Two sessions, two ties
Nobody has seen a Solheim Cup start like this. The United States and Europe split the morning foursomes 2-2, then split the afternoon four-balls 2-2, leaving the match locked at 4-4 after Friday’s opening day at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. It is the first time in the event’s history that both opening sessions have finished level.
The Americans arrived holding the trophy and need 14 points to keep it. Europe needs 14 and a half to take it back.
Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz set the tone early, beating Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 4 and 3 in the opening foursomes match. That was the fifth consecutive Solheim Cup win for the pairing, a record for the competition.
“She’s just so solid,” Korda said of Corpuz. “Honestly, I enjoy playing with her so much. We have a lot of fun out there.”
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Europe answer in the afternoon
Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin doubled the American lead with a 3 and 2 win over Celine Boutier and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Then Europe took the last two morning matches. Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire never trailed against Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan, closing out 2 up in the only foursomes match to reach the 17th. Maja Stark and Linn Grant went 4 up through seven holes and held on to beat Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3 and 2.
The four-balls produced the better golf. Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin were three down with five to play against Hull and Woad and still walked off with half a point, winning the 12th, 13th and 17th. Megan Khang and Alison Lee cruised to a 4 and 3 win over Boutier and Koerstz Madsen.
“Once we both saw a couple drop, I feel like you couldn’t stop us for sure,” Lee said.
Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud kept Europe in touch with a 2 and 1 win against Corpuz and Auston Kim. Carlota Ciganda then rolled in a putt at the last to halve with Korda and Coughlin and lock the day at 4-4.
What Saturday is worth
“I think not losing today is important,” Ciganda said. “That’s how usually a big momentum going into tomorrow.”
The history is split. The United States won 15 and a half to 12 and a half at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 2024, but they have not won this trophy on European soil since Germany in 2015. Eight more matches follow on Saturday before Sunday’s singles decide it.
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