Suzann Pettersen is handed the Solheim Cup and hoists it powerfully towards the Spanish sun. Then she passes it to her team, who all have a go at lifting it. Every single one of them deserves the moment. Heroes every one, though special mention must go to Caroline Hedwall for that never-say-die comeback against Ally Ewing; Emily Pedersen for becoming only the second player in Solheim Cup history (after her captain) to make a hole in one; Leona Maguire for yet another relentless contribution; Carlota Ciganda for all the aforementioned reasons; and of course … altogether now … ♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫
What a team! What an event. Roll on Virginia 2024!
Grant v Khang 1UP
4&3 Maguire v Zhang
Hull v Kang 4&2
2&1 Nordqvist v Kupcho
Hall A/S Lee
Dryburgh A/S Knight
Boutier v Yin 2&1
2UP Hedwall v Ewing
Sagstrom v Vu 4&3
2&1 Stark v Corpuz
2&1 Ciganda v Korda
Pedersen v Thompson 2&1
Europe 14-14 USA
Carlota Ciganda is understandably the focus of the celebrations. She’s the home hero, she won all four of her matches this week, and she struck the decisive blow to ensure the retention of the cup. She speaks to Sky. “An amazing week … I love my team-mates, I love Europe, I love Suzann and the vice-captains … it’s a team effort … it was special for me to play in Spain in front of my home crowd, but this is a team effort and I am just so proud of everyone!” It’s also lovely to see Georgia Hall, who had looked a little upset earlier, perhaps contemplating her missed putt on 17 as the USA threatened to win the trophy, smiling broadly and enjoying the moment. The team announce they’re going off to drink, dance and eat pizza. They deserve to have a whale of a time; they’ve certainly provided us with one. They’ve served up wonderful entertainment.
Who’d have thought Europe could retain their trophy after losing the opening session four-zip? Not too many. Suzann Pettersen did, though, promising that having been “knocked down” her European team would “stand back up and go out there again … it ain’t over yet.” Well, they did, and it wasn’t. Europe cavort around, the sparkling wine already flowing!
Suzann Pettersen has a quick natter with Sky Sports. “I think it was meant to be … it came down to Carlota in Spain … Hedwall getting her point … it was going down to the wire … we had the best team.” How are you going to celebrate? “The Spanish way.” Olé!
Europe 14-14 USA - it's a tie!
… and in it goes. She pumps the air with a fist of relief more than celebration, and the spoils are shared! That seems about right. It’s been an absolute riot of entertaining golf, and it’s quite right that nobody goes home a loser. Europe will feel a little better, though, as it looked for a while that the cup would slip through their fingers, and they’ll get to keep hold of it for the next couple of years. Next year’s edition at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia can’t come soon enough!
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Thompson bashes out of the sand but the ball takes a big bounce to the right and down the green. She’s 15 feet away with plenty of work to do for par. But it’s a makeable putt, and so Pedersen can’t assume two putts will be enough to win the hole. She goes for it, uphill from 25 feet … and a fantastic left-to-right slider looks like dropping only to do most of the full 360 around the lip before staying out, the spherical rotter. Lexi with a chance for the half and the win…
Emily Pedersen finds the heart of the 17th green. Lexi Thompson doesn’t, though. She dunks her tee shot into the bunker to the left. She’s got a long history of suffering the jitters on Sundays – she’d have won plenty more than the one major otherwise – and you can be sure the nerves are jangling now.
The 17th green is flooded with European well-wishers. Carlota Ciganda, who secured a share of the cup for Europe on her home soil, disappears into the melee. Sheer Euro-relief, because for a while the USA looked like outright winners! But Caroline Hedwall, Maja Stark and Ciganda came on strong late to ensure the hosts at least retain possession of the cup. They still could win it, too, though it’ll take Emily Pedersen winning the last two holes against Lexi Thompson, the pair having just halved 16. It takes a while for the green to be cleared. Here we go, then!
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (16)
Europe 14-13 USA
Europe 14-13 USA - Europe retain the Solheim Cup!
Nelly Korda gives her chip every chance of dropping. A sensational, delicate, brilliant wedge that lands softly on the green and runs out towards the hole. In the crowd, a Spanish gentlemen can be heard screaming “No no no no no no no NO!” with, in pure comedic terms, perfect rising intonation. But it shaves past the hole and stops five feet away. Korda cleans up for par, but it’s not enough, and Ciganda rolls in the putt that ensures Europe will keep the Solheim Cup in their possession! Carlota Ciganda beats Nelly Korda 2&1.
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This is astonishing! The home hero Carlota Ciganda sends a heatseeker straight at the flag on the par-three 17th. It stops three feet from the flag. Nelly Korda, rattled, pulls her tee shot long and off the back of the green to the left. She’ll almost certainly have to hole her chip if she’s to take this match down 18!
Europe 13-13 USA
A star is born. Alissen Corpuz can’t make her long par putt, and Maja Stark has two for the par and the win. She cradles her first effort to a couple of feet … and doesn’t need to take her second. It’s conceded, and altogether now: ♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫ Maja Stark beats Alissen Corpuz 2&1.
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Now then! Nelly Korda’s struggles with her putter are well known, and her downhill tickle for birdie from four feet on 16 never threatens to trouble the hole! Carlota Ciganda will have a tiddler to regain the lead. And in it goes! And up goes the gallery, all the way to the sky! Meanwhile Lexi Thompson pulls a short par putt on 15, having been placed under serious pressure by Emily Pedersen, who steered in a tricky downhill curler for her par from eight feet. Dreams of an outright European win aren’t over yet!
1UP Stark v Corpuz (17)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (16)
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (15)
Europe 12-13 USA
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Corpuz splashes out aggressively, and the ball catches the slope of the green, taking it 20 feet away from the pin. She’s probably still outside Stark, but let’s wait to see for sure. Meanwhile serious drama elsewhere! Nelly Korda throws a dart at 16, four feet over the flag. Big pressure on Carlota Ciganda, who replies by landing her approach pin high to three! What a back and forth!
Alissen Corpuz pulls her tee shot at 17 into sand miles left. Door open for Maja Stark, who carefully sends her iron into the meatiest portion of the green, sensibly refusing to go straight for the flag and taking out the bunker. Serious advantage here for Europe. Corpuz will need some magic with the sand wedge.
I think that Hedwall comeback qualifies as a Golf, Eh? Bloody Hell! moment. Whether it’ll end up being the pivotal moment in Europe’s retention of the trophy remains to be seen. It deserves to. But it most likely will not. Carlota Ciganda went off for a stroll in the forest down 15. Double bogey, and from a position of three holes down, Nelly Korda is now level. Meanwhile Maja Stark, having seen her arrow towards the flag at 16 skip 20 feet past, skips in irritation as her left-to-right swinging birdie effort shaves the hole but stubbornly refuses to drop.
1UP Stark v Corpuz (16)
Ciganda A/S Korda (15)
Pedersen v Thompson 3UP (14)
Europe 12-13 USA
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Europe 12-13 USA
Caroline Hedwall is on the 18th in two. Ally Ewing in a greenside bunker. Advantage Hedwall … especially so when she blades her sand shot through the green and down a swale. She’s lucky a cart is parked at the bottom, because it stops her ball disappearing into a thicket. Still, she realistically needs to hole the chip that’s left if she’s to win the hole. She hoicks it miles over the flag, and that’s a quite outrageous victory for Caroline Hedwall, who has justified her captain’s pick and then some! She’s won five of the last six holes! Caroline Hedwall beats Ally Ewing 2UP.
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Emily Pedersen trundles her eagle putt on 14 four feet past the hole. That’s a bit careless with two putts more likely than not to do the trick. Lexi Thompson rolls up from the fringe to a couple of feet. Pressure on Pedersen, but she walks in the putt and cuts the deficit to three holes. Not done yet!
1UP Hedwall v Ewing (17)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (15)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (14)
Pedersen v Thompson 3UP (14)
Europe 11-13 USA
Trouble for Maja Stark on 15. Caught in some filthy nonsense above a greenside bunker, she can only attempt to punch out sideways … and can’t even achieve that, so gnarly is the Bermuda. She picks up and her lead over Alissen Corpuz is down to one. Meanwhile Emily Pedersen isn’t giving up quite yet. She drives the par-four 14th green, while Lexi Thompson skulls a chip from dirty rough clean through it.
The USA only need one-and-a-half points for victory … but now the possibility of Europe forcing a tie is on! Because Caroline Hedwall isn’t in the mood to gift the Americans anything they need, and she makes another huge birdie putt, this time on 17, another downhill tickler from 15 feet that catches the right-hand edge of the cup just in time and topples in! That’s four birdies in five holes from the irrepressible Swede, and this Solheim Cup is still in the balance!
1UP Hedwall v Ewing (17)
2UP Stark v Corpuz (14)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (13)
Pedersen v Thompson 4UP (13)
Europe 11-13 USA
Europe 11-13 USA
The momentum has been with USA … though nothing’s inevitable. On 16, Caroline Hedwall rolls in a snaky downhill dribbler for birdie on 16, squaring her match against Ally Ewing. She’s won three of the last four holes, some comeback! However that’s the end of the good news for Europe. Lexi Thompson birdies 13 to move four holes clear of Emily Pedersen, while Gemma Dryburgh’s birdie attempt on 18 sails by on the low side, and having been three up early in the match against Cheyenne Knight, the Scot has to settle for a half. Gemma Dryburgh ties with Cheyenne Knight.
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Europe 10½-12½ USA
Angel Yin single-handedly won a point for USA with some momentum-defying brilliance on the back nine yesterday. She’s done it again today! She’s outside Celine Boutier on 17, but steers in a big left-to-right slider and pumps the air in the celebratory style. Boutier can’t respond from 12 feet, and that’s another point on the board for the Americans, who can begin to taste impending victory! Angel Yin beats Celine Boutier 2&1
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Europe 10½-11½ USA
Madelene Sagstrom did her best to delay the inevitable. But she misses a short putt at 15 and Lilia Vu, who won the first four holes with a birdie blitz, secures a point for the USA! Lilia Vu beats Madelene Sagstrom 4&3.
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Europe 10½-10½ USA
Andrea Lee is up first at 18. She’s 25 feet from the flag. An uphill putt with some left-to-right break. She strokes a beautiful effort that looks like toppling into the cup, but skirts it agonisingly and stops just behind. That’s a par. Georgia Hall has a chance to win the hole and the match with a fairly straight 20-footer across the green. But it dies to the left and was never reaching anyway. The first tied match of the day, but it’s one Europe threw away on the 17th. Georgia Hall ties with Andrea Lee.
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Neither Dryburgh nor Knight go close with their tee shots at 17. A low-quality putting contest ensues. The birdie efforts from 30 feet never look like dropping. A pair of two-putt pars and they go down the last tied. Meanwhile on 18, Hall and Lee make it to the green in regulation. Neither close. Nerves are beginning to win out over quality at the moment.
That is a quite astonishing turnaround, and the entire property has fallen eerily silent as a result. Birdie for Angel Yin on 16 as she once again takes charge of her match against Celine Boutier. Someone in Europe needs to leaven the mood soon, before it’s too late. Allisen Corpuz does her best to help by yipping a tiddler on 13 to gift a hole to Maja Stark.
Hall A/S Lee (17)
Dryburgh A/S Knight (16)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (16)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (14)
Sagstrom v Vu 3UP (14)
2UP Stark v Corpuz (13)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (12)
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (11)
Europe 10-10 USA
… and things turn the wrong way for Europe over on 16 as well! With the stunned yelps of the gallery at 17 ringing in the background, Gemma Dryburgh pulls a short par putt wide to hand the hole to Cheyenne Knight! That match is tied now too, and the scoreboard has turned in the USA’s favour quicksmart!
Hall A/S Lee (17)
Dryburgh A/S Knight (16)
Boutier A/S Yin (15)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (14)
Sagstrom v Vu 3UP (14)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (12)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (12)
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (11)
Europe 10-10 USA
The to-and-fro nature of the Yin-Boutier match shows no sign whatsoever of abating. Two putts from the fringe at the back of 15, and par’s enough for the Evian champion to tie things up again. Meanwhile turns out Andrea Lee was inside Georgia Hall at 17. Hall goes first, and rolls her birdie effort a couple of feet past. It’s not conceded, though, and nor should it be. Lee pushes her birdie putt wide right … and then Hall pulls her tiddler to the left! A huge turn of events as the gallery gasps as one, and Hall walks off with her head hanging low. She’ll have to get her chin back up quicksmart.
An outstanding tee shot by Andrea Lee on 17. She creams it to ten feet, flinging the gauntlet down at Georgia Hall’s feet. But Hall’s up to the challenge! She cracks hers to eight feet, and a humungous putting competition is about to take place! Meanwhile on 14, Caroline Hedwall guides a big left-to-right swinger into the cup from 20 feet, pressurising Ally Ewing into lipping out from six. Ewing’s lead is now down to one, and this Solheim Cup is all over the place, gloriously so!
1UP Hall v Lee (16)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (15)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (14)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (14)
Sagstrom v Vu 3UP (13)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (12)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (11)
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (10)
Europe 10-10 USA
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Georgia Hall and Andrea Lee both struggle their way up 16. Lee is forced to hack out of thick Bermuda rough, Hall sends her approach down a swale to the right of the green. Both have looks at par from ten feet; neither can make their putt. Hall remains one up with two to play. Meanwhile back on 13, Madelene Sagstrom snatches back another hole and, well, now has a sliver of a chance at just three down with five to play. Lilia Vu still very much in the box seat.
Gemma Dryburgh needs to make a 20-foot left-to-right par slider from the back of 15. She can’t hole it, and Cheyenne Knight cuts her lead to just the one hole. The momentum is certainly with USA now … and Stacy Lewis has loaded her team’s tail with some serious talent. It’s not looking ominous for Europe exactly … but you can bet a fair few of their fans are beginning to worry about the general direction of travel.
1UP Hall v Lee (15)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (15)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (14)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (13)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (12)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (11)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (10)
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (9)
Europe 10-10 USA
A sensational drive by Angel Yin at the short par-four 14! She sends her tee shot pin high and will have a look at eagle from 15 feet. She drains it, and for the second afternoon in a row, is causing Europe all sorts of problems on the back nine. A proper back-and-forth tussle with Celine Boutier there. Meanwhile bogey for Carlota Ciganda at 10 gifts the hole to Nelly Korda, who is suddenly on the charge; Lexi Thompson goes two up on Emily Pedersen after bogey proves enough at 9; and Georgia Hall’s lead is cut in half after she goes on safari down 15. A huge few moments for the USA, only partly offset by Caroline Hedwall draining a monster on 13 to reduce Ally Ewing’s lead to two.
1UP Hall v Lee (15)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (14)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (14)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (13)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (12)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (11)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (10)
Pedersen v Thompson 2UP (9)
Europe 10-10 USA
Par is enough for Angel Yin on 13 to level up her game with Celine Boutier. Europe are currently on course to win the Solheim Cup … but none of their leads are particularly comfortable, if such a thing can ever be said on Solheim Sunday, whereas a couple of the American leads look more secure, if such a thing etc., and so on, and so forth. The short version: don’t go anywhere.
2UP Hall v Lee (14)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (14)
Boutier A/S Yin (13)
Hedwall v Ewing 3UP (12)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (11)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (10)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (9)
Pedersen v Thompson 1UP (8)
Europe 10-10 USA
Europe 10-10 USA
Jennifer Kupcho’s 40-foot attempt to sicken Anna Nordqvist misses by four feet to the left. Anna Nordqvist has two putts for the half and the win, and though she trundles her 20-footer a couple of feet past, Kupcho is further away and doesn’t ask to see it. They shake and embrace, and the teams are level again! Anna Nordqvist beats Jennifer Kupcho 2&1.
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Anna Nordqvist does what’s required at the par-three 17th, pinging her iron pin high, 25 feet to the right. Jennifer Kupcho also finds the dancefloor, but nowhere near the flag. One suspects she’ll need to rake in a long birdie putt to stay alive. Meanwhile some better news for the USA as Lilia Vu restores her four-hole lead over Madelene Sagstrom, par enough at 11 as her opponent double bogeys. And par’s enough for Ally Ewing, too, as she stretches her lead over Caroline Hedwall to three.
Georgia Hall splashes out from greenside sand at 14 to a couple of feet. What a bunker shot. Andrea Lee can’t make her birdie putt from 12 feet, and Hall doubles her lead. So does Anna Nordqvist, rolling in a birdie putt from eight feet on 16 after Jennifer Kupcho narrowly failed to steer in a curly 20-footer. She’s dormie two. Europe are looking good right now, but there’s still so far to travel, a point emphasised by Nelly Korda, who cuts into Carlota Ciganda’s lead after sending her second into 9 to four feet.
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (16)
2UP Hall v Lee (14)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (13)
1UP Boutier v Yin (12)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (11)
Sagstrom v Vu 3UP (10)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (10)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (9)
Pedersen v Thompson 1UP (8)
Europe 9-10 USA
Lexi Thompson knocks her approach into 8 stone dead. Emily Pedersen still has a great opportunity to match her birdie, but from five feet she pushes her putt wide right. Thompson, two down after three holes, is now one up.
Gemma Dryburgh and Cheyenne Knight trade 20-foot birdie putts on 13! The Scot remains two up. Dryburgh having made hers first, that was staunch work by Knight, who would have been in a world of trouble had she gone three holes adrift. Meanwhile Madelene Sagstrom isn’t done yet. She wins the 10th with birdie to reduce Lilia Vu’s lead to three holes.
Nelly Korda has a long look at birdie on 8. It’s never dropping, and it really needed to, because Carlota Ciganda will putt for hers from eight feet. In that plops, and the Spaniard goes three up. Meanwhile Celine Boutier follows up birdie at 11 with par at 12, and that’s good enough for back-to-back wins and from two down through 7 she’s now leading by one.
While those matches were being closed out, Jennifer Kupcho was draining a 25-footer for birdie across 14. Three down not so long ago, the deficit is now just the one. But there’s better news for Europe as Celine Boutier birdies 11 to tie up her match against Angel Yin. As things stand, Europe will win the Solheim Cup, but let’s face facts, there’s a whole lot of to-ing and fro-ing to go. Strap yourself in!
1UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (14)
1UP Hall v Lee (13)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (12)
Boutier A/S Yin (11)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (10)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (9)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (8)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (7)
Pedersen A/S Thompson (7)
Europe 9-10 USA
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Europe 9-10 USA
Charley Hull’s never really been in it against Danielle Kang. Off the front of the green at 16 with her opponent close in two, Hull has to chip in. She clanks it miles past the flag, and in the blink of an eye, the USA retake the lead! That’s a magnificent performance by Kang, who has showcased her steely brilliance all week. Danielle Kang beats Charley Hull 4&2.
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Europe 9-9 USA
Linn Grant’s putt is always dying off to the right. It’s almost perfectly paced, mind, and will be a surefire birdie. But it’s over to Megan Khang to seal the deal. A short one, but a nervy one too. A three-footer that means so much to both teams. So she takes her time. She stands over it. She half-steps away. She’s clearly shaky. But she holds her nerve! Into the centre of the cup it goes, and Khang has secured a point for the USA with a pair of sensational up-and-downs on 17 and 18! Megan Khang beats Linn Grant 1UP.
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Yes she can! She delicately lobs up to six feet, and rolls out to three. That’s two stunning clutch chips in a row by Megan Khang! Linn Grant will still have an eagle putt to win the hole and halve the match, but it’s an outside chance now.
Megan Khang’s second into 18 stops just short of the green. She smiles nervously, and no wonder, because Linn Grant has the firepower to reach easily. She absolutely wallops her fairway wood into the heart of the green and sets up an eagle chance from 20 feet. Snatching half a point is very much on now! But can Khang conjure up some more wedge magic?
Charley Hull is properly up against it on 15. Three holes down, she needs to make a right-to-left 12-foot slider for a par to tie the hole and stay alive. But she nails it! What moxie. However the hole’s tied and Danielle Kang is dormie three. Meanwhile Maja Stark breaks a run of tied holes against Allisen Corpuz with birdie at 7 to hit the lead, while a Lilia Vu bogey at 8 hands a hole back to Madelene Sagstrom. This is heating up all right! Super shootout Sunday, right about now!
Grant v Khang 1UP (17)
Hull v Kang 3UP (15)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (13)
1UP Hall v Lee (12)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (1!)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (10)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (9)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (9)
1UP Stark v Corpuz (7)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (7)
Pedersen A/S Thompson (6)
Europe 9-8 USA
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Linn Grant is well inside Megan Khang at 17. But Khang, on the fringe near the front with the flag at the back, opts to chip instead of putt. Great decision, because from 50 feet, she clips crisply to kick-in distance! That turns the pressure up on Grant, who nearly makes her putt from 20 feet, but the spoils are shared and Khang will go down 18 holding on to her one-hole lead. Meanwhile Nelly Korda has a putt to win 7, but her ball lips out from six feet. She can’t buy a putt at the moment, and remains two holes adrift of Carlota Ciganda.
Another birdie for Lexi Thompson at 6. It’s her third in a row, and in a very short space of time, she’s wiped out Emily Pedersen’s two-hole lead. Her flagstick-bothering chip at 4 has been a huge momentum-shifter! Meanwhile par is enough for Jennifer Kupcho at 13, and the 2019 Augusta National winner and 2022 Chevron champion isn’t done yet against the erstwhile PGA, British Open and Evian champ.
Grant v Khang 1UP (16)
4&3 Maguire v Zhang (F)
Hull v Kang 3UP (14)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (13)
Hall A/S Lee (11)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (10)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (10)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (9)
Sagstrom v Vu 5UP (7)
Stark A/S Corpuz (6)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (6)
Pedersen A/S Thompson (6)
Europe 9-8 USA
Europe 9-8 USA
Leona Maguire rolls her long birdie putt on 15 close, and now Rose Zhang has to make hers to snatch the hole and stay alive. But she can’t make it, the 20-footer always staying wide right, and Europe lead for the first time this week! Leona Maguire beats Rose Zhang 4&3
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Megan Khang has a birdie putt across 16 that could potentially win her match. If it goes in, she’ll force Linn Grant to make her eight-foot right-to-left slider to stay alive. Khang’s 15-footer horseshoes out. Then Grant holes hers, and suddenly she’s just one down with two to play! What a turnaround! The slim margins of matchplay golf, right there.
Lexi Thompson builds on the stroke of good fortune that helped her scramble a half on 4 with birdie at 5. She halves Emily Pedersen’s lead. Meanwhile Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang both find the 15th green in regulation. Two putts from Maguire should seal the deal, unless Zhang is able to steer home a 20-footer for birdie. But let’s see.
Anna Nordqvist is bringing her A-game as well. Having witnessed Jennifer Kupcho sending her tee shot at the par-three 12th down a big swale to the right of the green, she sticks her one dead. Kupcho can’t chip in, and Nordqvist is now three up again. This is great fun.
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Leona Maguire is a special, special player! We knew this already, of course, but she demonstrates it yet again on the short par-four 14th. She creams her drive into the heart of the green, then drains an eagle putt from 70 feet! She punches the air in delight, an uncharacteristic show of excitement, as well she might! That is outrageous! Poor Rose Zhang, who nearly responds with an eagle of her own, going very close to chipping in from the front, but finds herself dormie four!
An uncharacteristically timid three-putt on 8 by Angel Yin, and her lead over Celine Boutier is halved. Meanwhile Emily Pedersen waits to make a six-foot birdie putt on 4 with Lexi Thompson in trouble to the right of the green. But Thompson’s overhit chip clatters the flagstick and stops by the hole. That’s conceded, and so it’s to Pedersen’s credit that she holds her nerve and makes the putt for the half.
Grant v Khang 2UP (14)
3UP Maguire v Zhang (13)
Hull v Kang 3UP (12)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (10)
Hall A/S Lee (9)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (9)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (8)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (7)
Sagstrom v Vu 5UP (6)
Stark A/S Corpuz (6)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (5)
2UP Pedersen v Thompson (4)
Danielle Kang goes very close to acing 12, a dart thrown straight at the flag. She taps in for her birdie, and Charley Hull, who had briefly threatened a comeback, is in all sorts of trouble again. Meanwhile Rose Zhang immediately slips back to three down as well, having dumped her second at 13 into the ravine running across the fairway, then over-clubbing her fourth into the green, landing at the back with the pin at the front. She’s got to drain her long bogey putt if she’s to see Maguire’s par effort, but that doesn’t happen when she woefully misreads that as well. All best forgotten for the 20-year-old rookie.
Grant v Khang 2UP (14)
3UP Maguire v Zhang (13)
Hull v Kang 3UP (12)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (10)
Hall A/S Lee (8)
2UP Dryburgh v Knight (8)
Boutier v Yin 2UP (7)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (6)
Sagstrom v Vu 5UP (6)
Stark A/S Corpuz (4)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (3)
2UP Pedersen v Thompson (3)
Another birdie for Lilia Vu, and this is turning into a complete nightmare for Madelene Sagstrom. The Swede hasn’t done too much wrong – she may be wearing a bucket hat, but she’s not exactly in Maurice Flitcroft mode – and yet she now finds herself five down after 6. Meanwhile poor Linn Grant drives the green at 14, and her 25-foot eagle putt stops one dimple shy of dropping. So close to halving her two-hole deficit against Megan Khang, but it’s not to be.
Cheyenne Knight needs something to happen for her, three down against Gemma Dryburgh. And on 8, it does. She rakes in a 30-foot birdie putt, turning the heat up on the Scot, who was just 12 feet away. Dryburgh can’t make her birdie, and that’s a classic matchplay blow landed by the Texan, who is suddenly back in it. Doesn’t take much.
Updated
Megan Khang is this close to re-establishing her two-hole lead at 13. A 15-foot birdie putt that stops a dimple short. But she eventually gets her reward anyway, all tied up in a shiny bow by Linn Grant, who carelessly three putts. Meanwhile Rose Zhang wins a scrambling competition at 12 with Leona Maguire and the Irish lead is now only two holes; par at 8 is enough for Andrea Lee to tie up her match against Georgia Hall; and par’s also all that’s needed for Ally Ewing to double her lead over Caroline Hedwall at 6. It is, to borrow a quote from Billy Liar’s favourite light-entertainment star Danny Boon, all ‘appening.
Grant v Khang 2UP (13)
2UP Maguire v Zhang (12)
Hull v Kang 2UP (10)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (9)
Hall A/S Lee (8)
3UP Dryburgh v Knight (7)
Boutier v Yin 2UP (7)
Hedwall v Ewing 2UP (6)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (5)
Stark A/S Corpuz (4)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (3)
1UP Pedersen v Thompson (2)
Leona Maguire close again at 11. Rose Zhang misses her birdie effort from eight feet, and with the pair both a couple of feet away, the American concedes. “I don’t know if I’d give that one away if I was playing my buddy at home for a dollar,” says the 1989 Open champion Mark Calcavecchia on Sky commentary. Meanwhile Charley Hull wins 10 in par to eat into Danielle Kang’s lead. Just the two holes in that one now. And there’s a birdie for Linn Grant at 12, and she halves Megan Khang’s lead.
Grant v Khang 1UP (12)
3UP Maguire v Zhang (11)
Hull v Kang 2UP (10)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (9)
1UP Hall v Lee (7)
3UP Dryburgh v Knight (7)
Boutier v Yin 2UP (7)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (5)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (5)
Stark A/S Corpuz (4)
2UP Ciganda v Korda (3)
1UP Pedersen v Thompson (2)
… and speaking of not faffing about, here’s Lilia Vu, who makes it four holes, four birdies! Poor Madelene Sagstrom is being totally blown away. Meanwhile birdie for Carlota Ciganda on 4 to Nelly Korda’s bogey. Tortoise beating Hare right now.
Grant v Khang 2UP (12)
2UP Maguire v Zhang (10)
Hull v Kang 3UP (9)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (8)
1UP Hall v Lee (7)
3UP Dryburgh v Knight (7)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (6)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (5)
Sagstrom v Vu 4UP (4)
Stark A/S Corpuz (3)
1UP Ciganda v Korda (2)
1UP Pedersen v Thompson (1)
Updated
We’ve already had one hole-in-one on the par-three 12th this week – take a bow Emily Pedersen – and Linn Grant nearly makes another. She lands her ball on the bank to the left of the hole, the camber gathering the ball towards the hole. It stops four feet short. A great chance to make birdie and win the hole, with Megan Khang down the bank on the other side of the green … but she doesn’t need to putt out, because Khang’s chip up is no good at all, her ball sailing 20 feet past the flag, and the American immediately concedes the hole. No point faffing about!
Leona Maguire sends one of those glorious hybrids into the par-three 10th. Pin high, four feet away. Rose Zhang misses the green to the left, and while she does well to get up and down from the swale, Maguire tidies up for her birdie and for the first time in the match there’s a little separation. Meanwhile Anna Nordqvist three-putts 8 to give Jennifer Kupcho some hope, and there’s a birdie for Danielle Kang on 9 against an out-of-sorts Charley Hull. She’s three up, and Hull’s neck may well be troubling her.
Grant v Khang 2UP (11)
2UP Maguire v Zhang (10)
Hull v Kang 3UP (9)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (8)
1UP Hall v Lee (7)
3UP Dryburgh v Knight (6)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (6)
Hedwall A/S Ewing (4)
Sagstrom v Vu 3UP (3)
Stark A/S Corpuz (3)
Ciganda A/S Korda (1)
1UP Pedersen v Thompson (1)
Updated
The final match is out. Emily Pedersen’s drive only just makes it over the pond. But it sneaks onto the green, and two putts later she’s making the birdie that puts her immediately ahead against Lexi Thompson. With all the players now on the course, here’s where we stand, and good luck accurately predicting all outcomes!
Grant v Khang 2UP (10)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (9)
Hull v Kang 2UP (8)
3UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (7)
Hall A/S Lee (6)
3UP Dryburgh v Knight (6)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (5)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (3)
Sagstrom v Vu 3UP (3)
Stark A/S Corpuz (2)
Ciganda A/S Korda (1)
1UP Pedersen v Thompson
Lilia Vu has played well this week, and yet hasn’t got anything to show for it. Yet. She already looks like putting up a point this afternoon, because she’s flown out of the blocks with three birdies in a row. Madelene Sagstrom hasn’t got any answers, and the Chevron and British Open champ is three holes up in the shortest of orders. Also three up: Anna Nordqvist, who makes it three holes in a row with birdie at 7, and Gemma Dryburgh, par enough for her to take 6 off Cheyenne Knight.
Linn Grant makes a complete hames of 10. She pulls her tee shot at the downhill par-three way miles left. She’s on top of a bank high above the green, and flies her next shot over it and into a bunker down the other side. With Megan Khang sitting close, she admits defeat and tells the American to pick up her coin. Also going two down: Charley Hull, who races a par putt past the cup on 8 and concedes the hole.
Grant v Khang 2UP (10)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (9)
Hull v Kang 2UP (8)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (6)
Hall A/S Lee (6)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (5)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (4)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (3)
Sagstrom v Vu 1UP (1)
Stark A/S Corpuz (1)
Ciganda A/S Korda (1)
Pedersen/Thompson
Nelly Korda and Carlota Ciganda revert to type. Korda wastes little time in wedging to 12 feet, but Ciganda mulls over her chip from the bottom of the swale awhile. She underhits/overthinks it and it doesn’t make it up the bank. But at the second time of asking she chips up to four feet and scrambles her par. Korda can’t make her birdie putt – the flat stick so often her undoing - and the hole is tied. Meanwhile Georgia Hall’s putter is beginning to betray her as well. Having missed a short one on 4 to go two up, she yips another tiddler, this time at 3, and gifts the hole to Andrea Lee.
Grant v Khang 1UP (9)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (8)
Hull v Kang 1UP (7)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (6)
Hall A/S Lee (6)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (5)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (4)
Hedwall v Ewing 1UP (3)
Sagstrom v Vu 1UP (1)
Stark A/S Corpuz (1)
Ciganda A/S Korda (1)
Pedersen/Thompson
BREAKING NEWS: Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang halve a hole! It’s taken eight of them. But it really has happened!
A clash of philosophies as the studious Carlota Ciganda and the swashbuckling Nelly Korda take to the first tee. Except they both defy expectations: Korda sends a conservative tee shot down the right, while Ciganda wastes no time in belting her tee shot over the water and down the swale to the left of the green, before bouncing off down the path and spinning through 360 degrees while waving her arms around to whip up the crowd some more. The joys of being the home favourite, right there.
Birdie for Anna Nordqvist at the par-five 5th and she takes the lead against Jennifer Kupcho. Then at the par-three 6th, Nordqvist finds the heart of the green while Kupcho misses to the left. Kupcho’s chip stops well short, and she can’t save herself with the long par putt. Nordqvist has two putts from 30 feet for the win, and after she lags the first one to kick-in distance, the hole is conceded. Nordqvist goes two up.
Grant v Khang 1UP (8)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (7)
Hull v Kang 1UP (6)
2UP Nordqvist v Kupcho (6)
1UP Hall v Lee (4)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (4)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (3)
Hedwall A/S Ewing (1)
Sagstrom v Vu 1UP (1)
Stark v Corpuz
Updated
Leona Maguire sends one of her trademark creamy hybrids into the heart of 7. Rose Zhang pulls her approach into a swale to the right. Those are the decisive acts, and Maguire is one up again. They still haven’t halved a hole! Meanwhile par at the par-five 2nd is enough for Angel Yin to level things up in her match against Celine Boutier; 2023’s two-time major winner Lilia Vu pours one in from 15 feet at 1 to hit the ground running against Madelene Sagstrom; and the irrepressible Angel Yin drains a biggie across 3 to complete a short-order turnaround against Celine Boutier! Magic moments for the USA.
Grant v Khang 1UP (7)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (7)
Hull v Kang 1UP (6)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (4)
1UP Hall v Lee (3)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (3)
Boutier v Yin 1UP (3)
Hedwall A/S Ewing (1)
Sagstrom v Vu 1UP (1)
Updated
Linn Grant demonstrates the benefit of hanging on in there. She’s been battling to stay just two adrift of Megan Khang, but on 7 she knocks her approach pin high to 12 feet and strokes in the putt. That’s halved the deficit. Meanwhile Gemma Dryburgh rakes in a monster birdie putt across 3 and it snatches the hole from Cheyenne Knight. But Charley Hull hits a tentative short par putt at 6 to gift a hole to Danielle Kang.
Grant v Khang 1UP (7)
Maguire A/S Zhang (6)
Hull v Kang 1UP (6)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (4)
1UP Hall v Lee (3)
1UP Dryburgh v Knight (3)
1UP Boutier v Yin (1)
Hedwall A/S Ewing (1)
Sagstrom v Vu
Updated
Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang still haven’t tied a hole. At 6, Zhang slices one way right of the par-three, while Maguire finds the front of the green. Only problem for Maguire is, the pin’s way back, and Zhang chips up to four feet. Maguire misreads the first long putt, which breaks dramatically to the left, and she ends up three putting. Zhang tidies up for par, and this match is almost the dictionary definition of to-and-fro.
Grant v Khang 2UP (6)
Maguire A/S Zhang (6)
Hull A/S Kang (5)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (4)
1UP Hall v Lee (3)
Dryburgh A/S Knight (2)
1UP Boutier v Yin (1)
Hedwall v Ewing
Celine Boutier bundles a lovely chip into the heart of the 1st green, rolling out to six feet. Her opponent Angel Yin, a force of nature on the back nine yesterday evening, can only par. In goes Boutier’s birdie putt, and that’s a rare Euro win on the opening hole.
… and Grant’s so close to making one! Her 50-footer shaves the cup at 6 but it’s just the par. Still, two putts weren’t a given from where she was, and that’s enough to tie the hole because Khang’s birdie putt is timid and dies off to the left. Meanwhile Charley Hull gets up and down from the fringe to the side of 4, spooking Danielle Kang into missing a short birdie putt; they’re level now. And on 5, Leona Maguire rakes in another long birdie to go one up again. This sort of behaviour at Solheim Cups from Leona Maguire isn’t even news any more.
Grant v Khang 2UP (6)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (5)
Hull A/S Kang (4)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (3)
1UP Hall v Lee (2)
Dryburgh A/S Knight (1)
Boutier v Yin
Updated
Gemma Dryburgh faces Cheyenne Knight today. Both give their mid-range birdie putts a good look at the hole; both settle for pars.Meanwhile Megan Khang keeps on keeping on. She creams her tee shot at the long par-three 6th straight at the flag, leaving herself an uphill ten-footer. Linn Grant is up against it; she finds the green too, but she’s a long way from the pin. What she’d give for a momentum-shifting monster rake here.
An opportunity for Linn Grant to grab a hole back on the par-four 5th, after a lovely shot in to ten feet. But she woefully misreads the birdie putt, sending it off to the left, and there’s no break coming back. She leaves herself a testing two-footer coming back, and in it goes; hopefully that will settle some nerves. Megan Khang remains two up.
A big chance for Danielle Kang to go two up on the par-three 3rd. She’s sent her tee shot to six feet. But the putt has a huge left-to-right break, and she doesn’t give it quite enough. Kang was nailing everything yesterday, so that’s something almost approaching a shock. But better news for the States on the par-five 4th, where Rose Zhang birdies to level the second match. Four holes in, and Zhang and Leona Maguire haven’t shared any spoils yet.
Grant v Khang 2UP (4)
Maguire A/S Zhang (4)
Hull v Kang 1UP (3)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (1)
1UP Hall v Lee (1)
Dryburgh v Knight
Megan Khang drains a 15-foot birdie look at 4. That puts the pressure on Linn Grant, who leaves her 12-footer up on the high side. The Swedish debutant goes two down. But there’s better news for Europe back on 1, as Georgia Hall guides a fine chip from the back of the green down to a couple of feet, and tidies up for birdie and the win. A couple of splashes of blue on the board now.
Grant v Khang 2UP (4)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (3)
Hull v Kang 1UP (2)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (1)
1UP Hall v Lee (1)
Leona Maguire is a matchplay magician. She’s also a dead-eyed killer with her hybrids, and creams one of them straight at the flag on the par-three 3rd. She rolls in the six-foot birdie putt she’s set up, and that’s an instant turnaround for the Irish star in the second match. Not a flicker of emotion on her face as she makes her way to the next tee. She’s in business mode all right.
Grant v Khang 1UP (3)
1UP Maguire v Zhang (3)
Hull v Kang 1UP (1)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (1)
Kupcho hits a won’t-die-wondering putt six feet past the hole. She struggled with the flat stick yesterday and that’s not a great early sign. The door is slightly ajar for Nordqvist, but she’s not high on confidence either, without a contribution to the scoreboard after three matches, and prods at her putt with some uncertainty. Just the par, and that allows Kupcho to roll her par putt in. That’ll give the 2019 Augusta National and 2022 Dinah Shore winner succour.
Grant v Khang 1UP (3)
Maguire A/S Zhang (2)
Hull v Kang 1UP (1)
Nordqvist A/S Kupcho (1)
Europe need something to happen … and Leona Maguire provides it on the 2nd! She rakes in a 30-foot birdie putt to level up her match with Rose Zhang. Meanwhile back on 1, Anna Nordqvist sends a garden-variety wedge to 12 feet, while Jennifer Kupcho half-fluffs her chip from the rough at the back, leaving herself a long birdie putt. Slight advantage to the Swede.
Updated
Jennifer Kupcho up next on the 1st tee. She’s been up and down this week, but has always played aggressively, and there’s no change in approach here. She takes driver and finds the rough at the back of the green. Anna Nordqvist doesn’t have the power game to reach the green so sends a 3-wood down the right. And off they go on their journey.
Danielle Kang has been the epitome of supercool all week, and she comes out of the blocks today with a gentle wedge that runs out to a couple of feet. That won’t be conceded – not yet - but it’s surely a birdie. Charley Hull takes a little bit too much sand but still leaves herself a 12-foot birdie chance. However she shoves a nervous clack wide right and that’s three out of three for the USA. What a statement this is by the visiting team.
Grant v Khang 1UP (2)
Maguire v Zhang 1UP (1)
Hull v Kang 1UP (1)
Linn Grant gets on the 2nd green in two big lashes, and isn’t far away from making her eagle putt. But it’s just a tap-in birdie, and that’s not enough for the bounceback win because Megan Khang rolls a confident ten-footer into the cup for her bird and the hole is tied. The US remain one up in the lead match.
The third match is between Danielle Kang and Charley Hull. Kang plays it safe down the right, albeit a little closer to the water than she’d have liked when the ball was mid-flight; Hull takes a shy for the green and finds the bunker back-right. Both dry, that’s the main thing.
Updated
The fastest of starts for the USA! Leona Maguire’s wedge is a wee bit tentative, while Rose Zhang’s chip from the Bermuda grass at the back of the green is delicate and delicious. She dinks it down to a couple of feet, and after Maguire leaves her 15-foot putt short, tidies up for the win. The Americans have flung the gauntlet down all right.
Grant v Khang 1UP (1)
Maguire v Zhang 1UP (1)
Updated
A reminder of the winning line: Europe will retain the trophy with 14 points, but will need 14½ to win it; the USA need 14½ to win. Next up, Rose Zhang, who takes driver and sends it into the thick rough to the right of the green. She’s going round today with Leona Maguire, who sends a 3-wood down the fairway to the right of the water. Nice and safe on the short stuff.
Grant v Khang 1UP (1)
Maguire v Zhang
It’s windy today, so Megan Khang does well to wedge to 15 feet; Linn Grant doesn’t really commit to her chip from the back and leaves herself 25 feet short. Grant sends a left-to-right swinging putt down the green, and if she’d given it a couple more joules of energy, it’d be a birdie. But it’s a pick-up par. Over to Khang, who has the opportunity to hit the lead early … and in it goes. A flying start for the USA!
Grant v Khang 1UP (1)
Excited? Yes, us too. So take that feeling, multiply it by a thousand, then a million, put it on the end of a stick, and fire the whole lot off into the sun. That should give you a rough idea of the atmosphere on the 1st tee right now. It’s absolute bedlam. No wonder, the way this tournament has unfolded, and how precariously it stands right now. Megan Khang will hit the first shot of this super Sunday shootout. Silence suddenly falls … and she whips a 3-wood down the right of the hole. No going for the green in the singl… hold on! Her opponent Linn Grant smashes her 3-wood over the water and straight at the pin! Her ball bounces on the green, then off the back. She smiled contentedly the nanosecond it cleared the pond. Up for the fight? I think so.
Preamble
Europe are going for an unprecedented third Solheim Cup in a row. Nobody would have given them a chance of completing the trifecta after being whitewashed in the morning foursomes on Friday. But now look …
Europe 8-8 USA
… and it really is all to play for. The tee times and pairings for the Sunday singles are below. (Ladies Europe first, all times BST.) If 2019 and 2021 are anything to go by, it’s going to be one heck of a ride. It’s on!
10.10 am: Linn Grant v Megan Khang
10.22 am: Leona Maguire v Rose Zhang
10.34 am: Charley Hull v Danielle Kang
10.46 am: Anna Nordqvist v Jennifer Kupcho
10.58 am: Georgia Hall v Andrea Lee
11.10 am: Gemma Dryburgh v Cheyenne Knight
11.22 am: Celine Boutier v Angel Yin
11.34 am: Caroline Hedwall v Ally Ewing
11.46 am: Madelene Sagstrom v Lilia Vu
11.58 am: Maja Stark v Allisen Corpuz
12.10 am: Carlota Ciganda v Nelly Korda
12.22 am: Emily Pedersen v Lexi Thompson
