Carlota Ciganda hasn’t had a top 30 finish since May and she’s missed the cut in the year’s last four majors. But put her in a Solheim Cup environment and everything changes. The Spaniard, who has now won 13 matches in her Solheim career, had this to say.
“I love this week. I love playing for the team, for my team-mates, for Anna Nordqvist; she is a good friend. I want to win for her.
“I think not losing today is important. That’s big momentum going into tomorrow and hopefully we can win both morning and afternoon.
“I would love to keep playing with Julia Lopez Ramirez, but whatever the captain wants us to do, we will do it.”
Day two is the same format as Thursday. That means 4 x morning foursomes followed by 4 x fourballs in the afternoon. It’s all rounded off with Sunday’s singles.
Well, what a finish. Incredible putts by Ciganda at 16 and 18 to secure the tie. Both sessions shared 2-2 highlights just how balanced these two teams are.
Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin Tied
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
2&1 Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin Tied
Session: Europe 2-2 USA
Match: Europe 4-4 USA
Europe 4-4 USA
MY WORD!!! CIGANDA HOLES FOR PAR!! What a four! Amazing stuff and somehow Europe have halved the match. Classic matchplay right there, folks.
Updated
… Korda’s putt comes up short but she may have given her playing partner a read. Coughlin doesn’t hit it either! It was in the heart! You can’t leave that short! Europe still alive. Over to you Carlota!
The drone shot shows that there’s a very clear opening for Ciganda. She flicks up her wedge to about 20 feet away so, if Korda and Coughlin can’t convert, the Spaniard could add another tale to her Solheim Cup story.
… Korda turns the screw and hits a fine approach to not just par range but very realistic birdie range. Coughlin gives that screw another twist by hitting her second a fraction inside her playing partner’s ball.
Does Ciganda have any sort of shot here? She’s actually on the 1st fairway. Sophie Walker, out on the course, reckons ‘it’s on’ so you never know.
Ciganda recalling Jordan Spieth at Birkdale in 2017 here. It’s a blind second over an obstacle (in this case, a tree). There’s water around the green though and she’ll likely have to fly it 180 yards to avoid the wet stuff and sand so the degree of difficulty is high. She pulls 4-iron but catches it heavy and it’s way right of the green. Hard to see how she makes par now. Lopez Ramirez has a good lie in the bunker but hits it fat and smashes into the lip. The ball drops apologetically back into sand. Here third comes up short of the green. Europe making a mess of this 18th.
The sun shines straight into the players’ eyes as they tee off at 18. Lopez Ramirez wants her ball to draw but it doesn’t listen and finds sand. Ciganda hits it way right but her ball actually settles on short grass. She’ll have to hit over a tree with her second though.
No such trouble for Korda who launches a 3-wood down the middle of the fairway. Coughlin follows suit so advantage USA here.
Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin Tied
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
2&1 Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (17)
… Coughlin goes first and does enough to secure a par. As the sun sets, Lopez Ramirez is next and that’s also good for a four. Korda and Ciganda are equidistant so the ref has to come in and make a call. Korda putts first but it’s always on the high side. Can Ciganda pull out some magic again? She stalks her left-to-righter from 20 feet and it has a chance but not this time. The Spaniard drops to her knees in frustration. Actually, Europe make the USA putt which is no problem for Coughlin. To 18…
Back to 17 and can either side grab a lead and go dormie? Ciganda’s know-how could be vital here and she plonks a 9-iron to perhaps 20 feet. Korda, Coughlin and Lopez Ramirez will also have looks at birdie, the latter two of the outside variety.
Europe 3½-3½ USA
Up to the 17th green where Europe are on the cusp of victory. Auston Kim has a 15-footer to keep the Americans alive but she misses left. Another point on the board for Europe and a superb effort by the rookies Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud. The match is tied!
Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud beat Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim 2&1
Updated
Carlota Ciganda shows all her vast Solheim Cup experience by holing a 20 footer for eagle at 16. The bottom match is all square again! ‘Vamos’ she roars as the putt catches enough of the left side of the cup to do a Jose Maria Olazabal-style jig and drop.
Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin Tied
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
2UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (16)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (16)
Some words from Charley Hull after a long day which yielded just half a point from two matches.
“I feel tired and I can’t wait to go to bed! But apart from that I feel good,” she says with a smile.
“I like matches like that, they are really interesting. It was good fun. Lottie played great and it was a really good match.”
Updated
Rhodes and Nadaud have now gone dormie over Corpuz and Kim in Match 3. But the Europeans will want to finish it off either on 17 or 18 after halving 16 in par fives.
Europe 2½-3½ USA
Huge moments these now. A sense that things are turning the way of the Americans. Woad is first to putt from about 25 feet at 18. Some daft background music is putting Woad off and she backs away. Finally Woad settles over her putt which is nicely struck but just stays left. Now for Noh as the music keeps pumping. Turn the bloody thing off! Noh is perhaps distracted too and it’s never on line. The top game is halved. A great fightback and full credit to Noh for inspiring the revival, virtually on her own.
Charley Hull and Lottie Woad halved with Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin
Updated
Back to 18. Yin and Hull aren’t in the hole so it’s down to Woad v Noh. Woad pulls her approach left of the flag to around 25 feet while Noh, shielding her eyes from the setting sun after hitting a smooth short iron, will have about half that.
Carlota Ciganda’s birdie putt at 15 looks to be turning towards the hole but just pulls up short. Agony for the Spaniard. It leaves the door open for Korda but her putt deviates left at the death so on they go to the 16th with the USA still 1up in the pivotal bottom match.
Hull/Woad A/S Noh/Yin (17)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
2UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (15)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (15)
To the 18th. Noh stripes her tee-shot down the middle while Yin looks to have found sand. Huge pressure on Woad and Hull now as they stare down the barrel of letting a serious lead slip and suffering a second defeat of the day.
Woad stays strong and finds the fairway but Hull looks to have tugged her drive into a hazard down the left.
Updated
Suddenly, USA looking favourites to win this session. Then again, it’s so finely balanced that Europe could still capture it 3-1.
At the par-3 15th, all four balls clear the water and are safely on the green but Korda’s tee-shot is the closest, finishing maybe 20 feet away.
At 17, Hull has the pace but not the line with her birdie putt. Woad, also from around 20 feet, doesn’t give it enough so Noh has a putt to tie the match. She lines it up and … never in doubt. A superb birdie when it mattered most. Noh has been brilliant on this back nine.
Back at 14, Ciganda and Lopez Ramirez get away with a halve so stay just 1 down.
Hull/Woad A/S Noh/Yin (17)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
2UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (15)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (14)
Another sensational shot from Noh. The fairway bunker she’s in at 17 has a high lip and clearing it shouldn’t be taken for granted. But she not only makes great connection, her ball arrows towards the flag, almost shakes hands with it, and pulls back to around six feet. Woad and Hull are much further away so this top match is far from over.
It’s a win for Corpuz and Kim at 15 so they cut the lead of Rhodes and Nadaud to 2up.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (16)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
2UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (15)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (13)
Updated
Shot of the day contender from Allisen Corpuz. With Europe 3up at 15, the Americans need something special and Corpuz starts the process by hitting her tee shot to within two feet of the flag at the par 3. A guaranteed birdie.
Noh’s tee-shot at 17 heads left and … is gobbled up by a bunker. Yin finds the rough/heather so she’s not in great position either. No such problem for Woad who splits the fairway while Hull’s drive kicks back onto the short grass. Europe in great position there now.
… from just over 15 feet, Woad’s eagle putt catches a piece of the hole but not enough. The US putt is conceded – “rather generous, I would say”, according to Catriona Matthew in the commentary box – so Woad and Hull stay 1up with two to play.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (16)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
3UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (14)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (13)
Updated
Under darkening skies at the par-5 16th, Lottie Woad lights up the greenside crowd with a wonderful second shot to set up an eagle. Hull’s delightful chip to secure a birdie means Woad will have a free run at it.
Ciganda and Lopez Ramirez, who three-putts, can’t find a par at 13 and that means Coughlin and the rather subdued World No.1 Korda go 1up again.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (15)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4&3
3UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (13)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (13)
Updated
Europe 2-3 USA
Europe need to birdie the par-3 15th to stay alive after Lee hits a glorious tee shot. It’s not to be and Lee and Khang score a dominant 4&3 win over Boutier and Madsen, who suffer their second defeat of the day. USA lead the Solheim Cup 3-2.
Megan Khang and Alison Lee beat Celine Boutier and Nanna Koerstz Madsen 4&3
A whoop from Mimi Rhodes as she holes from 15 feet for a winning birdie at 13. She and fellow rookie Nastasia Nadaud have roared into a 3up lead after 13 with a burst of three wins in four holes. Matches 2 and 3 look set to be split 1-1 which means everything is hanging on those top and bottom matches.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (15)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4UP (14)
3UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (13)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (12)
… the 15th is packed with spectators as Hull and Woad battle to keep their lead. Woad goes first but her putt is always going right. Over to you Charley Hull. This is big… and she’s up to the task! In it goes for birdie. Noh matches it from short range and the English duo maintain their lead with three to play.
Elsewhere, Khang took a while to find her mojo today but she’s now back to her usual self, jumping up to pull off a mid-air high five with Lee as they go 4up in Match 2.
Back at 12, Coughlin drains her birdie putt and she and Korda tie it up with Ciganda and Lopez Ramirez.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (15)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 4UP (14)
2UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (12)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (12)
Sensational tee shot from Noh at the par-3 15th. Hit with wonderful tempo, her balls flies high, bounces on the green, hits the flag and stops around four feet away. Woad’s reply is decent (20 feet) and Hull’s slightly better (17 feet).
Not sure the TV showed it but Hull or Woad convert the par putt to stay in front. Here’s the scores on the doors my loves.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (14)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 3UP (13)
2UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (12)
1UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (11)
More twists and turns. Nastasia Nadaud wins the 12th with a birdie as she and fellow rookie Mimi Rhodes go 2up.
At 14, Angel Yin forgets her struggles to hit a fine iron to around 15 feet. Hole that and Woad and Hull’s 3up lead will be wiped out in the space of three holes. Yin doesn’t give it enough oomph but either Woad or Hull with have to hole testy par putts to keep Europe in front.
Lauren Coughlin walks her 20-foot birdie putt into the hole at 12. Never in doubt. Coughlin and Korda cut Europe’s lead in the bottom match to 1up.
And more good news for the Americans in Match 2 as Lee holes out to extend the US lead to 3up with five to play.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (13)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 3UP (13)
1UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (11)
1UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (11)
The latest odds show how tight this is. Europe very narrow favourites and the tie has been chopped.
10/11 Europe
6/5 USA
8/11 Tie
A flex of the knees in frustration from Korda has her eagle putt at 10 hangs on the lip. Ciganda has hit a fine approach too and she is stood over a putt for a three from the edge of the green at the par five. That also flirts with the hole but doesn’t drop so it’s halved in birdie four.
Drama in the top match. Hull just misses a lengthy par putt while Woad, from much closer in, can’t make hers disappear either. It means Noh’s par is good for the win and Woad/Hull’s 3up lead has gone to just 1up in the space of two holes.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (13)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 2UP (12)
1UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (11)
2UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (10)
Khang has got her putting boots on now. In goes another, this time from 25 feet, to halve the 12th and keep the US 2up on Boutier and Madsen. This would be Khang’s eighth win in her last nine Solheim Cup matches, Matt Cooper informs me.
Europe have work to do to stay 2up in the top match but Woad’s bunker shot is nicely played although she’ll still have around six feet for par.
The rain is coming down a little harder now. Players quick to disappear back under umbrellas after hitting shots. It’s getting darker too. I’m sure you know but they’re an hour ahead in the Netherlands so it’s 4.45pm local time.
Europe now up in three of the four matches. Mimi Rhodes almost holes her eagle chip at 10 and then taps in from four feet for the win as Corpuz and Kim can’t respond.
2UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (12)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 2UP (11)
1UP Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim (10)
2UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (9)
Our colleague, Matt Cooper, is at Bernardus and he’ll be on live blog duty tomorrow afternoon. Here he is now with a few notes.
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Maguire, Henseleit and Duncan had spells on the range this afternoon.
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Lottie Woad’s dad and sister are out following her.
No real fireworks from Nelly Korda this afternoon. That’s summed up by her approach to 9 from 125 yards which comes up at least 25 feet shy. Every chance she and Coughlin will turn 2down.
At 12, Noh’s 18-foot putt breaks into the hole for birdie, putting the pressure back on Hull and Woad. It’s a ‘no’ from Hull and Woad can’t convert either. What looked like 4up suddenly becomes 2up. Life in that match yet although Yin’s lack of competitive golf since June due to illness means Noh is having to do an awful lot of the heavy lifting.
At 11, Khang finally holes a putt… just. It topples in from 15 feet and she and Lee go 2up on Madsen and Boutier.
2UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (12)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 2UP (11)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (9)
2UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (9)
Updated
Lottie Woad breaks out into a huge smile. Her second from just shy of the heather down the right of 12 bounces onto the green and then catches a piece of the hole before pulling up about five feet away. Fantastic shot. Noh and Hull will also have decent birdie chances.
Boutier has an eagle try coming up at 10 after her second pulled up just short of the green. It drifts right and that’s a tap-in birdie. But Alison Lee hit an even better approach and her six-foot conversion puts some red on the board for the first time in a while.
3UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (11)
Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee 1UP (10)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (9)
2UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (8)
Hull and Woad taking it turns now to get the crowds going. At the 10th, Hull drains her 15-footer for birdie and that’s another win as Noh’s nine-foot attempt for the tie is always staying left. England’s dynamic duo are 3up again.
At 8, Europe go 2up on Korda and Coughlin thanks to Lopez Ramirez’s two-putt birdie.
3UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (11)
Madsen/Boutier A/S Khang/Lee (9)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (8)
2UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (8)
The big-hitting Lopez Ramirez drives the par-4 8th. That looked effortless. She’s about 40 feet away.
To complete an excellent 30 seconds of action for the hosts, Woad rolls in her eagle putt at 10 to extend Europe’s lead to 2up in the top match.
2UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (10)
Madsen/Boutier A/S Khang/Lee (9)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (8)
1UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (7)
… also at 10, Charley Hull with have 12-feet for eagle.
Back at 7, a clenched first from Ciganda as her second winning birdie in a row flips red to blue via neutral white. Europe are now 1up in that one.
And at the short par-4 8th, Nadaud and Corpuz trade birdies to keep Match 3 level.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (9)
Madsen/Boutier A/S Khang/Lee (8)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (8)
1UP Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin (7)
Updated
How about that! Lottie Woad launches her second shot at the par-5 10th and it bounces onto the front edge of the green, running up to about five feet from the flag. She’ll have that for eagle.
A random stat. in the top two matches, 13 of the 17 holes played have been won and just four halved. That’s unusual in fourballs with both teams having two chances to score on each hole.
Noh has a putt to win the 9th from 20 feet but it lacks pace so Hull and Woad turn for home at 1up. In the bottom match, Ciganda removes the only red from the board with a winning birdie-2 against Korda and Coughlin. Leads continue to be pegged back or wiped out in this see-saw afternoon session.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (9)
Madsen/Boutier A/S Khang/Lee (8)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (7)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (6)
Updated
And now we have total parity. Two matches at 1up and two all square. The change comes in Match 3 as Mimi Rhodes holes from eight feet at the 7th and then watches Auston Kim fail to match her birdie from closer in.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (8)
Madsen/Boutier A/S Khang/Lee (8)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (7)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (5)
Updated
A quick mention that over in the Irish Open, local favourite Shane Lowry has jumped into a four-shot lead. The Irishman is 8-under for the day and -11 overall with two holes of his second round to play.
A surge of red. Forget Corpuz at 6 as playing partner Kim putts first and holes one from downtown for birdie. Rhodes just goes left with her 15-footer and the USA go 1up in Match 3.
And it’s a similar story at 5 as Coughlin puts the US ahead in that one too.
To complete a bona fide momentum swing in favour of the visitors, Woad and Hull can’t hole their birdie attempts at 8, allowing Yin to get up and down for the win.
The leaderboard looks very different all of a sudden. Two splashes of red and just one of blue although all three leads are by the minumum margin.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (8)
Madsen/Boutier AS Khang/Lee (7)
Rhodes/Nadaud v Corpuz/Kim 1UP (6)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez v Korda/Coughlin 1UP (5)
There’s always plenty of drama at the par-3 6th over water. And it’s cheers rather than groans for Europe this time as Mimi Rhodes hits a super tee-shot to around 15 feet. But Alison Corpuz sees that and raises with a wonderful strike to around seven feet.
Madsen makes another blunder at 7, finding the wet stuff yet again but Boutier has a 20-footer for birdie which just pulls up short and right. It opens the door for the Americans. Lee misses but Khang calmly rolls in her six-footer and that’s back-to-back holes for the US and the match is all square.
2UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (7)
Madsen/Boutier A/S Khang/Lee (7)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (5)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (4)
Updated
The short par-4 8th is a great match play hole and Hull, Woad, Yin and Noh have it surrounded with their tee-shots. The smart money suggests it’ll be halved in birdie-3s but we shall see.
Still a good looking leaderboard for Europe. Blue in the top two matches with the bottom two all square.
Angel Yin comes to the party with a winning birdie at 7 to cut Hull and Woad’s lead. It’s the result of an excellent tee shot and although the putt rather wobbles in, she’ll take that. Hull’s attempt at a birdie ended as a bit of misread but 2up after 7 is still a decent lead for the Europeans in that top match.
Meanwhile, Nadaud and Kim trade birdie putts at 5 to keep Match 3 all tied up.
2UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (7)
1UP Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee (6)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (5)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (4)
Updated
Finally an American putt drops as Korda rolls in a lengthy one at 4. But it’s not enough for the win as Lopez Ramirez matches her. The young Spaniard, guided by playing partner and veteran Solheim Cup compatriot, Carlota Ciganda, has made an impressive start.
After making a complete mess of 6, Madsen and Boutier walk to the 7th tee with their lead reduced to just 1up.
3UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (6)
1UP Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee (6)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (4)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (4)
I watched a fair bit of Lottie Woad at the AIG Women’s Open at Lytham. Her default setting seems to be cheery and calm. Add in a fierce underlying determination plus a whole heap of talent and she looks a great fit to do wonderful things in this event. To underline all that, she breaks into a smile after an excellent tee-shot at 7.
Back at 6, Madsen dumps another one in the water. That’s the third time she’s found the drink on that hole this morning. A bit of a mental block it seems.
“Trust the process”, said European skipper Anna Nordqvist earlier when explaining why she’d sent the Hull/Woad and Boutier/Madsen combos out again despite their morning defeats. It’s playing out perfectly so far.
That said, there’s a terrible double error at the par-3 6th as both Boutier and Madsen find water. Khang is safely on the dancefloor so the Americans have a golden chance to cut the deficit.
A big Solheim Cup roar as Hull is rewarded for her aggressive tee-shot at 6 by nailing a 15-footer for birdie. After losing the 1st and halving the 2nd, Hull and Woad have sprinted into a 3up lead by winning four holes on the spin.
At the 4th, Khang and Lee need to respond to Boutier’s birdie but both dribble their efforts from around 10 feet wide. Boutier and Madsen double their advantage.
In the bottom match, Lopez Ramirez holds firm with her par putt at 3 to keep Europe all square
3UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (6)
2UP Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee (5)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (4)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (3)
Updated
Worth noting that Europe’s two losing pairs from this morning are both winning. Different format and perhaps a different mindset and extra urge to right the wrong. Back to 4 and another American putt, this one from Corpuz, slides by. A theme is developing: the US putting is cold.
The 6th hole at Bernardus is a par 3 over water. A lot of water. Hull shows no fear, putting her tee shot pin high and about 15 feet left. It’s a brave shot with the flag in the front portion of the green. Noh plays to the safer heart of the green.
In the bottom match, the 2nd is halved in par 5. Korda and Coughlin both have chances for a winning birdie but spurn it. The putts aren’t dropping for the Americans just now and that’s highlighted again as Yin misses from 10 feet at 5, meaning Woad’s birdie is good enough to put Europe 2up.
2UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (5)
1UP Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee (4)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (3)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (2)
Updated
A wonderful approach by Alison Lee at the 4th sets up a tap-in birdie. Madsen’s response catches the lip but doesn’t drop so the Americans have halved the deficit in that second match, cutting Europe’s lead to the minimum margin.
In other news, the weather is taking a turn for the better with the sun starting to sneak between the clouds. And just as I write that, Woad stiffs her approach at 5 for a certain birdie.
Madsen’s turn to get the crowds going as she birdies the 3rd from 15 feet. Khang has a chance to respond but can’t and Europe go 2up in Match 2.
After confusing myself muchly, I’ve now put Europe’s scores on the left, defying Scott’s earlier leaderboard protocol. Controversial I know and risking a blossoming friendship but we’ll probably laugh about it in years to come.
1UP Hull/Woad v Noh/Yin (4)
2UP Madsen/Boutier v Khang/Lee (3)
Rhodes/Nadaud A/S Corpuz/Kim (2)
Ciganda/Lopez Ramirez A/S Korda/Coughlin (1)
Updated
Lottie Woad! Her putter is hot and she drains a 20-footer for birdie at 4. That’s a win as Noh and Yin can’t respond so the top game turns blue after the Americans had won the opening hole.
In Match 3, Allisen Corpuz sinks a 10-footer to give the Americans the opening hole. That’s a second block of red on the leaderboard.
The only bit of European blue will surely be wiped out at 2 but, no, Khang and Lee both miss excellent birdie chances. A bullet, two bullets in fact, dodged.
It’s all happening now as, in the top match, Europe go all square again via a Woad birdie.
Updated
Once again, it’s a full house of fairways. That was the first shot in a Solheim Cup for Julia Lopez Ramirez, who many predict will be a shining light this week despite her lack of experience.
And so to the final fourball of the afternoon. Can Ciganda and Ramirez find something against World No.1 Korda and Coughlin. The latter had three wins over the first two days of the 2024 Solheim Cup so it’s a formidable US pairing.
12.50pm: Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez v Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin
The USA stay ahead in the top match. Woad knocks in a 15-footer at the par-5 2nd hole but Yin matches her birdie with a six-foot putt of her own.
It’s a full set of fairway finders for Allisen Corpuz, Auston Kim, Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud at 1. The latter really booms one, her ball flirting with the bunker but kicking left.
At 1, Madsen’s 25 footer looks set to topple in but just wanders across the hole at the death. So close! But it doesn’t matter as Boutier holes her birdie try after a couple of US misses. Some blue on the board.
Noh/Yin 1UP (1) v Hull/Woad
Khang/Al. Lee v Boutier/Madsen 1UP (1)
Madsen smashes a huge drive at 1, leaving her a short flick for her second. It’s underhit though and she’s actually furthest from the pin. Boutier is closest, around eight feet away, but the two Americans have decent birdie chances too.
Back on the tee, two European rookies are entering the fray.
12.35pm: Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud v Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim.
A first-hole win for the Americans. Woad can’t hole her birdie putt but Noh calmly rolls in her five-foot effort and the USA are 1up in the top match.
Updated
Recalling Bubba Watson at Ryder Cups, Megan Khang wants the crowd to make a right old din as she hits her tee-shot. She whips them up and finds the fairway. Silence for Alison Lee who also finds the short stuff.
Before Europe hit, the starter makes a horlicks of the announcement, confusing which pairing she’s calling. Everyone laughs. Something for the DVD Extras maybe. Both Europeans, Celine Boutier and Nanna Madsen, also hit good drives.
Now for match two…
12.20pm: Celine Boutier and Nanna Madsen v Megan Khang and Alison Lee. The European pair will be keen to make amends for this morning’s disappointing defeat.
Up at the 1st green, Hull and Yin show short-game prowess to guarantee pars. But can either Noh or Woad secure a winning birdie?
Anna Nordqvist is asked about resting the two winning teams for this afternoon’s matches. “We had a plan. We’re trusting the process,” says the European skipper, confirming what we thought.
Yin’s approach skids through to grass on the verge of a bunker but Noh puts her approach to around five feet. Sort of mirroring the US pair, Hull’s second goes long and actually drops into sand but Woad is around the same distance away as Noh.
Hugs between the players as the opening fourball gets ready to launch. Charley Hull and Lottie Woad for Europe v Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin for the US. Can the English duo find a spark after their defeat in the top match this morning?
Umbrellas are up but as the 12.05 match begins. It’s not the most intimidating tee-shot and all four are just fine. Yin and Hull hit slight pulls but nothing to worry about.
One notable conversation point after seeing the fourballs is that all 24 players will have had a hit on the opening day. That has to be good for team morale surely. Then again, will Leona Maguire be smiling through gritted teeth? Her record in this event is phenomenal, now reading 9-3-1 after this morning’s win. There was surely a strong argument to send her out again although the line-ups were likely decided some time in advance.
European skipper Anna Nordqvist waves enthusiastically to the crowds surrounding the first tee box. She even does a jig to some folk dressed as bananas. Well, why wouldn’t you? Support from fruit is always welcome.
Thanks Scott! Well, what a fascinating morning that was. The first opening session to be tied since 2015 at St. Leon Rot in Germany. That one finished 14.5-13.5 to the USA and it’s hard to see this year’s edition being anything but tight. Indeed, a number of shrewd judges have even gone for the tie – the outcome that unfolded at Finca Cortesin in Spain in 2023.
Updated
The afternoon fourballs have been announced. And they are …
12.05pm (BST): Charley Hull and Lottie Woad v Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin
12.20pm: Celine Boutier and Nanna Madsen v Megan Khang and Alison Lee
12.35pm: Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud v Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim
12.50pm: Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez v Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin
Something of a surprise that Boutier and Madsen have been given another run-out, because neither player was anywhere near their best this morning. A good chance to right some wrongs, though. Penny for the thoughts of Leona Maguire, who it’s safe to say usually doesn’t care too much for being stood down.
Your friend and mine, David Tindall will take you through the afternoon action. Enjoy, enjoy, and I’ll see you all again tomorrow morning.
That was a fantastic morning of matchplay golf. Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda made Solheim Cup history by becoming the first pairing to post a five-and-zero record in foursomes. They were magnificent, but then so was Lottie Woad, who made several crucial putts to keep the score semi-respectable. Leona Maguire, Maja Stark and Linn Grant did their usual thing for Europe, too. This is lining up to be one hell of a weekend. Incidentally, the USA had the honour this morning, hence the ordering of the scores, but allow me to cock a snook to consistency and switch everything around as we go into the rest of the tournament. So sue me!*
Hull/Woad v Corpuz/Korda 4&3
Madsen/Boutier v Al. Lee/Coughlin 3&2
2UP Henseleit/Maguire v An. Lee/Duncan
3&2 Stark/Grant v Zhang/Kupcho
Europe 2-2 USA
*please do not sue me
Updated
Europe 2-2 USA
Lee sets her putt rolling serenely towards the hole. It’s surely going in … but somehow it drifts to the right on its final turn and misses by the width of a dimple. Team USA pick up Leona Maguire’s coin – she’s got two putts from as many feet – and Europe win the match 2UP.
Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire beat Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan 2UP
Henseleit sends a crisp wedge flying towards the flagstick. Too fierce? Not a bit of it! The ball grips and spins, before rolling out to three feet. That’s a wonderful shot under pressure, and now Andrea Lee has to make the par putt if the USA are to realistically snatch half a point. But if there’s anyone the USA would pick to take this putt, it’s surely Lee …
Lindy Duncan steps up to the plate. A wedge over the flag that lands 20 feet past before spinning back to ten. A chance for par. Over to Esther Henseleit, just off the front of the green …
Leona Maguire up first. She creams a hybrid and gives it a twirl, though the ball doesn’t reach the green, rolling to a halt a few yards short. Andrea Lee meanwhile hits a slightly heavy shot out of the bunker, the ball toying with the creek running across the middle of the fairway. But it gets over. The US pair are about 80 yards out, so an up and down for par is far from a pipe dream, and would put all sorts of pressure on the European duo.
… she sends her tee shot to the right again, just as she did on 16. But not so far that it goes into the bunker that (reportedly – the cameras haven’t shown it) snaffled Duncan’s ball. So it’s advantage Europe. Many hard yards to travel yet, though.
Lindy Duncan sends her tee shot into a bunker down the right of the 18th fairway. A world of possibilities opens up for Europe … but Esther Henseleit sent her last tee shot into the drink, so the nerves will be jangling. And …
Esther Henseleit rolls in the par saver! She fist-pumps the air and Europe are dormie. Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan will have to win 18 if the USA are to go into the afternoon fourballs with an advantage.
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (17)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 3&2 (F)
Europe’s ball on 17 is behind a hillock to the right of the green. Leona Maguire doesn’t have much room to work with, but she lands a graceful chip onto the far side of the bank, her ball rolling out to four feet. Andrea Lee’s long birdie putt stops just short of the hole, so Esther Henseleit will have the opportunity to make amends for her recent errors. But it’s no gimme …
Europe 1-2 USA
… Rose Zhang holes her 15-foot right-to-left swinger! Europe have two putts for the win … and Maja Stark leaves a tentative dribbler a couple of feet short and wide left! Work to do … but Linn Grant completes the job. Europe on the board!
Maja Stark and Linn Grant beat Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2
Updated
Europe might be denied in this last match, though. Esther Henseleit, a little shaken perhaps by the mistake on the 16th tee, sends her approach at 17 towards trouble to the right of the green. Lindy Duncan finds the putting surface in regulation. So this could be all square again soon. Then on 16 …
Linn Grant sends her wedge over the flag on 16, the ball spinning to a halt 15 feet past. Then it’s Jennifer Kupcho from the dropzone, which in a quirky twist is located further out than Grant’s ball. Kupcho gets a little bit closer than Grant, but only a gut-punching twist would deny Europe now.
Better news for Europe in the anchor match. Rose Zhang decides to go for the 16th green in two. She’s got little option but to roll the dice, because the USA are dormie three. And she doesn’t catch her fairway wood properly, sending the ball scampering apologetically into the creek guarding the front of the green. Maja Stark lays up in front of the water, and Europe are closing in on their first point of the week.
… and Europe’s quest for parity doesn’t begin well, as Team USA snatch a hole back in match three. Esther Henseleit’s errant drive proving costly in the end.
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (16)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 3UP (15)
Europe still have an extremely good chance of salvaging parity from this morning session. But there’s plenty of work to be done to close out the last two matches, and if they somehow let things slip, it’ll be pretty dispiriting for the hosts.
3&2 Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (F)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (15)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 3UP (15)
Europe 0-2 USA
… but she can’t do it. Madsen tugs a nervous effort wide left, never dropping, and it’s a 3&2 victory for the USA! Anything other than an American win would have been an affront, really, if we’re being totally honest with ourselves, because both Madsen and Boutier were way off their A-games.
Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin beat Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier 3&2
Updated
Celine Boutier leaves Europe’s long birdie putt on 16 four feet short. It had been bang on line, but she simply didn’t hit it. That gives Alison Lee the chance to win the match, which she nearly does, a big right-to-left swinger stopping a couple of inches short. So now Nanna Madsen has to make a missable putt to keep the match alive …
Jennifer Kupcho wedges to six feet from the dropzone at 15. But that still leaves Linn Grant with two putts for the win, and she cradles her effort to tap-in distance. The hole is conceded and Europe are dormie three in the anchor match.
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (15)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (15)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 3UP (15)
More aquatic shenanigans. Esther Henseleit carves her drive at 16 into Boutier’s Creek. Hanging around for that ruling won’t have helped her there. Lindy Duncan dry. Meanwhile up the hole, Lauren Coughlin and Nanna Madsen find the green with their third shots. Neither particularly close. The USA will be much happier about that, given their 2UP advantage.
Back on the par-three 15th, yet another player dunks their tee shot into the lake to the left of the green! Rose Zhang the culprit this time. Maja Stark doesn’t make the mistake Celine Boutier did earlier, following up by aiming for the heart of the green. Safe and dry. Huge advantage to Europe, who can almost touch dormie three in the anchor match.
A big break for Europe. The referee decides the bridge is in Boutier’s road, so she’ll get relief. A drop, no closer to the pin, but still in the hazard. So she’s able to go from the right side of the bank to the left, closer to the fairway. And because any dropped ball would roll into the creek, she can place. She whips back into the fairway, and Europe are alive and kicking. Just.
Europe’s ball is dry. But it’s in the hazard. Boutier wants a line-of-sight ruling, with a spectator bridge ahead of her. However that’s not the route she’d be taking with her next shot, back onto the fairway, so the referee’s not having it. Not immediately, anyway. After some back and forth, it looks like Boutier will get her drop, but there’s going to be some more discussion. In the meantime, the putting contest on 15 is halved and the teams move on.
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (15)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (15)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (14)
The rain continues to pelt down. As if it wasn’t wet enough, Nanna Madsen sends her tee shot dangerously close to the creek running down the right of 16. The camera loses the ball, so more on that when we have it. Meanwhile back on 15, both Leona Maguire and Andrea Lee find the depression in the middle of the green, short of the flag on the wrong level. And Maja Stark makes a missable six-footer on 14 for the half. Everything oscillating in the breeze at the moment, with all these matches on knife-edges.
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (15)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (14)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (14)
Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan zig-zag their way up 14 like the Keystone Kops. They end up with double bogey, and should probably concede the hole, but allow Leona Maguire the opportunity to make her par putt and get the crowd going. And there are more roars on 15, where Alison Lee leaves her bogey putt short, opening the door again for Europe. Celine Boutier barrels through it by making the putt, and making up for her mistake from the tee. Europe still alive!
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (15)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (14)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (13)
To the drop zone! And onto the green from 100 yards. Nanna Madsen gets closer than Lauren Coughlin, the latter ending up at the bottom of a bowl in front of the pin, the former pin high on the correct shelf. There’s quite a bit of break on the USA putt, over a ridge, while the European chance is straighter and flatter. Big putting contest coming up!
It’s started raining quite heavily at Bernardus. Alison Lee takes some time to towel down her grip before taking her tee shot at the par-three 15th … then sends her ball into the drink! The door suddenly open for Europe … but then Celine Boutier follows her in! Boutier’s jaw nearly hits the floor. She went for the pin, bringing the water on the left into play, when the match situation demanded a safe route into the heart of the green. What a brain freeze. A huge chance to get back into the match spurned.
3UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (14)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (13)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (13)
Andrea Lee skelps a long-range birdie putt into the hole on 13. That almost slam-dunked into the cup, such was the speed it was travelling. Had it not hit the hole, the ball may have ended up in Belgium. Meanwhile on 14, Nanna Madsen makes up for her wild drive by nearly holing out from the heather to scramble a half. Dormie four avoided, but Europe are still on the brink.
4&3 Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (F)
3UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (14)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (13)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (13)
Europe 0-1 USA
Charley Hull has to get aggressive with her putt on 15. She’s got to make birdie. Her effort sails miles past. Nelly Korda’s 20-footer lips out to a couple of feet. Lottie Woad has to make the par putt if she’s to have any chance of keeping Europe alive … and in it goes! She’s now rammed in four putts on this back nine! And yet it’s all been in vain. Allisen Corpuz tidies up for the half, and the USA win 4&3. Corpuz and Korda five-and-zero in this format!
Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda beat Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 4&3
Updated
Lottie Woad and Allisen Corpuz both find the green at the par-three 15th. But Corpuz is closer, and so the first point of the day is within touching distance for Team USA now.
Nanna Madsen is put off by a rendition of the Viking Roar that soundtracked Norway’s World Cup campaign. Does a Dane need to hear that? Either way, she flays her drive at 14 into rubbish down the right. Europe have struggled badly in this second match, and dormie four looms.
4UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (14)
3UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (13)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (12)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (12)
Charley Hull makes the birdie putt, and Europe stay alive in the lead match! It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
4UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (14)
3UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (13)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (12)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (11)
All is almost lost in the lead match, but Lottie Woad is not giving up without a fight. She responds to Allisen Corpuz coming up short of the green with her approach by sticking her second pin high to six feet. But Nelly Korda chips up to three feet, so Charley Hull will have to make the putt to extend. Meanwhile in match two, the USA go three up despite Alison Lee racing a birdie putt four feet past. Lauren Coughlin tidies up to take control of that one.
Updated
Andrea Lee does what Andrea Lee does so often. A 12-footer to save the half on 12. That’s a huge moment for the USA in match three, because Esther Henseleit had an opportunity to make birdie from similar distance just before.
5UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (13)
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (12)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (12)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (11)
… but Korda isn’t missing from three feet. The USA go 5UP with five to play in the lead match. Europe teetering. And suddenly things are going in the wrong direction for the hosts in the anchor match, Jennifer Kupcho winning a putting contest with Linn Grant on 11 to win a second hole in a matter of minutes. Europe’s lead in that one sliced in half, quicksmart.
5UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (13)
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (12)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (11)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (11)
Scrub that about dormie five? Lottie Woad makes another big putt, securing bogey and forcing Nelly Korda to make the USA’s par putt! That’s a third huge putt by Woad in four holes …
Nelly Korda sends her second into 13 over the back-right of the green. The door’s open for Europe … but Charley Hull follows Korda down there. Then after Allisen Corpuz bundles her chip up to three feet, Lottie Woad underhits her effort, the ball only just making the green before toppling back down the swale. Hull gives the putt up a good rap, but that flies ten feet past, and in a minute or so, the USA will be dormie five in the lead match.
Updated
Maja Stark can’t make a birdie putt on 10. Their opponents are on the par-five green in two, and close, so the hole’s conceded. Up on 11, Leona Maguire sends a dart at the flag, and Esther Henseleit tidies up for birdie and a two-hole advantage. And on 12, Nanna Madsen holes a tramliner from downtown to scramble a half. Alison Lee had sent her second very close, so that was some act of escapology.
4UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (12)
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (12)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (11)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 3UP (10)
Celine Boutier makes the awkward par putt on 11 to scramble a half. Even better for Europe: Maja Stark leaves Linn Grant in a bunker greenside at 9, only for Grant to hole out for par. Rose Zhang’s birdie putt suddenly looks a lot longer than it did, and dies away on the low side. Another half scrambled for Europe, and that’s one heck of a momentum-saver. But the inevitable happens on 12 after Lottie Woad’s visit to the water. Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda closing in on becoming the first pairing in Solheim Cup history to enjoy a five-and-zero winning record in this discipline.
4UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (12)
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (11)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (9)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 4UP (9)
Updated
Nanna Madsen gets super-aggressive with a putt from the fringe on 11. Her ball rolls 12 feet past. This match is getting away from Europe. See also the lead match, where Charley Hull sends Europe’s tee shot into the heather down the right of 12. Lottie Woad can’t get good contact on the ball, hitting it heavy and dunking it into a creek short of the green.
Lauren Coughlin walks in the eagle putt on 10 to double USA’s lead in match two. Esther Henseleit misses a short putt on 9 to gift a hole to the USA. And in the lead match, both teams get up and down from the side of the green, but once again it’s Lottie Woad grinding it out, rolling in a staunch six-footer to halve the hole. Without those two big putts on 10 and 11, Europe would be in a world of pain. Woad may be 3DOWN but she’s been mighty impressive on debut.
3UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (11)
2UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (10)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (9)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 4UP (8)
Allisen Korpuz pulls her tee shot at the par-three 11th towards the gallery. She gives a couple of loud shouts of fore. Plenty of other professionals, please take note. Korpuz gets a lucky bounce back towards the green, karmic reward for her thoughtful etiquette. Lottie Woad misses on the other side of the hole, her ball ending up in a large, flat bunker. Meanwhile trouble for Europe back on the par-five 10th, with Celine Boutier seemingly not having turned a corner, sending the ball into thick heather with Team USA on the green in two.
Charley Hull chips up from a swale to the back of the par-five 10th. Not particularly convincingly. She leaves her partner six feet short. With Nelly Korda having sent the USA’s third to tap-in distance, it’s a must make for Lottie Woad … and make it she does, walking in the gentle left-to-right slider to match America’s birdie. Hole halved, and Europe remain 3DOWN, but the alternative was much worse. That was a huge display of moxie from the rookie Woad.
3UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (10)
1UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (9)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (8)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 4UP (7)
Jennifer Kupcho pulls a short par putt to the left of the cup at 7, and the US are in all sorts of trouble in the final match of the morning. They’re 4DOWN with just seven holes played. Meanwhile Celine Boutier’s redemption shot on 9 did indeed prove enough to salvage a half and keep Europe within touching distance in the second match.
3UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (9)
1UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (9)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (7)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 4UP (7)
Some world-class effing and jeffing from Celine Boutier as she carves her drive at 9 into deep nonsense. You didn’t need to be a lip-reader. Marvellous scenes, which of course nobody wants to see, won’t everyone think of the kids, etc. But how she makes up for her mistake, because Nanna Madsen gets her back onto the fairway, from where the 2023 Evian champ wedges from 100 yards to kick-in distance. For a second that looked like a hole-out. But it’ll be a par, and whatever the US team do by way of response, that will hopefully have given the struggling European duo a much-needed boost. What an approach!
Updated
Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier are beginning to make egregious errors. Madsen already with that chunked tee shot at 6. Now Boutier knifes a bunker shot at 8, a mistake which Madsen compounds by thinning the next chip back across the green. Alison Lee gets a bit heavy handed with the USA’s second – this hasn’t been a short-game masterclass – but it doesn’t really matter because Madsen and Boutier have gifted this hole to the American duo, all tied up with an ostentatious bow. Birdie for Maja Stark on 6 meanwhile, and Europe win that one as expected.
3UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (9)
1UP Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (8)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (6)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 3UP (6)
Europe could do with some good news after a few rocky moments. And they get it in spades on the par-three 6th, where Lindy Duncan finds the drink. Then in the following match, Linn Grant hits the shot of the day so far, an arrow over water and into the heart of the difficult, undulating green to ten feet. Jennifer Kupcho doesn’t have a response, carving her effort onto the bank to the right of the green, from where the ball pings into the water.
3UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (8)
Coughlin/Al. Lee A/S Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (7)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (6)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (5)
Charley Hull races the birdie putt four feet past. She’s had a bit of a shocker on this hole. Lottie Woad tidies up for par, but Nelly Korda isn’t missing her birdie chance, and that’s three holes in a row for the pairing that boasts a four-and-zero record in this format. A wee shame for Lottie Woad that her miraculous wedge from the heather didn’t get rewarded, but here we are.
3UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (8)
Coughlin/Al. Lee A/S Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (7)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (5)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (4)
Lottie Woad powers out of the heather. But it’s measured power, and measured almost to perfection. There’s a bunker between her awful lie and the pin, and she whips over it with inches to spare, her ball rolling out to eight feet. From where she was, that is miraculous. A birdie chance. However a not insignificant caveat: Allisen Corpuz splashes out from the greenside bunker on the other side to three feet. Some big putts coming up here.
The par-four 8th is drivable for the bigger hitters. Nelly Korda is certainly one of those, and she finds the bunker to the right of the green with her tee shot. Over to Charley Hull, but the pressure is beginning to take its toll on the European pair, and she hoicks her drive way left, into an outrageously thick clump of heather. This match is in danger of getting away from Europe in short order.
Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda are historically flawless in Solheim Cup foursomes. Four wins out of four. They’re beginning to show why, bouncing back from an early deficit to go two holes up now, thanks to Korda’s approach at 7 to four feet. Charley Hull tried her best to respond, knocking her approach to eight feet, but Lottie Woad raced her birdie effort past on the low side, and the USA are beginning to pick up a head of steam after a sluggish start.
2UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (7)
Coughlin/Al. Lee A/S Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (6)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (4)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (4)
From the dropzone on 6, Celine Boutier sends a wedge dancing around the flag. But Lauren Coughlin had found the centre of the green with her tee shot, and when Alison Lee nearly drains her birdie putt, the hole is America’s. Things beginning to move in Team USA’s direction now.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (6)
Coughlin/Al. Lee A/S Koerstz Madsen/Boutier (6)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (4)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (4)
European travails on the par-threes. Esther Henseleit finds a bunker to the left of 4. Leona Maguire can’t splash out close, and Europe’s lead is cut in half. Meanwhile on 6, Nanna Koerstz Madsen mishits her tee shot woefully, duffing it into the water. That never looked like getting over the pond. The pressures of Solheim Cup golf writ large.
Lottie Woad can’t get close with her chip back up on 6. The ball picks up speed as it passes the hole and Charley Hull can’t make the one coming back from 15 feet. Allisen Corpuz wedges to kick-in range, and that’s the first splash of US red on the board. But it’s better news for Europe on 3, as Linn Grant sends a gentle fade into the green from a tricky spot atop some heather down the left. She sets up a six-footer for Maja Stark and Europe go two up in the morning anchor match.
1UP Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad (6)
Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier 1UP (5)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (3)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 2UP (3)
There’s a bit of a nip in the air and the wind is picking up. So the tee shot over water onto a severely sloping green at the par-three 6th is a testing one. Nelly Korda looks to have passed that test, landing in the middle of the green, but the slope takes her ball off down a swale back-left. Korda looks disgusted with the outcome. But it’s better than Charley Hull’s effort, which sails off in the same direction, but with a harsher bounce, and Lottie Woad will be left with an awkward chip back up from semi-rough and a downhill lie. This looks like a really fun hole.
Birdie for Linn Grant and Maja Stark on the par-five 2nd, and suddenly Europe are up in three of the four matches. A chance for more good news for the hosts on 4, but Celine Boutier leaves a straight 12-foot birdie chance a couple of turns short. The greens on the slow side at Bernardus.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (4)
Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier 1UP (4)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (2)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant 1UP (2)
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Strike that about Europe having just a slight advantage. Celine Boutier and Leona Maguire roll a couple of mid-range birdie efforts confidently into the cup, at 3 and 2 respectively, and suddenly Europe enjoy more of a buffer. The hosts looking collectively confident early doors.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (4)
Coughlin/Al. Lee v Koerstz Madsen/Boutier 1UP (3)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 2UP (2)
Zhang/Kupcho A/S Stark/Grant (1)
Linn Grant and Jennifer Kupcho take turns to pop their wedges on 1 near the flag. The hole halved in birdie. Up on the first par-three, the 4th, neither Nelly Korda nor Charley Hull go particularly close with their tee shots, and that one’s halved in par. All the matches properly up and running now, Europe with a very slight advantage after the early exchanges.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (4)
Koerstz Madsen/Boutier A/S Coughlin/Al. Lee (2)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (1)
Zhang/Kupcho A/S Stark/Grant (1)
Lottie Woad sends her tee shot at 3 into heather down the left. Charley Hull does well to advance the ball to greenside, but Europe are out of position while the US are on the green in regulation. Allisen Corpuz has a 15-footer for birdie and the hole, but leaves it short, and Hull, having been left a tricky six-footer by Woad, tidies up for par and the half. That’s a big save.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (3)
Koerstz Madsen/Boutier A/S Coughlin/Al. Lee (2)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (1)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant
Andrea Lee gives her long birdie putt on 1 a good rap. It looks like it’s heading in, and she walks after it excitedly, but the ball pings off the pin and stays out. She grins nonetheless. But that’s cost the USA the hole, because Leona Maguire isn’t missing Europe’s birdie chance from a couple of feet.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (2)
Koerstz Madsen/Boutier A/S Coughlin/Al. Lee (1)
An. Lee/Duncan v Henseleit/Maguire 1UP (1)
Zhang/Kupcho v Stark/Grant
Lindy Duncan is one of two American rookies this week. The 35-year-old from Florida looks a wee bit nervous as she sends her approach at 1 a good 40 feet to the right of the pin. The British Open runner-up Esther Henseleit had put the pressure on by knocking Europe’s second close. Advantage Europe early doors, but can they convert? Meanwhile back on the tee, the final morning foursomes match emerges from the tunnel. Rose Zhang, Jennifer Kupcho, Linn Grant and Maja Stark the stars. No bespoke chorus of Baby Shark, because Dancing Queen is blaring from the speakers. Everyone having the time of their lives.
Europe do indeed escape from their travails on 1 with a half. Alison Lee leaves her birdie putt short, and Nanna Koertz Madsen tidies up. But the USA strike back on 2, Nelly Korda wedging close with her approach on the par five, and Lottie Woad can’t save the day with her 15-foot right-to-left putt. All square in the opening two matches.
Corpuz/Korda A/S Hull/Woad (2)
Koerstz Madsen/Boutier A/S Coughlin/Al. Lee (1)
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Boutier makes up for her opening error by wedging Europe’s third delicately to a couple of feet. A chance for Europe to escape with a half. Meanwhile back on the tee, Andrea Lee, Lindy Duncan, Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire turn up for work. Lee and Maguire take turns to send fairway finders down the track.
Koertz Madsen is right up against a tree, almost bent double. As she prepares to punch out, she clips a hanging branch with her practice backswing. A penalty? The match referee comes over and allays her fears. But she can only hack back out onto the fairway, and after Lauren Coughlin sends the USA’s second into the heart of the green, Europe are suddenly up against it on the opening hole.
Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier join Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin on the 1st tee, and the second match is under way. Lee splits the 1st fairway with her opening drive, but Boutier hooks nervously into thick heather down the left. Trouble there. Koertz Madsen might not even have much of a swing, the ball sitting down, near a tree.
Corpuz goes close with her 20-foot birdie opportunity, but the ball sticks stubbornly on the lip. No shame in an opening par, but it’s not good enough for Team USA, because Woad calmly rolls in her putt, and what a way to announce yourself on your Solheim Cup debut! Farnham’s finest smiles warmly and saunters off in her trademark no-fuss style. Europe wasting no time at all!
Corpuz/Korda v Hull/Woad 1UP (1)
Korda and Corpuz have a perfect record in Solheim foursomes. Played four, won four. They’re not hanging about, as Korda eases the first approach shot of the week over the flag to 20 feet. Hull quickly follows, landing her iron pin high, a similar distance to the right of the flag. A couple of half-decent birdie chances there. Back on the tee, the strains of Club Tropicana by Wham! ripples out as Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin arrive for match two. A disclaimer: drinks at Bernardus are not free. Fun and sunshine a definite possibility, though.
Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz are announced to the crowd. The starter can be barely heard over the chanting of the gallery. Then the noise doubles, triples as the European duo of Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are introduced. Corpuz takes the opening shot of the tournament: straight down the middle. Woad, making her Solheim Cup debut, sends a slightly nervous drive into the semi-rough down the left of the 364-yard par-four 1st. This is on.
Updated
Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz arrive at the 1st tee. A lot of whooping and hollering. Nelly taking a few selfies with her phone as she emerges from the tunnel. Charley Hull and Lottie Woad follow soon after. More of the noise and bedlam. A party atmosphere in the stands. The 2026 Solheim Cup is about to happen!
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A reminder of the format
For the benefit of folk who fancy following events at Bernardus this weekend but don’t always keep tabs on the greatest sport in the world, we usually cut and paste the following explainer. Hey, if it’s worth reading once, it’s worth reading a dozen times. Here we go ...
The Solheim Cup is a matchplay event. Each match is worth a point. There are 28 points available over the three days, so the first team to get to 14.5 points will win the Cup. Should the scores be tied at 14 points apiece, the USA will retain the trophy as current holders.
Match-play explained for those dipping their toe into the murky world of golf for the first time: In common-or-garden championship golf, such as the Evian or the British Open, tournaments are scored using the stroke-play system. Whoever takes the fewest shots over all four rounds in a championship wins. All shots count and are added up for a cumulative total. So if, say, in next year’s Dinah Shore (Chevron Championship-speak for hipsters), Nelly Korda shoots 63-63-63-63 and Charley Hull shoots 87-87-87-87, Nelly will have taken 252 strokes, and beaten Charley by 96 shots. (Good luck if you bet large on this exact outcome.)
Anyway, in match play, each player or team wins a hole for every hole they better their opponents. So if Nelly takes five shots at the 1st, but Charley needs only three, Charley goes 1up. If Charley wins the next hole too, she’s 2up. If the pair share the same number of shots on the 3rd, the hole is halved, and Charley remains 2up. It doesn’t matter if Nelly took 13 shots on her way to losing the 2nd, by the way; a bit like the unwritten rule of visits to wallet-sewer-interface-venue Las Vegas, what happens on each hole stays on each hole. There is no knock-on effect.
So let’s say Hull wins the first nine holes of our make-believe match. With nine played, and nine remaining, she is 9up. Nelly can only tie at best; Hull can’t lose. This is known as dormie. (And more specifically, in this slightly ludicrous example, as dormie nine.) If Nelly wins the next nine, the game will end all square, and each team will get half a point to their overall total. But if Charley wins the 10th, she’s 10up with eight holes to play. She has won 10&8. If the 10th hole is halved, Charley would be 9up with eight to play. She’s won 9&8. Similarly Nelly can be said to have lost 9&8. Europe would add a point to their overall total. I’ve probably made this sound way more complicated than it needs to be, but there it is anyway.
There will be three types of match: foursomes (teams of two players use one ball, taking alternate shots); fourballs (teams of two players play a ball each and take the best score, known as the better ball); and singles (this is when it gets quite wild and everyone across two continents starts with the shallow breathing and chest clutching). And these matches are arranged in a schedule like this:
Today: four matches of morning foursomes; four matches of afternoon fourballs.
Tomorrow: four matches of morning foursomes; four matches of afternoon fourballs.
Sunday: 12 singles matches.
Preamble
The Solheim Cup has delivered in spades recently. Bronte Law leading the charge as Europe snatched victory from under the USA’s nose at Gleneagles; the Leona Maguire Show; ♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫; Lilia Vu’s birdie-birdie finish to hold off an unexpected European comeback and finally reclaim the cup for America. Any repeat of any of the above … yes please, we’ll take it!
… and this year’s tournament is off to a flyer, with Europe’s two biggest draws facing the world number one and a former US Open champion in the opening foursomes. This promises to be epic. It’s early, so make yourself a strong cup of tea and strap in, because … it’s on!
6.40am (BST): Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda v Charley Hull and Lottie Woad
6.52am: Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin v Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier
7.04am: Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan v Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire
7.26am: Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho v Maja Stark and Linn Grant
