Sunday's singles
What a way to start the action! Nelly Korda v Charley Hull. A tremendous prospect. Be sure to join Scott tomorrow lunchtime.
1.50pm BST Charley Hull v Nelly Korda
2.00pm BST Emily Pedersen v Meghan Khang
2.10pm BST Georgia Hall v Alison Lee
2.20pm BST Anna Nordqvist v Allisen Corpuz
2.30pm BST Carlota Ciganda v Rose Zhang
2.40pm BST Esther Henseleit v Andrea Lee
2.50pm BST Celine Boutier v Lexi Thompson
3.00pm 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
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Ewan Murray on an exciting second day and the prospects for the singles.
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The two captains, their vice captains and also possibly some players will be currently determining the singles roster for tomorrow. They are expected to be revealed within the hour. I’ll be back to post them when available. But, in the meantime, thanks for reading today. Scott will be back tomorrow lunchtimefor the singles. Let’s hope for high excitement!
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A reminder of the two 10-6 turnarounds that keep being referenced. In the 2012 Ryder Cup Europe trailed 10-6 ahead of the singles and won what became known as The Miracle of Medinah. And three years later Europe led 10-6 but lost the Solheim Cup. I mentioned earlier that Suzann Pettersen actually motivated that win and she did, albeit in a cack-handed way. She insisted on claiming a hole when rookie Alison Lee assumed a gimme (something she had done earlier in the week to the irritation of the European team). Pettersen was well within her rights but she was winning the battle and forgetting the war. A bedraggled US team were suddenly energised and determined to avenge what they felt was a shaming of their young team mate. Pettersen’s fury backfired. Can she fuel a four point comeback tomorrow in the right way? We’ll see.
Stacy Lewis on the pre-singles position: “This was a great day for us. It was like when you shoot 62 and how you come back. The Europeans played better today and it showed.” On memories of 2015, when she was on a team that won from 10-6 down: “We will win points early and go get this done.”
Suzann Pettersen on the state of play: “There’s hope. Absolutely. We have a chance. I’m so immensely proud. 10-6 is do-able. We need to digest today, refresh, recharge. Charley and Georgia … Charley is such a rock star.”
Mel Reid, European team vice captain: “Those last two matches were pivotal. We’ve had no momentum. USA have outplayed us and we needed those points. But it (from this position) happened in Germany for the Americans and it happened at Medinah. Suzann will do an emotional speech but we also have momentum now. Records are there to be broken.” On the singles order? She laughs and says: “Laura Davies out first. Catriona Matthew second.”
Day two fourballs results
4&3 Lee (Al)/Khang v Nordqvist/Sagstrom
6&4 Lee (An)/Zhang v Grant/Boutier
Ewing/Thompson v Ciganda/Pedersen 2&1
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 2UP
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USA 10 Europe 6
The fourballs are complete. Well played Charley Hull and Georgia Hall.
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 2UP
Can the Americans make a birdie? Lilia Vu’s bunker shot is not the worst but it was a big ask and she can’t answer. Now Allisen Corpuz looks at her long, long putt. It needs to go in and then both Europeans miss. So it’s a high tariff ask. A great try but it misses and it’s all over!
The final group hit into the 18th green. Allisen Corpuz has been stuck high up a slope with her line impeded by the hospitality units. She plays a great shot but had no chance keeping it close to the hole. It runs to the back of the green. Lilia Vu dumps her second shot into the front bunker. Now Georgia Hall. From the middle of the fairway, with wedge in hand, she pops her ball to about 15 feet. Very solid. Finally, Charley Hull with comfortably the shortest shot, although right into a low sun. She peers after it. Nicely done. It finishes about 10 feet from the hole.
Charley Hull on the 18th tee: it’s full on whiplash recoil and it’s massive. A big hit and a tight line. It betters the two US efforts. Now, the more calm Georgia Hall finds the fairway. Advantage Europe.
Let’s review the situation. Charley Hull and Georgia Hall lead by one going up 18. If they win the match the score is 10-6 heading into the singles. A halved match would mean 10.5-5.5. It’s four points in arrears or five.
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 1UP (17)
Charley Hull cannot add her own birdie so the match extends to the 18th. Hull gave a thumbs up to Allisen Corpuz when her putt dropped. She’s quite the character, quite the competitor.
Wow! Lilia Vu nearly chips in for birdie at 17. Georgia Hall up next and her putt is very good but it’s only a par. Allisen Corpuz HAS to hole out to keep the match alive. Her putt is about 18 feet. and she is taking a lot of care over it. Every golfer, every vice captain, both captains, are watching and it drops!
The last match out is hitting into 17. Georgia Hall finds the back of the green in two-putt territory. And then I think there was a coin toss for who went next. I’m not sure if I heard that correctly! Anyway, Lilia Vu was in the rough and has come up short of the green. Allisen Corpuz finds the green but has about 25 feet for birdie. Now Charley Hull who is two up, remember. “Bunker,” she sighs and then it misses the bunker and hops to about 10 feet!
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Emily Pedersen on her match: “We played some good golf. If we kept plugging away we thought we could win and we did.” Carlota Ciganda: “It is so tough to beat the Americans. They have played so well. They are quality but we have to believe. We need to do this for Suzann, for the team, for Europe. Medinah. The Miracle of Medinah. It’s coming.” Maybe Carlota has been reading the blog?!
USA 10 Europe 5
Emily Pedersen’s short putt at 17 has already been conceded so Team USA needs to hole one of their putts for a half and to keep the match alive. Ally Ewing will go first from at least 30 feet and it sneaks past the hole. Next up Lexi Thompson … and hers slips past as well. Victory for Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen.
Ewing/Thompson v Ciganda/Pedersen 2&1 (F)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 2UP (16)
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Back at 16 only Allisen Corpuz can now make birdie. The other three players have nasty par putts to come. Corpuz has a hard read from 12 feet and it catches the edge but doesn’t drop. Europe has to hole one of two knee knockers to go two up with two to play. Charley Hull does it. No bother. No noise either.
Brilliant from Emily Pedersen on 17! Her approach is so close it might be conceded. Lexi Thompson’s ball is at the back of the green. Ally Ewing is with Thompson. It could be match over shortly.
At 16 it is advantage USA. Both Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vi have good looks at making birdie, Charley Hull and Georgia Hall need something special to break par.
Ewing/Thompson v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (16)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 2UP (15)
Tim Doyle emails: “Just building on Simon’s earlier very valid message, we (Europe) didn’t just come from 10-6 down at Medinah, we were actually 10-4 down before sneaking the last two fourballs on the final green. So plenty for Suzann to build on tonight, when it comes to motivating the troops, if we can do the same today - which, touch wood, seems likely.” Tim is spot on with his history. The USA also came from 10-6 down in the 2015 Solheim Cup and were motivated by … Suzann Pettersen. Long story. I’ll return to it once the action is over.
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Up to the 16th green. Emily Pedersen has 18 feet for birdie. It’s online but it pulls up short. (Back at 15 Vu makes par to halve the hole.) Lexi Thompson has a birdie putt which would cut the European lead to one with two to play. It’s four feet ... and it drops.
We’re back in one of those spots on the course with a muted atmosphere. Charley Hull lags up for a par at 15 and we can hear her team mates say, “Well played Charley.” Allisen Corpuz doesn’t threaten the hole with her birdie putt. Can Lilia Vu convert a par breaker? No. And the Americans have a pair of knee knockers for par.
Up ahead Lexi Thompson has hit the best tee shot at the par-3 16th. It’s not quite a gimme but she’s the only one of the four with a valid chance of breaking par.
The final match is back on the 15th fairway. Lilia Vu is aggressive and has 18 feet from just off the green. Georgia Hall finds sand. Allisen Corpuz is in rough through the green. Charley Hull is last to go. Head up, head up, head up. She’s like a busy sparrow. Her approach finds the heart of the green but it’s in lag putt territory.
Ewing/Thompson v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (15)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 2UP (14)
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The 15th green. Emily Pedersen has 20 feet for birdie and to go two up. Slam dunk, in it goes. Karen Stupples says that Suzann Pettersen had been in her ear. That’s reminiscent of something Pedersen said last year: “Suzann doesn’t need to say anything,” she said. “She gives me the look, nods her head and, I’m like, I got it.” Just now, she got it.
Charley Hull played a nice chip at 14 that gives her a look at birdie. But Corpuz still has that very makeable eagle putt, of course. First, Georgia Hall from 12 feet for birdie and she drains it! Great effort from her. Really gutsy. Now Corpuz for eagle and the hole. A push! It didn’t touch the cup. The hole is halved. Europe leads two up with four to play.
Allisen Corpuz into 14 just now:
Allisen Corpuz with an excellent chance for eagle 🦅
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2024
Tune in now on NBC to catch the final matches of Saturday! 📺 pic.twitter.com/6xkeLDapdk
Allisen Corpuz this morning on 14:
“It’s another American eagle!”
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 14, 2024
Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda cash in on a wild sequence. 🤯pic.twitter.com/oJ62xUNhoU
Allisen Corpuz on 14. This morning she topped her approach to 15 feet and Nelly Korda drained it for eagle. Yesterday she found water here. Been some hole for her. Now she is two down to the Hull-Hall team. She has iron in hand. And it’s the best shot we’ve seen today. 10 feet for eagle. Charley Hull is pumped and has hit a long, long drive. Her approach flies the green – she’s really struggling with all this extra energy when hitting into greens.
The third match is on the 14th green and has become a bit messy. First putts have been raced past the hole and now the nerves are shredding. Emily Pedersen up first from eight feet for birdie – and misses. Now Lexi Thompson for birdie from just inside eight feet for birdie – another miss! Bit of a push, that. Debate over who goes next. It’s Carlota Ciganda on a line very like Pedersen’s – she hits the hole and it pops out. Ally Ewing actually didn’t hit the green in two but her third got her closer than the other three’s putts. She has her putt to drag the match all square. It’s no gimme. Five feet. Yikes. Doesn’t touch the hole. Christmas. Europe still leads one up.
Simon McMahon emails: “Shades of Medinah 2012 if Europe do make it out of today only 10-6 down? And in singles you just never know, although I’ve a feeling we kind of do know already how this will end, but hope I’m wrong …” Spot on Simon. This does have Medinah vibes. That was a miracle, though, right?! They don’t happen too often …
Charley Hull makes her birdie at 13 and waves the putters at the flag as it goes in. A little show of defiance. Hull gets a lot of flak, as well as a lot of support, but she is a resilient and proud force for Europe. Vu responds with her own birdie and the match heads to 14.
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Lilia Vu hits the best drive at 13 and she takes advantage. She’ll have about eight feet for birdie. Charley Hull was in the rough and gouged her ball out to about 20 feet – a really fine shot with classic Hull swagger. Georgia Hall and Allisen Corpuz are unlikely to make birdie. The Europeans are two up.
Laura Davies (European vice captain) on the state of the match: “We have to win the last two matches. We’re in serious trouble. They’ve out-putted us. Singles are different, we’ll never say never, but it will be difficult. It’s so crushing when Lexi chips in, then someone else holes out. We need to get these two points home.”
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USA 10 Europe 4
And another win for USA. The Swedes Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom ran out of steam this afternoon while Alison Lee and Meghan Khang were very strong. Lee says her hole out eagle on 2 was “surreal” and Khang is already anticipating it having gone viral. She’s also on the brink of losing her voice.
4&3 Lee (Al)/Khang v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (F)
Ewing/Thompson v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (13)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 2UP (12)
A little fightback from Europe. Charley Hull drains a birdie putt at 12 to go two up with Georgia Hall. And Carlota Ciganda makes another long birdie, this time at 13 to go one up with Emily Pedersen. Europe now leads the bottom two matches.
USA 9 Europe 4
Another putting contest on 14. Andrea Lee has a long, long putt and misses for an eagle-3. Celine Boutier has 25 feet, also for eagle. It stays high and is not a gimme. Linn Grant next. She has about 14 feet but it’s the first that is uphill. It misses on the low side. Finally, Rose Zhang. She has two putts to win the match. One putt for an eagle-3. She makes eagle! They win 6&4. Kerplunk. The US pair played 18 holes in 20-under this week.
Lee (Al)/Khang 3UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (14)
6&4 Lee (An)/Zhang v Grant/Boutier (F)
Ewing/Thompson A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (12)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 1UP (11)
The scores on the doors with these fourballs coming to the boil. If Europe lose the top two matches they will need to win 10 of the remaining 14 points to retain the Cup
Lee (Al)/Khang 3UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (14)
Lee (An)/Zhang 5UP v Grant/Boutier (13)
Ewing/Thompson A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (12)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 1UP (11)
Meghan Khang dribbles in a birdie at 14. It’s for the hole and it dropped with a final gasp which only added to the drama. She and Alison Lee lead three up with four to play.
Seconds later Rose Zhang plays an approach at the same hole to eight feet. It gets a bit of a lucky bounce. “A lot of jammy shots on this hole this week for the Americans,” says a rueful Karen Stupples.
That sensational Andrea Lee hole out from the bunker in all its glory. A brilliant shot.
Sensational shot from Lee 👏 pic.twitter.com/DRAqPx8D0r
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 14, 2024
Clutch from Lexi Thompson with a birdie from eight feet on 12. Europe has two chances to match it. Emily Pedersen is first up from seven feet and she makes it. The match remains all square. The bottom two contests need to go Europe’s way if they are to limit the US advantage to four heading into the singles.
A putting contest at the par-3 11th. Allisen Corpuz makes a fine stroke from 30 feet but it doesn’t drop. On the same line Lilia Vu doesn’t learn a lesson regarding the line. Par for the Americans. Charley Hull is up next from 18 feet and she gets another three. Georgia Hall is fourth to go. Can she put Europe two up? She has 12 feet from below the hole. She’s been tentative on the greens all week. Not this time but it slips by on the low side. Hole halved. Europe stays one up.
Oh wow! Another hole out for Team USA. Andrea Lee splashes out of a greenside bunker at 13, it takes two hops and disappears like a ferret down a drainpipe. She and Rose Zhang lead the second match five up with five to play.
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We’re deep into the back nine now. Charley Hull has 15 feet for birdie and the hole at 10 and she makes it. There is blue on the board. But USA is closing on double figures with the way the top two matches are going.
Lee (Al)/Khang 2UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (13)
Lee (An)/Zhang 4UP v Grant/Boutier (12)
Ewing/Thompson A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (11)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 1UP (11)
“Stacy has all her ducks in a row,” says TV’s Judy Rankin. A wonderful metaphor, that one. Suzann Pettersen would be which animal, I wonder.
Stacy Lewis on this afternoon’s golf: “We’ve had to rally and we have red on the board. This format is hard. We know that no lead is ever safe. We need as many points as we can get for tomorrow.”
Carlota Ciganda has been given “a bad time”. One more and she is “out of the hole”. She even takes her time on the tee at 11. And then stuffs her ball close although it spins back to around 12 feet. She low fives various team mates and caddies – and with meaning although it’s not really anyone’s fault but her own that’s she playing slow.
Lexi Thompson makes birdie from 10 feet at 10. Europe now has two attempts to match her from closer to the hole. First up is Car-Low-Tar Ciganda (as the Americans have it) – and she makes it. The third fourball remains all square. Gritty stuff from the Spaniard who once said: “I love my team. I love Europe. I love Spain. I love the Solheim Cup.”
Back nine strength for the US. TV’s Karen Stupples has just said that the US has won 34 holes on the back nine this week while Europe has won only 15.
Rose Zhang is at it again. She walks in another 12-footer to win the 11th with a birdie that takes her and Andrea Lee four up against Linn Grant and Celine Boutier. The bewildered Swede is on the brink of losing her third match of the week. Another Swede, the more successful Anna Nordqvist, has just putted off the 12th green.
Allison Corpuz and Lilia Vu have won the eighth to go all square with the Hull-Hall combination. Hand taps and smiles all round. Corpuz is easy to like. A mild nature, a shy smile and the sense she can’t quite believe she’s playing the Solheim Cup. Like a competition winner, in fact, but in reality she’s a major championship winner.
Andrea Lee has had a red hot putter this afternoon. She makes birdie from 12 feet on 10 and now Celine Boutier has the chance to match her from a similar distance. But it slips by! She and Rose Zhang are in a strong position.
Lee (Al)/Khang 2UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (11)
Lee (An)/Zhang 3UP v Grant/Boutier (10)
Ewing/Thompson A/D Ciganda/Pedersen (8)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 1UP (7)
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Anna Nordqvist has holed another long birdie putt, this time from around 40 feet. Meghan Khang cannot quite equal her … but then it drops! Khang goes berserk and Sarah Stirk on TV can be heard pursing her lips like my Aunt Hilda. Marvellous. “Let’s go!” yells the caddie and keeps his shirt on.
Georgia Hall could do with a point this afternoon, by the way. She went 6-3-0 through her first two Cup appearances but is 2-8-2 in her last three including yesterday and this morning.
At the par-four 10th Meghan Khang secures par. Now Anna Nordqvist has 10 feet for birdie – and she walks it in. Alison Lee can match her. She has six feet for her own birdie and to stay three up. The ribbon in her hair wafts in the growing wind. And the putt slips by! Are the Swedes mounting a fight back?
At 7, Georgia Hall has drained a 30 foot birdie putt. Lilia Vu matches it from eight feet. Hall and Charley Hull stay one up.
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A lovely little scene on the tee at 9. Stacy Lewis, Rose Zhang and her caddie Ollie Brett discuss strategy. Brett is not only an Englishman, he is also Emily Pedersen’s partner. It’s a tough battle this week, but it’s not war. The state of Virginia would approve.
Rose Zhang is back holing putts. A right-to-lefter from 15 feet sends her and Andrea Lee two up on Linn Grant and Celine Boutier through eight. Those top two matches look good for the USA. Win them and they hit double figures.
I hope no-one is involved in a drinking game in which the word “momentum” prompts any drinking. As always in this match, the word is being bandied around. There’s a kind of manic desire to identify the significant moments. Hull and Hall are giving Europe hope. Momentum?!
Lee (Al)/Khang 3UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (9)
Lee (An)/Zhang 1UP v Grant/Boutier (7)
Ewing/Thompson A/D Ciganda/Pedersen (7)
Corpuz/Vu v Hull/Hall 1UP (6)
The strange rhythms of this format are again revealed – and it has settled into a quiet period. It’s very peculiar how there are frenetic times and then everything settles down for a while. Carlota Ciganda can maybe change that as … her birdie putt at seven drops and the “Ole”s do ring out but still in a little subdued fashion.
Carlota Ciganda likes a twiddle of her club pre-shot. And it works this time, as she hits to about 10 feet on seven. Ally Ewing cannot respond. Ciganda has a great chance to grab equity in the third match out.
With her team in the ascendancy Stacy Lewis has been able to rest her stars. Suzann Pettersen has had to send many of hers back out this afternoon and fatigue could be a factor over the next four hours. Veteran Anna Nordqvist might be feeling it a bit. The top match is not going the way of the Swedes – they are three down and about to hit the turn.
Lee (Al)/Khang 3UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (8)
Lee (An)/Zhang 1UP v Grant/Boutier (7)
Ewing/Thompson 1UP v Ciganda/Pedersen (6)
Corpuz/Vu A/S Hull/Hall (5)
Hello, hello. Linn Grant holes from 30 feet on 7, although only for a half in the second match. Then Carlota Ciganda drains a 45-footer for birdie at six but Lexi Thompson chips in to match her in the third match. Europeans land blows and then have to take one.
Excellent strategy from the Hull-Hall combo! Georgia Hall has the longest birdie putt at 5 but Charley Hull goes first so as to not give opponent Lilia Vu the line. Hull converts so part one of the idea works. Then Vu misses! Last night Suzann Pettersen grumbled that her players were not thinking smartly enough – she’d be pleased by this success. The bottom match is now all square.
Reader Nathan Roberts asks: “What’s with the adverts on the course saying ‘Virginia is for lovers’?” You’re probably asking the wrong man to be honest, Nathan, but I have been asking myself a few questions about those signs. I’m sure it’s not the case, but I can’t help thinking it’s as if we’re to infer that Virginia is a state that turns a blind eye to extra-marital affairs or something. Google explains that the slogan was first coined in 1969. It is, of course, meaningfully ambiguous.
Television points out that the second match out is on the clock. It is behind the first by some way and the third match out is waiting behind them. Sigh, Carlota Ciganda is in that second match. It’s a problem that just never seems to get any better. For those new to golf, “on the clock” means that group is playing too slowly. All four of them will be watched closely and probably three of them will be slightly irked by that monitoring, feeling only the person responsible should be timed. Golf is not very good at playing at pace.
More high jinks in the first match out. Meghan Khang makes birdie at seven from eight feet and starts chest bumping caddies and fellow players, and high fiving the galleries. She and Alison Lee are now two up on the Swedes Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom.
Joe Pearson is pulling no punches! He emails about Laura Davies’ claim that this is the biggest event in women’s sport with the header: “Laura Davies is nuts!” and adds: “Someone tell Laura Davies to take her medicine. If the most important women’s sport event is not the Women’s World Cup, then I don’t know anything.” I think we can grant her some leeway this week, Joe! It’s a giddy scene and easy to get carried away.
It feels a little as if Europe has soaked up a lot of big hits and everything has started to settle down. There’s no more than one hole in any of the four matches. It’s not good, but it’s not as bad as it felt 30 minutes ago.
Lee (Al)/Khang 1UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (6)
Lee (An)/Zhang 1UP v Grant/Boutier (5)
Ewing/Thompson 1UP v Ciganda/Pedersen (4)
Corpuz/Vu A/S Hull/Hall (3)
Lilia Vu can putt. She broke Charley Hull’s heart when defeating her in last year’s AIG Women’s Open and now she drains a 35 foot birdie putt at the third to bring their match level. It was a wonderful effort. Beautiful pace. Perfect line. Over the front of the cup and in.
Better news for Europe: Rose Zhang has missed a tiddler for birdie at five and she and Andrea Lee now lead Celine Boutier (who made her birdie) and Linn Grant by one hole.
Catriona Matthew relates on TV that Laura Davies says the Solheim Cup is the biggest event in women’s sport. Any thoughts?! It seems a slightly giddy call to me.
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I’m a big fan of the personable on-course commentator Jim Gallagher. Yesterday he said, “They played well this morning but this afternoon is a different day.” Earlier today he said: “Lexi Thompson is literally a different person to yesterday.” It’s like Jim lives in a different dimension. Wonderful stuff.
Carlota Ciganda polishes off a birdie from eight feet at three and now she and Emily Pedersen are only one down. There is very little response from the galleries, however. The European fans must be elsewhere. “Car-lot-a Ci-gan-da!” is usually a popular chant in such circumstances.
The Americans have played the second pretty, pretty well this afternoon. Alison Lee made an eagle-2 in the top match. Andrea Lee made a birdie-3 next up. Ally Ewing made another birdie-3 in the third game. And then the tide turns! Georgia Hall converts a birdie in the last match and finally Europe has not only won that hole – it is the first hole they have won all afternoon. She and Charley Hull are one up.
A birdie from 15 feet for Anna Nordqvist in the top match at 5. But it’s only good for a half. She and Madelene Sagstrom remain one down.
Another great birdie putt for Ally Ewing at the second, from about 18 feet. Emily Pedersen misses to halve the hole from a third of that distance. Ewing will be desperate for a point. She’s is 0-2-0 this week which means she is a total of 3-10-1 in her Solheim Cup career. She’s a much better golfer than that record suggests. She and Lexi Thompson are two up now. A great start.
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The last group halve the first with pars. But it’s not been the best of starts for Europe.
Lee (Al)/Khang 1UP v Nordqvist/Sagstrom (4)
Lee (An)/Zhang 2UP v Grant/Boutier (2)
Ewing/Thompson 1UP v Ciganda/Pedersen (1)
Corpuz/Vu A/S Hull/Hall (1)
“An unmentionable,” says Karen Stupples on TV. Carlota Ciganda has hit a shank at the second and disappeared into the trees. Partner Emily Pedersen plays a wonderful approach to eight feet to make up for it.
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And here is that sensational blow from Alison Lee. Tremendous.
Alison Lee with the fairway dunk!!! 😲🏀 pic.twitter.com/TtavGxG5tw
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 14, 2024
The Team USA task for this afternoon. But the photo works better if you imagine it as the response to the caddies pulling their shirts off.
Keep the pedal down! 😤🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6Z4FTOQHjL
— Solheim Cup U.S. Team 🇺🇸 (@SolheimCupUSA) September 14, 2024
Stacy Lewis on the state of the match: “We’re having fun and there’s a lot of energy out there. These are two very long days so let’s keep the energy up. We’re going to use this home crowd.”
Charley Hull on the first tee – and I’ll repeat what I wrote yesterday. There are few greater sights in modern golf than her recoil. Like a medieval trebuchet. Just terrific. Off target from the first, however. She and Georgia Hall find sand. Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vu settle in the fairway. We’re away. All four games on the course! And Andrea Lee has drained another birdie putt – just the 12 feet this time.
So there’s a story about the shirt removal. The caddies of Meghan Khang and Alison Lee said they’d pay the players $500 for a fairway hole out. Khang came back with the idea of the bagmen removing their tops instead. Fingers crossed there is no ramping up of this idea if anyone lands an albatross.
“You CAN make a DIFFERENCE! Let’s Gooooooo!!” implores the first tee announcer. It’s the final fourball of the day: Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vu, both major winners last year, against Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, who are best friends but who have always been reluctant to play together in the Solheim Cup in the past.
More Lee drama. This time it is Andrea Lee on the first green. Her putt slinks first one way and then another before dropping for a winning birdie. Her caddie keeps his kit on. A bold start for the Americans.
Saturday fourball match three hits the first tee. It’s Ally Ewing (who drained a couple of monster putts this morning) and Lexi Thompson up against a dancing Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen. The latter is playing for a fifth time this week (current record 1-2-0).
No sooner had I posted news of Alison Lee’s incredible shot than her caddie ripped his shirt off (and Meghan Khang’s does too). Cue astonishment for Team USA watching on the first tee and the TV commentators were a little bewildered, too. “I can’t un-see that,” says Karen Stupples.
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HUGE cheers ring around the first tee as Linn Grant settles over her approach in the fairway. It’s because Alison Lee, on 2, has holed out for an eagle-2!
Updated
Pettersen on her decision to bench Leona Maguire in both of today’s sessions: “It’s always hard to sit great players. But where we are we have to pick players playing well this week. She’s allowed to be disappointed but she’s a good team player.” Remember, Maguire was 7-2-1 entering this week after her first two Solheim Cup appearances. She played once yesterday and lost.
Suzann Pettersen talks to TV. “I was super proud,” she says of the morning effort. “We were hoping for 3-1. But they did so much right. We have a big job. But we can get right back in it. We need a strong start. These girls are up for it.”
Fun and games with the first tee announcer who likes to hang on his words like Harold Lloyd held onto clock faces. “Rose! Zhannnngggg!”
Updated
More first tee celebrity appearances. Yesterday it was Barack Obama. Today Jessica Alba. Who will it be tomorrow? There seems to be a theme, with celebs whose surnames end with an A.
It’s time for the Stanford University grads Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang to hit the first tee. Europe also has a Stanford grad on its team in Albane Valenzuela but she’s not been trusted to play today. Instead the blue and yellow will be represented by Linn Grant and Celine Boutier. Meanwhile, up ahead, four so-so approach shots in the opening match.
The first match out this (late) afternoon is Alison Lee and Meghan Khang versus Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom. The bucket-hatted Swedes won together yesterday and Nordqvist also won this morning. Khang was a winner with Nelly Korda yesterday who sits this session. So a new combo for Team USA. The Swedes hit good opening blows, Lee goes short and right, Khang thrashes her ball down the middle. A smiling Sagstrom, married last week, exits the tee box with metaphorical confetti flying and tin cans tied to her heels.
Updated
Can Europe close the gap before the singles? It’s a huge task but it is perhaps important to remember that not only does this European team have experience of fighting back from a four point deficit (last year), the American team has experience of seeing such a significant lead dwindle. If – and it is a big IF – Europe can close the gap and apply pressure those memories could start to play games with the minds of the Americans. Let’s repeat though: it’s a big if.
No Nelly Korda this afternoon. On the course, at least. She’s currently dancing on the first tee with a big grin on her face. We should be set for a raucous hour as the quartet of fourballs leave that first tee arena.
Thanks Scott and good afternoon everyone. That was quite a first session, wasn’t it? I’ve just been scratching away at the numbers. Europe was in an element of control at halfway, leading in three of the four matches. But it was largely down to poor golf from the hosts. Europe played the front nine in a combined 3-under and the back nine in 5-under. The US, in contrast, was 8-over for the front nine and 17-under on the way home. That’s some improvement.
… and with that, my work here today is complete. The crucial afternoon action will be described by the lovely Matt Cooper. Have a good time, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the singles.
The Saturday fourballs
5.05pm BST: Alison Lee / Megan Khang v Anna Nordqvist / Madelene Sagstrom
5.20pm BST: Andrea Lee / Rose Zhang v Linn Grant / Celine Boutier
5.35pm BST: Ally Ewing / Lexi Thompson v Carlota Ciganda / Emily Pedersen
5.50pm BST: Allisen Corpuz / Lilia Vu v Charley Hull / Georgia Hall
Saturday afternoon four-ball pairings at @TheSolheimCup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/PPKEJoihuY
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2024
That promised much more for Europe, when they were 2UP , 3UP and 4UP in three of the matches. Then, for a while towards the end of the session, it threatened to turn very sour. So hats off to Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit for pulling something out of the hat on 18 there. The lead match will be the cause of regret, a two-hole lead let slip, albeit to the finest player in the world. But what a difference it would have made had Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda managed to hold on. Still, a share of the spoils isn’t a complete disaster for the visitors as they battle to keep their four-in-a-row hopes alive. They’ll need to make inroads in the afternoon, though.
Day two foursomes results
1UP Allisen Corpuz / Nelly Korda v Emily Pedersen / Carlota Ciganda
Ally Ewing / Jennifer Kupcho v Esther Henseleit / Charley Hull 1UP
4&3 Lexi Thompson / Lauren Coughlin v Maja Stark / Georgia Hall
Lilia Vu / Sarah Schmelzel v Anna Nordqvist / Celine Boutier 4&3
USA 8-4 Europe
Nope, Jennifer Kupcho can’t get anywhere near. Ally Ewing’s two monster putts all for nothing in the end, cancelled out in one swish of Esther Henseleit’s wedge. What a clutch chip! “We [word redacted by Golf Is For All Ages editor] love you Charley!” screams the sweary contingent of the European fanbase. Forgive them, folks, for that was a nail-biter and Europe really needed that.
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (F)
Jennifer Kupcho’s drive ends up on a hillock to the right of the fairway. Ally Ewing can only whip America’s second into greenside sand. That leaves the door ajar for Europe, with Charley Hull having boomed one down the track. Esther Henseleit, well aware of the importance of a win, paces out each and every one of the 86 yards that remain … before hitting a simply outrageous wedge in. The ball takes a couple of gentle bounces before gripping and halting 12 inches – if that – from the hole! The birdie putt is conceded, and Kupcho will have to hole out if the USA are to take anything from this match.
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (17)
USA 8-3 Europe
Emily Pedersen gives her long birdie putt a good go. An effort that oscillates this way and that, and over a ridge to boot. But it’s not dropping. Nelly Korda cradles her putt up to kick-in distance, and a session that earlier threatened to turn into a European clean sweep will most likely be won by the hosts … unless Esther Hernseleit and Charley Hull can somehow snatch something back up 18. What a turnaround! What collective moxie by the Americans.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (F)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (17)
Allisen Corpuz and Carlota Ciganda both find the 18th green in regulation. The former much closer than the latter. You’d think Emily Pedersen needs to make like Ally Ewing and drain a monster if Europe are to salvage a half-point. Meanwhile the inevitable occurs on 17 in the wake of Charley Hull’s astonishing misjudgement, and the last remaining splash of blue is removed from the scoreboard. Those two huge rakes by Ewing have visibly shocked the European pair, who aren’t quite in thousand-yard-stare territory yet, but are sure close to getting there.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (17)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (17)
USA 7-3 Europe
Some respite for Europe, as 15 is halved in the anchor match. That’s good enough to chalk up a third point for the visitors. It was all over after five holes, in retrospect, but Lilia Vu’s street-fighting smarts kept the European duo of Celine Boutier and Anna Nordqvist honest. Sarah Schmelzel’s putting woes so costly for the hosts. Nordqvist is two from two.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (17)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4&3 (F)
Updated
A huge, and potentially very costly, rush of blood for Charley Hull on 17. She flies the green with her approach and her ball disappears into the penalty area behind. An astonishing mistake, and Jennifer Kupcho twists the knife by knocking her second to 12 feet. It looks like match two will be level going up the last, and Europe are in serious danger of letting this all go south.
Disaster for Europe on 17. Carlota Ciganda races a long birdie putt four feet past, and Emily Pedersen can’t make the one coming back. In truth, that situation was forced by Nelly Korda’s world-class approach, and the American’s don’t even need to putt out. The hole’s conceded, and what was looking like an extremely promising morning for Europe begins to look much more average. A big 30 minutes coming up.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (17)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (14)
Updated
USA 7-2 Europe
Lexi Thompson has been magnificent this afternoon, and her second into 15 sets up Lauren Coughlin for birdie. That’s the match, and the local hero Coughlin is three points from three!
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (16)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
4&3 Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (F)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (14)
Updated
Ally Ewing rakes in another monster putt! This one from 30-odd feet on 17 to halve a hole the USA looked like losing! She gambols across the green in wild delight as the gallery goes ballistic. In the circumstances, Esther Henseleit does well to hold her nerve and tidy up from four feet, because that could have been one of the all-time smash and grabs!
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (16)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (14)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (14)
On 17, Emily Pedersen finds the centre of the green from the first cut down the left. But that’s going to be a long look at birdie, and Nelly Korda will be hitting her approach from the centre of the fairway. Korda doesn’t disappoint, landing her ball on the back portion of the green, using the backstop to bring her ball back to five feet! A huge opportunity for the USA to take control of the lead match right at the death! Meanwhile on 14, Sarah Schmelzel isn’t able to make eagle, and the hole is halved in birdie. Europe dormie four in the anchor match.
Charley Hull responds to the hammer blow of Ally Ewing’s long hole-winning rake across 15 by landing her tee shot at the par-three 16th 15 feet to the left of the flag. The camber of the green takes it back to six feet. As the ball sailed along its delicate arc, she stood back to admire her work. The USA are on the green, but much further from the pin, and may need some more long-distance magic if they’re not to find themselves dormie two.
At the par-five 14th, Lilia Vu sends a stunning hybrid from 200 yards straight at the flag. As sweetly struck as Allisen Corpuz’s earlier topper was awful, but the results are just the same: eagle opportunity coming up!
Allisen Corpuz isn’t able to rake home the long birdie putt on 16. That opens the door for Carlota Ciganda, who is a past master at making big putts in the Solheim Cup … but she’s seriously spooked by a huge roar that goes up when Ally Ewing makes a 40-footer on 15 for birdie and the hole! She doesn’t step away from the putt, and knocks it five feet past. What a huge error. She’s thankful to her partner Emily Pedersen for tidying up. Nelly Korda does the same for the hosts, and what a nerve-jangling series of events unfolded there.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (16)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (15)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (14)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (13)
Lilia Vu sends USA’s third into 13 to ten feet, and though Sarah Schmelzel isn’t able to make the par save, the hole is halved, with Europe unable to get up and down from greenside sand. That’s a big escape for the States after Schmelzel battered the face of a bunker with their second shot. But they’re still four holes down with five to play.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (15)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (14)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (13)
Emily Pedersen fires her tee shot at 16 over the flag to eight feet. Nelly Korda pulls her iron, though, sending her shot 35 feet to the right. Goodness knows how this lead match is going to end, it’s been glorious back-and-forth entertainment on this back nine.
Updated
Allisen Corpuz’s errant drive and Nelly Korda’s poor bunker shot cost the USA dear at 15. The lead match is tied again, with par enough to land the hole for Europe.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (15)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (14)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)
Updated
Jennifer Kupcho’s wedge into 14 isn’t all that. Ally Ewing’s long birdie putt sails by, but with Esther Henseleit’s wonderful approach setting up an eagle chance from ten feet, she had to be aggressive. The hole is conceded and Europe are two up again.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (14)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)
Lilia Vu’s drive at 13 finds a fairway bunker, and Sarah Schmelzel hits the face firing out of it. The ball escapes onto the fairway, but the hosts are on the back foot here, and if they lose this hole, Europe will be dormie five. Big moments coming up there.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)
Lauren Coughlin rakes a monster across 13 for birdie! Georgia Hall was well inside her, but can’t make her 10-footer and the USA take proper control of the third morning match. But the first one is certainly not over, and when Nelly Korda can only find a greenside bunker from a fairway one, Emily Pedersen sends her approach into the centre of the green. A fine approach into 14 by Esther Henseleit, meanwhile, and Europe are finally showing signs of countering the fightback.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)
Celine Boutier nearly drains a long eagle putt on 12. Not quite. Lilia Vu tidies up to halve the hole in birdie. The nerves continue to jangle meanwhile in the lead match, as Alissen Corpuz’s drive finds a bunker down the left of the fairway, while Carlota Ciganda hoicks hers into rough on the other side.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)
Nelly Korda walks in her eagle putt on 14! She punches the air theatrically. Talk about taking advantage of a big break! Somewhere in the multiverse, Allisen Corpuz’s topped hybrid whistled into the drink. But in our reality, it somehow squeaked pin high, and the USA hit the front in the lead match for the first time today!
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)
An outrageous stroke of fortune for Allisen Corpuz on 14. She tops her second stroke, a hybrid from 192 yards, and it looks like disaster for the USA. But somehow the ball trundles down the fairway, and instead of kinking off towards the water on the left, makes it onto the green, the camber on the right kicking the ball towards the flag. She’s pin high, 15 feet from the cup! Corpuz and her partner Nelly Korda walk to the green laughing uncontrollably. It could be their day! Meanwhile Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull are always out of position going up 13, and finally Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, after three spurned chances in a row, win another hole!
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)
Lexi Thompson is on one today. At the par-five 12th, she wedges from 66 yards to three feet. She’s enjoying her valedictory lap, a huge smile on her face. It puts pressure on Europe, for whom Maja Stark had also gone close. Georgia Hall is up to the task of ramming home her birdie putt from six feet. Lauren Coughlin tidies up for the half.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (12)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)
Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho won the 9th. They were then denied what looked nailed-on wins at both 10 and 11. So they really need to convert this one. Esther Henseleit rolls her birdie putt down to three feet, but it still shouldn’t be enough. Ally Ewing can’t make what is in fact a six-footer, and Charley Hull tidies up. Three escapes in a row. Meanwhile Allison Corpuz nearly drains a long birdie putt on 13. It’s still enough for the hole, and the lead match is all square for the first time since hole 1. And it’s back-to-back birdies for the USA in the final match, Lilia Vu creaming a gorgeous tee shot at 11 to six feet, Sarah Schmelzel finally making a putt. They couldn’t, could they?!
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (12)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (11)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)
Jennifer Kupcho and Charley Hull both in the bunker to the right of the 12th green. Kupcho’s escape is decent, no more, but left ten feet short. That opens the door for Hull … but she can’t make it through the frame, sending a skinny one 25 feet past the flag. Advantage USA here. Europe can’t escape again, can they?
Lauren Coughlin swishes her tee shot at 11 pin high, setting up Lexi Thompson with an eight-footer for par. Lexi’s not missing that, certainly not in the mood she’s in today, with her flat stick hot, and the USA’s lead is back to two holes. Maja Stark’s miss from short distance on the previous hole suddenly stings a little more.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (11)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (11)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (10)
Lilia Vu sends a tramliner into the cup for eagle at 10! That’s everything Sarah Schmelzel’s tee shot deserved, and technically, if not totally realistically, the comeback is on!
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (11)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (10)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (10)
Sarah Schmelzel has been having a hell of a time on the greens today. But she’s just hit one of the shots of the week so far on the driveable par-four 10th, creaming her ball pin high to 20 feet or so. Eagle opportunity coming up, and a chance to cut Europe’s lead to just the five.
Maja Stark misses a makeable right-to-left curler from eight feet on 10. A birdie would have tied up match three. She cocks her head back in disappointment, a Pez dispenser of emotion. But there’s a big birdie putt from 15 feet on 12 by Carlota Ciganda to salvage a half for Europe in the lead match. And another huge escape for Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull, this time on 11. Henseleit sends her tee shot towards the water down the right, but it plugs in the bank, and Hull is allowed to place. Europe get up and down, and breathe again.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (11)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (10)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 6UP (9)
Updated
Sarah Schmelzel’s putting woes continue. Celine Boutier rolls in a ten-foot birdie putt on 9. Schmelzel has a straighter, shorter one … and it slips by on the right. The biggest Solheim Cup foursomes result in history is 6&5, something that’s happened several times. We could be heading towards Spartacus Mills territory here.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (11)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (10)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (9)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 6UP (9)
A huge steal for a half on 10 for Team Europe. Not sure the exact outcome of Charley Hull’s errant tee shot, but it looks like Esther Henseleit took a penalty drop and chipped to 12 feet. A win for the USA was still on the cards, but Ally Ewing clanks a terrible chip from the fringe at the back of the green 20 feet past the hole, and when Jennifer Kupcho fails to rescue the situation by making birdie, the hosts are sickened when Hull curls in a left-to-right par saver. A half out of nowhere! That could prove crucial.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (11)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (10)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (9)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (8)
There’s a big search on for Charley Hull’s ball at 10. It’s a jungle down there, and it’s either disappeared or maybe even bounded into the water. They’re surely not going to find it. But some good news for Europe elsewhere: Carlota Ciganda makes a knee-knocking three-footer for a half on 11, Anna Nordqvist extends Europe’s lead in the anchor match with another birdie, and it’s a bounceback birdie for Maja Stark on 9.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (11)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (9)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (9)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (8)
Updated
Yep, this is changing quickly all right! On 11, Allisen Corpuz swishes her tee shot over the flag to 20 feet; Carlota Ciganda pulls hers 40 feet to the left of the pin. On the green, but still, that’s advantage USA. And it’s serious advantage USA on 10, where Jennifer Kupcho belts her tee shot through the back of the drivable green, spooking Charley Hull into sending a duck hook into the penalty area down the left. Europe in danger of laying waste to so much of their morning’s work here.
Updated
NBC have just pointed out that before that burst, Team USA had only won four holes all morning. They’ve just won three in as many minutes. Talk about a momentum shift! Europe need to dig in here.
There’s some American momentum here now. Three putts cost Georgia Hall and Maja Stark on 8, and for the third time today, Lexi Thompson wins a hole for the hosts. She fist-bumps with Lauren Coughlin and all of a sudden the scoreboard doesn’t look quite so comfortable for Europe.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (10)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (9)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (8)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (6)
Charley Hull splashes out of the bunker at 9 to 15 feet, and Esther Henseleit walks in the sandy par save. The best they could realistically hope for, but it’s all in vain as Jennifer Kupcho takes her turn to walk one in, for birdie from six feet. Some of Europe’s lead chipped away. And in the lead match, Team USA finally make a birdie, and there’s some more of Europe’s precious lead eaten into.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (10)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (9)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (7)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (6)
Hope ahoy for the hosts in the first two matches. Emily Pedersen sends her tee shot into fairway sand at 10, while Nelly Korda nearly reaches the green; Esther Henseleit tugs her tee shot at 9 into a greenside bunker, while Ally Ewing fires a dart at the flag. Should the USA win both of those holes … well, they won’t take any blue off the board, not yet, but the situation will suddenly look that tiny bit more promising for them. And it would get the Europeans thinking … and worrying about a potential momentum shift. There’s a long way to go.
Updated
Carlota Ciganda’s tee shot at the par-three 9th only just holds the back of the green with the pin at the front. Allison Corpuz pings hers to seven feet. Emily Pedersen’s long birdie effort sails four feet past, but when Nelly Korda misreads her putt, the door’s open for Ciganda to halve the hole, and she’s not missing a straight one from such a distance. The USA could easily have won both of the last two holes in the lead match; as it is, they’ve passed up makeable opportunities and remain two down.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (9)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 3UP (8)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (7)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (6)
Lauren Coughlin thinks she’s drained a huge downhill left-to-right curler across 7. It’s a magnificent effort, and looks in all the way, but just as she raises her arm in celebration, it slingshots around the back of the hole and stays out. It’s conceded, and Maja Stark tidies up from a couple of feet to halve the hole. Meanwhile on 8, Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho can only make bogey, and with Europe close and thinking about birdie, the hole’s conceded. Lilia Vu’s par putt on 6 for a half is the nearest the hosts have come to celebrating in the last half-hour or so.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (8)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 3UP (8)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (7)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (6)
Anyway, those shuttle buses aren’t the only problem at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club this week. Here’s “disappointed British golfer” Sue Taylor: “The organisation is lacking. Apart from the shambolic transport arrangements, there is only on teeny tiny coffee van with one coffee machine, where you wait in line to pay and then wait a further 25 mins for the coffee. I thought Americans were coffee drinkers?”
Allisen Corpuz takes about a tenth of the time it took Carlota Ciganda to line up. Perhaps a little bit longer might have been in order, because she sends her 15-foot putt wide right. That’s a big escape for Europe.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (8)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (7)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (6)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (5)
Birdie putts on the 8th. Carlota Ciganda is outside Allisen Corpuz, and though she nearly drains her uphill left-to-right slider from 25 feet, it doesn’t slide left to right quite enough. And that’s given Corpuz a teach. Big putt coming up, because if this drops, it could be a momentum-changer in the lead match.
Sarah Schmelzel’s head has gone for now. She blades out of the bunker at 5 and through the green. Lilia Vu does her level best to hole out from the thick rough but the jig is up. The anchor match is threatening to spiral out of control for the hosts. Meanwhile a sandy par for Maja Stark and Georgia Hall at 6 is enough to snatch a hole back for Europe. And completing a European trifecta, Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull on 7, where Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho find themselves unable to get up and down from the greenside filth to scramble par. All going Europe’s way at the minute. What Suzann Pettersen would give to declare right now.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (7)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (7)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (6)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (5)
Trouble for the USA on a couple of holes here. On 7, Jennifer Kupcho, hitting their second from fairway sand, carves her shot wide right of the green and into thick cabbage. Charley Hull sends Europe’s approach over the stick to ten feet. Meanwhile back on 5, Lilia Vu sends America’s third into a greenside bunker, while Anna Nordqvist eases Europe’s third to ten feet.
Updated
A fine two-putt par from 50 feet on 7 for the European duo of Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen. Enough to salvage a half. A look of vague disappointment on the faces of Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda, who are struggling to make in-roads this morning.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (7)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (6)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (5)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 3UP (4)
Schmelzel shoves a nervy putt wide right. That was never going in. This is becoming hard to watch. On NBC, Paige Mackenzie observes that her short putts have been missed left, high right and low right. “It’s been a bit of a mess.” Ally Ewing meanwhile can’t make a downhill par putt from six feet to save the hole, and Europe lead in three of the four matches. But some good news for the USA in match three as Lexi Thompson makes another big putt on 5 to double the American advantage there.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (6)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (6)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (5)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 3UP (4)
USA captain Stacy Lewis arrives on 4 to give Sarah Schmelzel a pep talk. Or some soothing words. Either would work. Hopefully it does the trick, because Schmelzel has sent her tee shot into greenside sand, and though Lilia Vu splashes out brilliantly to five feet, that’s a testing one for par given what’s gone before. It’ll be for the hole, though, because Celine Boutier also sends her tee shot into a bunker and Europe can’t get up and down. Huge putt coming up, one that may potentially decide this foursomes match, because Schmelzel’s head will be swimming otherwise.
Sarah Schmelzel misses her second short putt of the morning, and the USA have three-putted from 20 feet on 3. It’s a horror start for the hosts in the anchor match. Europe were out of position there, too, Anna Nordqvist putting from the fringe and clanking her effort six feet past. But after Lilia Vu got uncharacteristically sloppy with her birdie putt, rolling it three feet past, Celine Boutier tidied up to put the hurt on Schmelzel. That’s a big mistake by the USA. But it’s a big escape for them in the lead match, where Nelly Korda nearly holes out from a bunker, but still leaves Emily Pedersen with a snaky downhill eight-footer for the hole. Pedersen’s effort looks in, but drifts left at the very last and lips out. Hole tied. Still, this is a good morning’s work for Europe so far.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (6)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (5)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (4)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 3UP (3)
Lauren Coughlin can’t make her birdie from the edge of the 4th green. But Georgia Hall can! She walks in her gentle left-to-right slider, and then leaves the green with slightly more spring in her step, having halved the USA’s lead in the third match.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (5)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (4)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (4)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 2UP (2)
Lexi Thompson’s tee shot at the par-three 4th is straight at the flag, 15 feet shy, only just on the green. Maja Stark gets a couple of feet inside. Nearly everyone coming up just a little short on this hole today. Putting contest upcoming!
Carlota Ciganda may be famously slow, but Nelly Korda takes her sweet time over a fairly straight uphill birdie effort on 5. It’s time wasted, because she doesn’t give it enough of a clack, the ball stopping one turn short. Chance for Emily Pedersen from eight feet … but her effort lips out. Both teams will rue those missed putts. They were extremely gettable.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (5)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (4)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (3)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 2UP (2)
Anna Nordqvist powers an iron from thick rough down the left of 2 to 15 feet. With the USA out of position – Sarah Schmelzel drove into a bunker – Celine Boutier has a birdie putt for the win. It stays out on the right, but the par will be enough anyway, because Lilia Vu’s ten-foot right-to-left tickle shaves the lip but doesn’t drop. A strong start for Europe in the anchor match … but it’s also a fast start for the USA in the third match, as Lexi Thompson’s pin-high arrow is enough to win the hole at 3.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (4)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (4)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (3)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 2UP (2)
Charley Hall draws a high 9-iron into the par-three 4th. That’s delicious, five feet past the flag. Jennifer Kupcho, perhaps slightly spooked by the quality of Hall’s shot, hits an uncharacteristically weak effort that topples back off the front of the green. Still half a chance for Ally Ewing to rake in a birdie putt from the fringe, but it’s serious advantage to Europe.
Sarah Schnelzel pulls a short par putt wide left on 1. Or was it a misread? Either way, both she and her partner Lilia Vu look genuinely shocked that it didn’t drop. It costs USA the hole. Better news for the hosts on 2, where Lexi Thompson walks in a 12-foot birdie putt and calmly punches the air. A decent enough start for Europe, all told, though this is golf and there’s many a slip.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (4)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (3)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (2)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 1UP (1)
Neither Nelly Korda nor Emily Pedersen can find the green at the par-three 4th, but their partners will be putting nevertheless, from the apron at the front. Allisen Corpuz up first; her putt is never going in, but it’s close enough to secure par. That gives Carlota Ciganda a chance to put Europe three up with an uphill 20-footer … but that’s always staying out on the left. A half, and the teams move on.
From a fairway bunker on 2, Esther Henseleit whisks Europe’s second to five feet. It’s enough to win the hole. More good news on 3, where Allisen Corpuz’s wedge isn’t particularly good, leaving Nelly Korda with a long par putt. She can’t make it, racing well past the cup, and with Emily Pedersen having sent Europe’s second to ten feet, the hole is conceded. Back on 1, Coughlin elects to chip rather than putt, and it’s a good decision as she sends a crisp clip to kick-in distance. Hole halved.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 2UP (3)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (2)
Coughlin/Thompson A/S Hall/Stark (1)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist
Updated
The anchor match is out and about. Anna Nordqvist tees off and immediately looks at her partner with concern. Where did that ball go? She lost it in the sun. No worries, it’s straight down the middle. Nordqvist was serenaded with a chorus of “We love you Anna, we do, oh Anna we love you!” but that’s nothing compared to the mighty roars ringing in Lilia Vu’s ears as she splits the fairway. It’s all happening, then!
Lexi Thompson and Maja Stark take turns to send average approaches into 1. Thompson on the fringe front right, from where Lauren Coughlin will give Georgia Hall a read, because Europe’s ball is in the road, ten feet further up.
Updated
The third match takes to the first tee, and there’s a particularly rousing ovation for Lexi Thompson, playing in her last Solheim Cup. Georgia Hall hits a decent drive down the left but the ball scampers into the thicker rough. Lauren Coughlin splits the fairway. Up around the green, Esther Henseleit splashes out of the bunker to six feet, but Charley Hull pulls her par putt and the hole goes to the USA. Better news for Europe on 2, where Emily Pedersen converts the birdie chance set up for her by Carlota Ciganda, and the visitors hit the front in the lead match.
Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (2)
1UP Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull (1)
Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark
In the lead match, both teams are out of position down the right of the 2nd hole. Allisen Corpuz does well to find the front portion of the green, though that’ll leave Nelly Korda a long putt; Carlota Ciganda punches a low one over a hillock and rolls up to ten feet. She knew that was good, twirling the club and skipping up the bank to take a look at the result of her work. Advantage Europe in the upcoming putting contest.
Charley Hull catches her first shot of the day, from the fairway bunker down the right of 1, a bit thin. It squirts into the greenside bunker front right. Jennifer Kupcho, who was flinging darts at the flag on the back nine yesterday morning, sends her approach into the middle of the green. Another look at birdie for the USA from 30 feet.
The second match turns up for work. Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho bounce into view, high on life despite being the only US foursomes match to lose yesterday morning. A chance to right that wrong against Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull. Plenty of red USA foam fingers waggling around in the stand. Respectful silence as Henseleit finds the same bunker Carlota Ciganda found; bedlam as Ally Ewing finds the same left-hand side of the fairway Allison Corpuz did. Away they go. Meanwhile up on the green, neither Corpuz nor Ciganda get particularly close with their birdie attempts, but the teams agree to pick up the coins and move on. Nice and friendly, though you won’t expect similar three-footers to be conceded if this goes up 18.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (1)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull
Nelly Korda up first. She safely finds the centre of the green, pin high from 200 yards with a hybrid. The putt will be from around 30 feet, but a half-decent birdie chance nonetheless. Emily Pedersen has to respond, and does so by sending Europe’s second over the flag. The ball rolls apologetically into the fringe, but doesn’t topple down the bank; that would have been a cruel outcome for such a fine shot. Europe are left with a birdie putt of about 20 feet. The first putting contest of the day coming right up!
Carlota Ciganda takes the opening shot of the second day … and sends Europe’s ball into the big bunker down the right of the fairway. That’s not ideal, but neither is it the worst place to be. Allisen Corpuz, to wild cheers orchestrated by her parter Nelly Korda, larrups confidently down the fairway. Another magnificent atmosphere in the grandstands, which this morning look a lot fuller than early doors yesterday, the shuttle buses hopefully running on time now.
Good morning Virginia! The lead match takes to the first tee, and when Europe emerge from the tunnel, Emily Pedersen bows and scrapes theatrically in front of Carlota Ciganda. The Spaniard, last year’s hero, is the beating heart of Team Europe in the time-honoured Seve / Sergio / Ian Poulter style, so no wonder Suzann Pettersen has sent her out in the first match, in the hope of setting a tone that will spark a comeback. There’s also the small matter of Ciganda’s notoriously glacial speed of play – she was put on the clock at one point yesterday – and the fact that her sort of methodical style gets right under Nelly Korda’s skin. Korda loves to get on with it; will this disrupt her flow? The world number one won her matches 3&2 and 6&4 yesterday, so I guess Pettersen had to try something. Let’s see how this pans out, then!
Preamble: USA 6-2 Europe
Stacy Lewis’s USA team have established a record first-day lead; Suzann Pettersen’s Europeans need to respond quicksmart. The 2024 Solheim Cup won’t be over if Europe fail to make headway in this morning’s foursomes … but it’ll nearly be over. Big four matches coming up.
12.05pm BST: Allisen Corpuz / Nelly Korda v Emily Pedersen / Carlota Ciganda
12.17pm BST: Ally Ewing / Jennifer Kupcho v Esther Henseleit / Charley Hull
12.29pm BST: Lexi Thompson / Lauren Coughlin v Maja Stark / Georgia Hall
12.41pm BST: Lilia Vu / Sarah Schmelzel v Anna Nordqvist / Celine Boutier
