The Solheim Cup is deadlocked at 4-4 after Friday’s opening day of competition in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
The United States needs 14 points to retain the trophy this weekend at Bernardus Golf.
The Americans and Europeans tied 2-2 in the morning foursomes (alternate shot) and 2-2 in the afternoon four-ball sessions (best ball). It is the first time in Solheim Cup history that both of the first two sessions ended in a tie.
Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin halved their four-ball match against England’s Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, who held a 3-up lead with five holes to play. The Americans secured the half point with wins at Nos. 12, 13 and 17.
The U.S. secured a point when Megan Khang and Alison Lee cruised to a 4-and-3 win against France’s Celine Boutier and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
“Once we both saw a couple drop, I feel like you couldn’t stop us for sure,” Lee said.
The Europeans answered as England’s Mimi Rhodes and France’s Nastasia Nadaud completed a 2-and-1 victory over Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin halved the final four-ball match against Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez. Ciganda’s clutch putt at the 18th secured the 4-4 tie heading into Saturday.
“We had a tough match against Nelly and Lauren, very consistent, but we fought hard and at least we got half a point, which I think is really important,” Ciganda said.
“I think not losing today is important,” Ciganda added. “I think obviously that half a point, I think it’s 4-4 for the day, so I think that’s, yeah, that’s how usually a big momentum going into tomorrow, so hopefully they can, yeah, we can take that into tomorrow foursomes and win both morning and afternoon sides.”
The U.S. got off to a 2-0 start in the morning foursomes.
Korda and Corpuz kicked things off by making history with a 4-and-3 victory against Hull and Woad. It was the fifth straight win for the American pairing, a record for the Solheim Cup.
“She’s just so solid,” Korda said of her partner. “Honestly, I enjoy playing with her so much. We have a lot of fun out there. Our caddies have so much fun out there. Yeah, it’s just, she’s just such a solid player. It’s really good to rely on her and it’s also fun.”
Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin extended the lead with a 3-and-2 defeat of Boutier and Madsen before the Europeans rallied to win the morning session’s last two matches.
Germany’s Esther Henseleit and Ireland’s Leona Maguire never trailed in a 2-up victory against Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan, the only foursomes match that reached the 17th hole.
Sweden’s Maja Stark and Linn Grant jumped out to a 4-up lead through seven holes and held on for a 3-and-2 victory against Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho.
The U.S. won the 2024 Solheim Cup 15 1/2 to 12 1/2 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va. The last time the Americans won the competition on European soil was in Germany in 2015.
