Europe, who need to turn around two matches if they’re to retain the cup.
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (13)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (13)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (10)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (9)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 11-8 Europe
A scramble from the trees on 13 for Carlota Ciganda. It’s enough for par to extend the match, but it’s surely too little too late with Rose Zhang now dormie five. As things stand, Europe lead in four matches, but the USA are ahead in five. The hosts strong favourites to close this out and regain the Solheim Cup.
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (13)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (13)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (10)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (9)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (8)
USA 11-8 Europe
USA 11-8 Europe
Maja Stark goes closer with her tee shot at the par-three 11th, but Lauren Coughlin steers in a downhill 30-footer for birdie, and a hole that initially favoured Europe goes to the hosts. Meanwhile on 15, Georgia Hall has two putts to win against the out-of-sorts Alison Lee. She cradles the first one up to kick-in distance, and the match is conceded.
Georgia Hall beats Alison Lee 4&3
4&3 Hall v Alison Lee (F)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (13)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (12)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (11)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (10)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (9)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (8)
USA 11-8 Europe
Leona Maguire sends her tee shot at 9 straight at the flag. She walks in the ten-foot birdie putt that remains, and doubles her lead over Ally Ewing. Esther Henseleit’s bogey on 12 costs her a hole. Lilia Vu nearly drains an eagle putt after driving the 10th, but birdie is enough to take the lead again over Albane Valenzuela.
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (14)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (13)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (12)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (11)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (10)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (10)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (9)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (8)
USA 11-7 Europe
Maja Stark birdies 10 to restore her three-hole lead over Lauren Coughlin. Par is enough for Madelene Sagstrom to double her advantage over Sarah Schmelzel. Meanwhile Allisen Corpuz salvages a half on 13 from ten feet against Anna Nordqvist to remain three up.
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (14)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (13)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (12)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (11)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (11)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (10)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (9)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (9)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (8)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (7)
USA 11-7 Europe
Leona Maguire drains a long one across 8 to regain the lead over Ally Ewing. Carlota Ciganda drives into the penalty area at 12 and that’s yet another hole gone against the relentless Rose Zhang. Lexi Thompson makes a two-putt par from distance on 11, while Celine Boutier is unable to make her short birdie effort, which tickles off to the right. And Georgia Hall and Alison Lee take turns to find the bunker on the par-five 14th; Hall splashes close, Lee does not, and the European star is dormie four.
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (14)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (12)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (12)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (11)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (11)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (9)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (9)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (8)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (8)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (7)
USA 11-7 Europe
Updated
Back-to-back holes for Allisen Corpuz at 11 and 12, and match four is beginning to run away from Anna Nordqvist. A chance on 11 for Celine Boutier to eat into Lexi Thompson’s big lead, though: Thompson’s tee shot finds the green but she’s well right of the flagstick; Boutier flings an arrow straight at the pin, and will have a look at birdie from about ten feet.
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (13)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 3UP (12)
Ciganda v Zhang 4UP (11)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (11)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (10)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (9)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (9)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (8)
Maguire A/S Ewing (7)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (7)
USA 11-7 Europe
Andrea Lee dunks her tee shot at the par-three 11th into the water, and that’s another hole gone in the shortest of orders. Esther Henseleit has now won four holes in a row. Meanwhile Madelene Sagstrom responds to Sarah Schmelzel’s hole out from the bunker at 7 by walking in a 20-foot left-to-right swinger on 8, her lead regained.
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (13)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (11)
Ciganda v Zhang 4UP (11)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (11)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (10)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (8)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (8)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (8)
Maguire A/S Ewing (7)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (6)
USA 11-7 Europe
Andrea Lee misses a short putt on 10 and the momentum is really with Esther Henseleit now. Her namesake Alison also misses from short distance, on 13, and a chance to further eat into Georgia Hall’s lead is gone. Albane Valenzuela ties things up with Lilia Vi on 8. But another hole slips from Carlota Ciganda’s grasp on 11, and Rose Zhang is strong favourite to close that match out now.
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (13)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (11)
Ciganda v Zhang 4UP (11)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (10)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (9)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (8)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (8)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (7)
Maguire A/S Ewing (6)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (6)
USA 11-7 Europe
Charley Hull, having just sent Nelly Korda packing in sensational style, sends a message to the rest of the European team via Sky: “Anything is possible.” She was outrageously good today. Whatever the result, Hull deserves all the cigarettes tonight.
You may have noticed a couple of changes down the board. Lauren Coughlin isn’t giving up her perfect record this week without a fight, and reduces her deficit on Maja Stark with a win at 8. Meanwhile at 7, Sarah Schmelzel has tied things up against Madelene Sagstrom by splashing out dramatically from a deep bunker at 7, her ball landing six feet from the cup before rolling in on a gentle left-to-right arc.
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (12)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (11)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (10)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (9)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (9)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (8)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (7)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (7)
Maguire A/S Ewing (6)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (6)
USA 11-7 Europe
USA 11-7 Europe
A minute after Europe put the first point on the board today, the USA respond! Megan Khang closes out her match with Emily Pedersen, who was never at the races today. Khang just relentless, and Pedersen’s game crumbled under the pressure.
Megan Khang beats Emily Pedersen 6&5
Pedersen v Khang 6&5 (F)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (12)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (11)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (10)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (9)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (9)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (8)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (7)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (7)
Maguire A/S Ewing (6)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (6)
USA 11-7 Europe
Updated
USA 10-7 Europe
From 187 yards out in thick rough on the par-five 14th, Nelly Korda is forced to lay up. Charley Hull then responds with one of the shots of the week, landing her second in the heart of the green, the ball rolling through, curling round to the left, nudging off the fringe at the back, and serenely sliding down to 18 inches. Korda has to hole her chip to have any hope of staying alive, and while she goes close, it’s not happening. The pair embrace as Hull closes out an emphatic victory in the lead match over the world number one!
Charley Hull beats Nelly Korda 6&4
6&4 Hull v Korda (F)
Pedersen v Khang 5UP (12)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (12)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (10)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (10)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (9)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (8)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (7)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (7)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (6)
Maguire A/S Ewing (6)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (5)
USA 10-7 Europe
Updated
Roze Zhang drives the 10th green, and though she overcooks the eagle putt by six feet, makes the one coming back. She’s in proper control against Carlota Ciganda now. Meanwhile Alison Lee, who has missed a series of short putts today, takes the flat stick out of the equation by chipping in from the back of 12. Eagle! Georgia Hall has to repeat the trick to salvage a half, but that’s not happening. Hall now just – Just! But this is Solheim Cup Sunday, after all – three holes ahead.
5UP Hull v Korda (13)
Pedersen v Khang 5UP (12)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (12)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (10)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (10)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (9)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (8)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (7)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (7)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (6)
Maguire A/S Ewing (6)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (5)
Ally Ewing has two putts to win at 6. She only needs one, and ties it up with Leona Maguire. Esther Henseleit also gets back to all square, making a straight ten-footer on 9. That’s back-to-back holes against Andrea Lee.
Charley Hull is relentless. A 35-foot tramliner for birdie at 13, and she’s dormie five over the world number one Nelly Korda. Another long European putt drops on 7, and it’s enough for Albane Valenzuela to cut Lilia Vu’s lead to one hole. Megan Khang meanwhile birdies 12 to edge even closer to victory over Emily Pedersen, as Lexi Thompson extends her lead over Celine Boutier with birdie at 8.
5UP Hull v Korda (13)
Pedersen v Khang 5UP (12)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (11)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (10)
Ciganda v Zhang 2UP (9)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 1UP (8)
Boutier v Thompson 3UP (8)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (7)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (7)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (6)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (5)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (4)
Sarah Schmelzel has missed some crucial putts this week. The rookie makes a big one here on 6, though, a 25-foot left-to-right swinger that has just enough energy to drop quietly into the cup. The crowd aren’t so quiet, though, as Madelene Sagstrom’s lead is reduced to one hole.
4UP Hull v Korda (12)
Pedersen v Khang 4UP (11)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (11)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (10)
Ciganda v Zhang 2UP (9)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 1UP (8)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (7)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (7)
Valenzuela v Vu 2UP (6)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (6)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (5)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (4)
Par for Esther Henseleit on 8. That cuts her deficit against Andrea Lee in half. A crucial shift in momentum after losing three of the last four holes.
Georgia Hall has left herself a shaky downhill right-to-left slider. But she clatters it into the hole with great confidence. That’s seriously impressive, coming as it does in the wake of that careless three-putt. She punches the air and now the pressure’s suddenly back on Alison Lee … and the American’s putt dribbles wide right, staying high. That’s a huge matchplay smash and grab. Meanwhile Carlota Ciganda rattles in a 15-footer for birdie at 9, and suddenly she’s back within striking distance against Rose Zhang.
4UP Hull v Korda (12)
Pedersen v Khang 4UP (11)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (11)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (9)
Ciganda v Zhang 2UP (9)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 2UP (7)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (7)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (7)
Valenzuela v Vu 2UP (6)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (5)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (4)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (4)
Alison Lee, having just been gifted a hole by Georgia Hall, looks to keep up momentum with a stunning tee shot at the par-three 11th. An elegant draw that lands 15 feet short of the flag and rolls out to four feet. Hall’s response is over the flag and excellent, but she’ll be putting from twice the distance.
Bogey for Albane Valenzuela on 6, and Lilia Vu takes control of match nine. Charley Hull and Nelly Korda trade the par-five 12th in birdie. And Lexi Thompson rakes in a 40-foot monster up 7 to double her lead against Celine Boutier. She’s been putting quite beautifully all week. Lexi! Retirement plans! Please rethink them!
4UP Hull v Korda (12)
Pedersen v Khang 4UP (10)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (10)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (9)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (8)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 2UP (7)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (7)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (6)
Valenzuela v Vu 2UP (6)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (5)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (4)
Grant v Kupcho 3UP (4)
An escape for Carlota Ciganda on 8, where Rose Zhang has a four-footer for birdie but pushes it wide right, straight off the bat. Zhang’s lead is still three holes, though. Meanwhile a messy three-putt bogey for Georgia Hall on 10, her first big mistake of the day. There goes a hole.
Jennifer Kupcho has simply flown out of the blocks today. The erstwhile Augusta National champion screeches an iron to tap-in distance from 150 yards on 3, and that’s three holes in a row to begin. Linn Grant yet to recover her poise after that wayward opening tee shot.
Emily Pedersen’s wild drive at 10 costs her. Four-hole leads in each of the first three matches now. Meanwhile a really careless three-putt bogey by Allisen Corpuz on 9 hands a hole back to Anna Nordqvist; Maja Stark walks in a confidently-hit birdie putt on 6 to stretch her lead over the as-yet-unbeaten Lauren Coughlin; Leona Maguire retakes the lead over Ally Ewing at 4; and Andrea Lee doubles hers against Esther Henseleit on 7.
4UP Hull v Korda (11)
Pedersen v Khang 4UP (10)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (9)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (9)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (7)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 2UP (7)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (5)
3UP Stark v Coughlin (6)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (4)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (4)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (4)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (2)
Charley Hull’s putter is as hot as Nelly Korda’s is cold. Korda lets a ten-foot birdie putt at 11 dribble by on the right; Hull, having been given a teach, makes no mistake, rolling in yet another. This one not quite in the centre of the cup like so many before it today, but grabbing more than enough of the right-hand side of the hole to drop. All of a sudden, holes are beginning to run out for the world number one in the lead match.
4UP Hull v Korda (11)
Pedersen v Khang 3UP (9)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (9)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (8)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (7)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 1UP (6)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (5)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (5)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (4)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (4)
Maguire A/S Ewing (3)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (2)
A four-footer for birdie for Alison Lee on 9. It slides by. Nothing dropping for Lee this afternoon. Birdie for Ally Ewing at 3, though, and she hauls Leona Maguire back to all square. And a birdie for Madelene Sagstrom at 4; it doubles her lead over Sarah Schmelzel.
3UP Hull v Korda (10)
Pedersen v Khang 3UP (9)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (9)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (8)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (7)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 1UP (6)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (5)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (5)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (4)
2UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (4)
Maguire A/S Ewing (3)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (2)
Emily Pedersen’s head has gone. She follows up shank on 9 by sending a wild hook into the penalty area down the left of 10. Meanwhile Esther Henseleit yips a short par putt on 6 to hand the advantage to Andrea Lee, while Jennifer Kupcho wins another hole in the anchor match, enjoying the fastest of starts agains Linn Grant. A lot of red on the board now. Europe need something to happen.
3UP Hull v Korda (10)
Pedersen v Khang 3UP (9)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (7)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (7)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (6)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee 1UP (6)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (5)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (4)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (4)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (2)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (2)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (2)
Nelly Korda drives the green at the short par-four 10th, but her ball bounds through the back. She chips to ten feet but misses the birdie putt, and a chance to put pressure on Charley Hull is gone. She’s fortunate that Hull, who got a read from her putt, doesn’t hit her own birdie attempt. They move on. Meanwhile that shank costs Emily Pedersen on 9. Match two beginning to get out of control for Europe. “Putting used to be Scheffler’s only weakness, too,” notes Joe Pearson. “Maybe Korda should just change the style of putter she uses. Worked for Scottie!”
3UP Hull v Korda (10)
Pedersen v Khang 3UP (9)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (7)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (7)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (6)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (5)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (5)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (4)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (4)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (2)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (2)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (1)
Updated
Celine Boutier birdies 5 to cut Lexi Thompson’s lead in half. These two haven’t halved a hole yet. Leona Maguire shoves a short birdie putt wide on 2, an opportunity to double her lead spurned. And it’s a good old-fashioned hosel rocket by Emily Pedersen on the par-three 9th. Straight right. Hey, it can happen to anyone. Tiger shanked from the centre of the fairway at the Genesis Invitational earlier this year, for goodness sake.
3UP Hull v Korda (9)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (8)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (7)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (7)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (6)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (5)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (5)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (4)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (3)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (2)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (2)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (1)
Lilia Vu had won the 2nd hole against Albane Valenzuela with a gorgeous approach, her ball using the camber to the left of the green to gather her ball to kick-in distance. Valenzuela responds on 3 with a similarly clever shot from the trees on the left, utilising the contours to the right of the green to bring her ball close. Birdie, and the match is level again. Meanwhile up on the par-three 9th, a great chance for Nelly Korda to reduce her deficit against Charley Hull, but she shoves an abysmal effort from six feet well wide right of the cup. Korda’s putter stone cold today, as it tends to get on occasion, the world’s best player’s achilles heel.
3UP Hull v Korda (9)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (7)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (7)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (7)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (6)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (5)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (4)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (3)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (3)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (2)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (1)
Grant v Kupcho
The anchor match takes to the course. Linn Grant replicates Nelly Korda’s opening drive by sending a wild effort into the trees down the left. Jennifer Kupcho splits the fairway. Up on the green, Leona Maguire, who has been waiting since Friday to get back into action, wastes no time in going one up, having set herself up for birdie with a lovely dart to four feet. And par is enough for Madelene Sagstrom to take the lead against Sarah Schmelzel, who had been the width of a dimple away from winning the opening hole, her putt staying stubbornly on the right-hand edge. The small margins.
3UP Hull v Korda (8)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (7)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (7)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (6)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (5)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (4)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (4)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (3)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (2)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (2)
1UP Maguire v Ewing (1)
Grant v Kupcho
Lexi Thompson rakes another birdie putt into the cup! This one from 35 feet at 4. That’s three holes in a row for Lexi, who is about to retire at the age of 29, for goodness sake. Might it be worth rethinking this plan? Don’t go, Lexi. Rose Zhang meanwhile rattles one in at 5, spooking Carlota Ciganda into leaving her shorter effort way shy of the hole. Another hole goes; so much for her Medinah memories. But Alison Lee misses a short one on 7 to gift another hole to Georgia Hal, while Charley Hull does a matchplay number on Nelly Korda at 8, rolling in a ten-footer that rattles Korda into missing a putt from half that distance. A lot happening now!
3UP Hull v Korda (8)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (7)
4UP Hall v Alison Lee (7)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (6)
Ciganda v Zhang 3UP (5)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (4)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (4)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (3)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (2)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (1)
Maguire v Ewing
Lexi Thompson completes a short-order turnaround against Celine Boutier. She wedges close on 3 to set up a birdie chance she converts. Up on 4, Andrea Lee makes a putt from 20 feet to level up her match with Esther Henseleit. Meanwhile back on the opening tee, the out-of-sorts Leona Maguire sends her drive towards the bunker down the right but the ball stops short in the semi-rough. She’ll be taking on Ally Ewing (0-3-0 this week) in the penultimate match. Both players with a point to prove today.
2UP Hull v Korda (7)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (6)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (6)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (6)
Ciganda v Zhang 2UP (4)
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (4)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (3)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (2)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (1)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (1)
Maguire v Ewing
Updated
Another hole for Charley Hull! Nelly Korda misses the green at 7 to the right, can’t get up and down, and the world number one ties up the gift with a bow. Rose Zhang meanwhile walks in a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-three 4th, and that hole went by far too quickly for Carlota Ciganda’s liking in more ways than one. Four of the top five matches are beginning to take shape with some daylight between the players.
2UP Hull v Korda (7)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (6)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (6)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (5)
Ciganda v Zhang 2UP (4)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (3)
Boutier A/S Thompson (2)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (2)
Valenzuela v Vu
Updated
Anna Nordqvist holes out from 80 yards for eagle on the par-five 5th! Allisen Corpuz does her level best to follow her in, chipping from similar distance to three feet. Under normal circumstances, that would set up a great chance to win the hole. But it’s a loss for the US star. Nordqvist celebrates by raising both arms in triumph, and the caddies keep their shirts on. We don’t have to take our clothes off to have a good time. Cherry wine, anyone?
Alison Lee has a chance to reduce her arrears on Georgia Hall at 5. But she pulls a short putt wide left. No such problem for Lexi Thompson, who rolls in a ten-footer on 2 to level her match with Celine Boutier. And Rose Zhang does indeed make her birdie at 3 to hit the lead against Carlota Ciganda, who has been doing things at her own pace. That game has already dropped more than a hole behind the one in front; at this rate, there’s a fair chance Ciganda will be put on the clock for the second time this week.
1UP Hull v Korda (6)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (6)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (5)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (4)
Ciganda v Zhang 1UP (3)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (2)
Boutier A/S Thompson (2)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (1)
Valenzuela v Vu
Albane Valenzuela, the rookie who sat out Saurday, finds the first cut down the left with her first shot on Sunday. Lilia Vu, the two-time major champion, splits the fairway. Up on the green, Maja Stark is asked to make a very short par putt by Lauren Coughlin. She strokes it home from a couple of feet, and wins the hole in par, but that refusal to concede may set a tone in that match. Or it may not. Let’s keep an eye on it.
Nelly Korda finds a bunker at the front of the 6th green. She can only splash out to 15 feet, and when the par saver doesn’t drop, Charley Hull has the lead again in the opening match. The world number one isn’t quite on top of her game yet. Meanwhile on 3, Carlota Ciganda duffs a chip from the side of the green and looks likely to be falling behind against Rose Zhang very soon.
A chance for Megan Khang to ratchet up the hurt on Emily Pedersen. But she leaves her birdie putt short on 5. Pedersen is doing all she can to hang on here, she could feasibly be four holes adrift already. Meanwhile on the par-three 4th, Allisen Corpuz rattles in a 25-footer for birdie to sicken Anna Nordqvist, who hasn’t done too much wrong but finds herself two down quicksmart.
Hull A/S Korda (5)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (5)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (4)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 2UP (4)
Ciganda A/S Zhang (2)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (2)
1UP Boutier v Thompson (1)
Stark v Coughlin
♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫ The European fans do their thing as Maja Stark turns up for work. She dazzles a smile and does the Baby Shark thing back at them, before larruping a fine opening drive down the track. Lauren Coughlin, who has been faultless on debut so far, with a three-from-three record, sends her tee shot into the rough on the left. No big problem there. Meanwhile up on the green, par’s enough for Celine Boutier to win the opening hole against Lexi Thompson, who was always out of position after driving into the fairway bunker.
Hull A/S Korda (5)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (4)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (4)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (2)
Ciganda A/S Zhang (2)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (2)
1UP Boutier v Thompson (1)
Stark v Coughlin
Birdie for Nelly Korda at 5. That levels up the lead match. We’re also level again in match five: Rose Zhang utilises the tilt on the left-hand side of the green at 2 to gather her ball to three feet. Carlota Ciganda can’t match the birdie. But on the par-three 4th, Georgia Hall, wearing a deadpan look of utter determination, fires her tee shot straight at the flag and calmly tidies up from six feet to move three holes ahead of Alison Lee.
Hull A/S Korda (5)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (4)
3UP Hall v Alison Lee (4)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (2)
Ciganda A/S Zhang (2)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (1)
Boutier v Thompson
Georgia Hall is on it this morning. She walks in a 20-footer for birdie on 3. Serious pressure on Alison Lee, who has lost the first two holes. But she reacts by slotting home a 12-footer to salvage a half and stop the bleeding. Back to the first tee, meanwhile, where Celine Boutier and Lexi Thompson, the latter on a valedictory tour, get their match underway. Boutier sends a gentle fade around the big bunker and miles down the track; a peach of a drive. Thompson finds that sand. And up on the green, Esther Henseleit walks a 25-footer in for a birdie that gives Europe their fourth splash of blue.
1UP Hull v Korda (4)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (4)
2UP Hall v Alison Lee (3)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (2)
1UP Ciganda v Zhang (1)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (1)
Boutier v Thompson
Carlota Ciganda splashes hard out of a deep bunker on 1. That’s a gimme, and the hole too, with Rose Zhang unable to make par. Meanwhile up on 2, Anna Nordqvist and Allisen Corpuz both flirt with the rough to the left of the green. Nordqvist’s ball stays in the thick stuff; Corpuz’s takes a bounce out to the right and rolls to a couple of feet. The small margins that win the hole for the USA. A good break for Corpuz, though nothing like the astonishing luck she benefitted from yesterday, thinning a fairway wood that most times would head for the water, but somehow set up an eagle. Hey, when the golfing gods are on your side, just roll with it. They turn on everyone eventually.
1UP Hull v Korda (4)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (3)
2UP Hall v Alison Lee (2)
Nordqvist v Corpuz 1UP (2)
1UP Ciganda v Zhang (1)
Henseleit v Andrea Lee
Par on 2 is enough for Georgia Hall to double her lead over Alison Lee in the shortest of orders. Charley Hull rams home another confident putt, this time on 4, to keep hold of her advantage over Nelly Korda. Back on the first tee, Esther Henseleit and Andrea Lee peg it up and smash their opening drives down the track.
1UP Hull v Korda (4)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (3)
2UP Hall v Alison Lee (2)
Nordqvist A/S Corpuz (1)
Ciganda v Zhang
Updated
Emily Pedersen is this close to going three down to Megan Khang after three holes. Her tee shot finds a divot, her approach misses the green on the left, her chip leaves a five-foot knee-knocker. The putt very nearly doesn’t drop, but takes one-and-a-half laps around the rim before finally deigning to disappear. Phew. She couldn’t afford to ship another hole so soon, and that may be the subtlest of momentum-changers.
Updated
Allisen Corpuz can’t get up and down from the bunker at 1. Anna Nordqvist can’t get up and down from the rough at the back. Hole halved in bogey.
1UP Hull v Korda (3)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (2)
1UP Hall v Alison Lee (1)
Nordqvist A/S Corpuz (1)
Ciganta v Zhang
Carlota Ciganda, who has promised to bring some Medinah Fever to the party, tees it up. The European fans serenading her with the riff from Seven Nation Army. As is her wont, she takes her sweet time over the tee shot, and sends it into that popular position in the rough on the left. Nobody fancying that bunker on the right. Rose Zhang doesn’t mess about, though, and smoothly lashes her drive down the middle.
Allisen Corpuz pulls a nervous approach into a bunker to the left of 1. Anna Nordqvist doesn’t take advantage, though, sending a skinny one through the back of the green and into the thick stuff. Big putt meanwhile on 3 for Charley Hull, who rattles a 12-footer into the centre of the cup, flush off the flagstick, down and in. It salvages a half and she retains her one-hole lead over Nelly Korda.
Alison Lee can’t get up and down from 40 yards for her par, and that’s enough to give Georgia Hall first blood in match three. Up on 2, Emily Pedersen pulls a short putt and par is enough for Megan Khang to double her lead in short order.
1UP Hull v Korda (2)
Pedersen v Khang 2UP (2)
1UP Hall v Alison Lee (1)
Nordqvist v Corpuz
If you hole out from the fairway for eagle on one day, it’s an immutable rule of golf that you’re not even going to find the green in regulation the next. It’s just how the golfing gods roll. And so it is for Alison Lee on 1. She comes up well short with her approach. Her caddie will be keeping the pumped pecs covered today. Back on the tee, Anna Nordqvist and Allisen Corpuz begin their battle by both finding the fairway.
Megan Khang is good for her birdie on 1, and it’s enough to win the opening hole for the USA. The first splash of red on the board. But there’s also a first splash of blue, as Charley Hull does a classic matchplay number on Nelly Korda at 2. Korda clips her second to four feet, but Hull, using a combination of backstop and backspin, responds by guiding her approach to three feet. Korda, who must have thought the hole was in the bag, misses her putt. Hull tidies up and it’s not taken long for Singles Sunday to get going. Not long at all.
1UP Hull v Korda (2)
Pedersen v Khang 1UP (1)
Hall v Alison Lee
Here’s Alison Lee! If Lee and her caddie Shota Takada put on a show even half as good as they did yesterday, we’ll be doing well. In case you missed it – and if you didn’t, the images will surely be seared on your retinas – Takada and Megan Khang’s caddie Jack Fulghum promised the players that they’d whip their tops off if either holed out. Sure enough, Lee did exactly that from 86 yards on the opening hole, and the caddies were as good as their word, the two men gambolling around, the old nipples out, hugging in the bromance style. DH Lawrence would surely have approved. Lee and Georgia Hall both find the fairway.
Megan Khang fires a glorious approach at the flag on 1. She’ll have a good look at birdie from six feet or so. Emily Pedersen’s shot is nearly as good, coming in from the rough on the left, using the shoulder of the bunker to the right of the green to kick her ball to 20 feet. That’s pretty darn good from where she was, but it’s advantage USA there.
The second match pits Emily Pedersen against Megan Khang. The Dane sends her tee shot into the first cut down the left. It’s a popular spot, with a big bunker on the other side of the fairway, some players unable to carry it. Khang knocks hers carefully down the track. Up at the green, Charley Hull splashes out from the sand to a couple of feet, and the putt is conceded. Korda, who has caught a good lie in the rough, chips up to three feet. That one’s not conceded, but Korda tidies up without fuss. She walks off with a spring in her step, full in the knowledge that she got away with a couple of loose shots there.
Hull A/S Korda (1)
Pedersen v Khang
Back to Virginia, where Charley Hull doesn’t crank up the pressure on Nelly Korda. She pushes her approach into a greenside bunker. Korda, in the trees, has lucked out with a route through, and once a cherry picker with a camera on it is moved out of the way, she’s able to punch through and up towards the green. But if anything, she hits it too cleanly, and the ball sails through and off the right-hand side. It hits a punter; had it not, it would have sailed into more tree-based trouble. A couple of lucky breaks for Korda there, who is back in the hole.
Not getting too far ahead of ourselves, but the date for the next Solheim Cup was announced earlier today. It’ll take place on 7-13 September 2026 at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, close to Eindhoven and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.
“Let’s go Charley, let’s go!” The European fans in fine voice, doing their damndest against the U-S-A tumult. And Hull does indeed go, sending the first shot of the day into the rough down the left of the fairway. Good enough. But the world number one Nelly Korda looks anxiously after her tee shot … and my goodness but it’s wild. Miles to the left, into the trees, and ballooning off a cart path. That’s sailed a long way left. No idea if she’s got a route into the green yet. That’s a nervy one.
A reminder of where we are, after two engrossing days at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. The USA needs four-and-a-half points to win the Solheim Cup. Europe require eight points if they’re to retain possession of it, eight-and-a-half if they’re to win it outright.
Here we go, then, buckle up … and here comes the world number one Nelly Korda, skipping and bounding out of the tunnel to rapturous roars rolling down from the grandstands surrounding the first tee. Presumably the shuttle buses are more frequent today because the stands are rammed and the place is jumping. What an atmosphere! Charley Hull – and what a match-up this is, by the way – is much more cool and measured as she walks out with a look of steely determination. This is going to be something else. Or maybe an anti-climactic procession, but right here, right now, all things are possible. Beyond excited? Us too!
Preamble
“Medinah. The miracle of Medinah. It’s coming!” The words there of Carlota Ciganda as she closed out her and Emily Pedersen’s 2&1 win over Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing yesterday evening. Well, as far as Europe are concerned, it better be. What a tall order. But at least the omens are good, because Europe were 10-4 down in the 2012 Ryder Cup on Saturday afternoon with two matches left out on the course, and reduced the arrears to 10-6 ahead of the Sunday singles, which is exactly what the Europeans did yesterday when things were threatening to go seriously south at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. So let’s remember what happened after that Ryder Cup comeback 12 years ago …
… but while Ciganda brought that one up, it’d be a shocking dereliction of duty not to point out that the Solheim Cup has one of these Sunday stunners of its own. In 2015, at St Leon-Rot in Germany, Europe held a 10-6 lead going into the singles, only to capitulate to an 8½-3½ defeat and a 14½-13½ loss overall.
Europe’s pain that day is obviously why Ciganda preferred to reference Medinah, but there are also a couple of other reasons why St Leon-Rot is not exactly analogous. The USA needed an extra half-point to win back the trophy that year (as holders, Europe only need eight to retain it this time), and it all happened in the heightened wake of the awful rules brouhaha involving Suzann Pettersen the night before. So … OK, I’ll fess up, I’m not exactly sure what point I’m making here … but you can look at Medinah and St Leon-Rot at different wonky angles through a smudged prism and argue that history either gives Europe hope, or simply shows the USA – this time fuelled by stopping their opponents from becoming the first side to lift the cup four times in a row, rather than the injustice of a technical imbroglio – will easily walk this home. QED? Nope! Nah! But the USA are obviously strong favourites.
Here are the tee times. It might be a procession. It might be a comeback for the ages. Either way, a fantastic team of world-class talent will lift the Solheim Cup when it all comes down. God speed, everyone, and may the best women win. It’s on!
1.50pm BST: Charley Hull v Nelly Korda
2pm BST: Emily Pedersen v Megan Khang
2.10pm BST: Georgia Hall v Alison Lee
2.20pm BST: Anna Nordqvist v Allisen Corpuz
2.30pm BST: Carlota Ciganta v Rose Zhang
2.40pm BST: Esther Henseleit v Andrea Lee
2.50pm BST: Celine Boutier v Lexi Thompson
3pm BST: Maja Stark v Lauren Coughlin
3.10pm BST: Albane Valenzuela v Lilia Vu
3.20pm BST: Madelene Sagstrom v Sarah Schmelzel
3.30pm BST: Leona Maguire v Ally Ewing
3.40pm BST: Linn Grant v Jennifer Kupcho
Sunday singles matches for @TheSolheimCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rnxtH4oRWW
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2024
