Here is Ewan Murray’s report.
Day one, afternoon fourballs results
Honours even in the afternoon, which seems about right on balance, though the rules furore regarding the Overhanging Ball of Doom and Madelene Sagstrom’s quickfire concession will most likely dominate the column inches. But what a first day. Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, Leona Maguire and Matilda Castren were Europe’s pick, while the USA will be thankful to the never-say-die brilliance of Lizette Salas and Jennifer Kupcho. It’s all set up for a super Sunday! Hope you’ll enjoy it with us. Thanks for reading this blog, and see you tomorrow!
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 4&3
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP
USA 2½-5½ Europe
USA 2½-5½ Europe
Hall lags close, and the second putt is conceded. The 2018 British Open champion put the pedal to the floor over the closing stretch, turning a one-hole deficit into a precious point for Europe. Hugs all round. Europe will be thrilled with their day’s work.
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (F)
USA 2½-5½ Europe
... sends her putt off on the correct line, but fails to hit it! Frustratingly for the Americans, she never gave it a chance to drop. That leaves Hall with two putts to give Europe a three-point lead going into tomorrow.
Maguire’s third is decent, no more, a couple of feet further behind Altomare. She’s effectively out of this hole. It’s all down to whether Noh or Altamore can make their birdie putts ... and if they do, whether Hall can tidy up and finish the job. Noh’s long rake goes nowhere near. And so Altamore steps up and ...
Maguire is forced to lay up from the fairway bunker, but from 154 yards Hall swishes a gorgeous iron to five feet! That could have secured Europe a precious point. Noh pulls her second from the bunker to the far-left corner of the green, leaving much up to Altomare. She hits a fine approach towards the back of the green, a similar left-to-right shape to Hall, but a further ten feet back. Still, she’ll have a good look at birdie from about 15 feet that, if made, would bundle all sorts of pressure on Hall. What drama, and this is just the first day!
Maguire’s drive at 18 finds sand down the right. Hall nearly finds the same trap but her ball snags in the first cut near the fairway. Altomare splits the fairway. Noh finds Maguire’s bunker. Some big moments coming up, one way or the other!
Noh misreads, though, and Europe remain one up as they go down 18. This isn’t the hole where Bob Tway famously holed out from the bunker to snatch the 1986 PGA Championship from Greg Norman; they’ve switched the 9th and 18th this week because they were worried few of the matches would reach the famous last. Naturally, all but one of today’s eight matches have gone the distance today. What are the chances?
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (17)
USA 2½-4½ Europe
Altamore opts to go first, and steers a downhill left-to-right swinger to a couple of feet. That’s secured the half, and allows Noh to give her longer, uphill birdie effort a good old clack.
Hall chips up to kick-in distance. In for par, it allows Maguire to have a run with her putt. That’s never going in, and now the US have two attempts to tie things up ahead of the last hole.
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (16)
USA 2½-4½ Europe
All four members of the final group send average wedges into 17. Altomare is the closest and will have the best look at birdie. The momentum really is with the Americans right now. Europe will feel they let a fine situation slip through their fingers if they’re only one point ahead at the end of the day. The USA would be thrilled to find themselves just one behind.
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (16)
USA 2½-4½ Europe
Updated
USA 2½-4½ Europe
Lizette Salas snatches a point for the United States at the last! She whips a stunning approach into 18, pin high, six feet to the right. Sophia Popov nearly chips in from the front, Carlota Ciganda goes close with a putt from the fringe at the back, and then Salas rolls in the birdie putt! What a carpe-diem moment, and it’s one that’s hauled the hosts back into this tournament! Penny for the thoughts of Ciganda, though, who missed that tiddler to win the 17th.
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (F)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (16)
USA 2½-4½ Europe
Updated
More chat! Now it’s Nelly Korda’s turn to talk to Sky. “Obviously that situation on the par five was unfortunate, you don’t want to win a hole like that. But by the time I got off the green, the referee came up to us and said they were reviewing it. They said we had no say in it, and it was all up to the rules committee. Obviously it feels weird, but they did the best they could with the situation at hand.”
Ally Ewing adds: “We didn’t call the rules official to ask anything. We hope they understand we weren’t trying to win the hole that way. We had no ill will but the rules committee did reach that decision. It rattled both teams but it didn’t take away from the good golf that was played.”
More action! Hall tidies up for her birdie on 15 to give Europe the lead in the last fourball of the day.
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (17)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (15)
USA 1½-4½ Europe
An understandably emotional Madelene Sagstrom talks to Sky. “Obviously I wasn’t following the rules about leaving the ball for ten seconds. But I do believe in integrity and the honour of the game of golf, and I would never pick up a putt that had a chance to go in. I don’t agree with the decision of the ball being on the edge but I didn’t follow the ten-second rule so it sucks right now. I feel [welling up] like I let my team down. It’s hard because we’re on American soil and ... oh gosh ... [a tear falls] ... I was going to wait for this until the locker room but that’s OK. It’s tough, we’re giving our all out there and fighting so hard, it’s just sad that the game is on that decision. I’m going to go back, recoup and be good for tomorrow.”
Nanna Koerstz Madsen adds: “I just want to give a shout out to Madelene for handling this so perfectly. People started yelling terrible stuff, and it was not fun for Madelene to be in that position. She felt bad and she really shouldn’t, golf shouldn’t go down to a putt that would never have gone in.”
USA 1½-4½ Europe
Madsen first, from the fringe at the back. She gives it a good roll, but it’s always missing wide on the right. So can Sagstrom, from the fringe to the right of the cup, make up for the error that cost her team on 13? Nope. She reads the line perfectly, but doesn’t hit it. It’s a first victory for the USA. Fist bumps that don’t look particularly warm, but perhaps we’re reading too much into that. It’s been a long day, after all.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (F)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (17)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (14)
USA 1½-4½ Europe
Ciganda pulls a dreadful birdie putt left of the cup at 17. The US dodge a bullet there. Meanwhile up on 18, Korda is in for par, which means Madsen and Sagstrom both have 20-footers for the birdie that would dramatically salvage half a point.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (17)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (17)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (14)
USA ½-4½ Europe
The final match has been quiet for a while, but Georgia Hall changes all that. On 15, she fires her second from 176 yards to six feet. Europe will have a couple of chances to turn the all-square matches blue. Meanwhile on 18, nobody’s particularly close, so as things stand, a US win in the first match looks more likely than not.
Ciganda, miles out of position down the left of 17, whips an absolute stunner out of the filth and straight at the flag. Her ball rolls gracefully to four feet. Popov and Kupcho stop short of the green. The pressure’s suddenly on Salas, and she pulls her approach. “Wow!” she sighs. But her ball takes a friendly bounce off a bank to the left of the green, and leaves a 15-footer for birdie. That could turn out to be very important. A couple of massive putts coming up!
USA ½-4½ Europe
Whatever happens next, Europe will lead the Solheim Cup going into the second day. They’ve secured the first point of the afternoon fourballs. Lexi Thompson had another chance to extend the match, but this time she’s not sinking a dramatic 25-footer. Anna Nordqvist and Matilda Castren secure a 4&3 victory over an out-of-sorts Thompson and Mina Harigae.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (17)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (16)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 4&3 (F)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (14)
USA ½-4½ Europe
Updated
On 17, Ewing, Korda and Madsen secure their pars from lengths various. That leaves Castren with a very speedy and slippery downhill left-to-right birdie chance. She tickles it away, but it’s always heading left. The US are dormie, thanks to the Amazing Overhanging Ball and Madelene Sagstrom’s hair-trigger reactions!
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (17)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (16)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 4UP (14)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (12)
USA ½-3½ Europe
A long-range putting competition has been set up on 15. The Europeans just need to secure a half to secure the win. Meanwhile another passionate fist pump by Sophia Popov, who tidies up for birdie on 16 and levels the second match.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (16)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (16)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 4UP (14)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (12)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Popov knocks her second at 16 to a couple of feet from 130 yards. Not quite a gimme but not far off it. These closing holes were good to Europe earlier today; will they turn more red real estate on the scoreboard blue?
Kupcho and Salas both have chances to win 15 from the fringe, eight feet from the hole. The former elects to chip, the latter to putt. Neither make it, and the hole is tied. Meanwhile on 16, Ewing makes a missable six-footer for par to halve that hole too. And on 14, Castren holes a snaking right-to-left-and-back-again birdie putt from 30 feet. The hole would secure a 5&4 win ... but Thompson then rakes home a 25-footer for birdie to extend the match! It’s dormie four, but the Americans are still fighting!
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (16)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (15)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 4UP (14)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (12)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Sky Sports talk to a Solheim Cup official, who clears up the rules brouhaha. “When Nelly hit her putt, and it got up towards the hole, it got so close to being in the hole that we determined that it was actually overhanging. And when the ball overhangs the hole, an opponent has to allow her opponent reasonable time to get up to the hole, then another ten seconds to see if that ball falls into the hole. That didn’t happen, so when the European player picked up the ball, per the rules of golf it was pretty cut and dried. It didn’t give her enough time. It was pretty clear cut.”
Trouble for Nelly Korda on 16, who goes from fairway bunker to greenside bunker, leaving herself shortsided. With both Europeans on the green, Ally Ewing needs to follow suit, and does so, just about, the fringe at the back stopping her ball toppling down the bank. A big splash and three huge putts coming up.
Castren visits the scene of the Great Seven-Second Controversy. She’s got a much easier eagle chance than Nelly did. Like Nelly, it doesn’t drop, but the birdie putt’s conceded anyway, and that’s enough for yet another hole. Europe are closing in on a big win with only five holes left to play.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (15)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (14)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 4UP (13)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (10)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Jennifer Kupcho drains another long putt! She steers in a 50-footer from off the front of 14, and that’s a huge match-play moment, because Carlota Ciganda had sent her approach to ten feet, and the hole suddenly looks an awful lot smaller. She tugs nervously at her birdie effort, and that’s a sensational smash and grab for the USA, who go one up in match two!
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (15)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (14)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 3UP (12)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (10)
USA ½-3½ Europe
It’s also worth remembering that the first group had been put on the clock, which may explain Sagstrom’s desire to get a move on. It’s possible to have sympathy for both her and Europe for that, especially as the ball was never dropping in, making the overhanging ruling somewhat academic and extremely painful. But them’s the rules, and them’s the breaks.
Updated
Incidentally, neither Nelly Korda nor Ally Ewing, nor indeed anyone on the US team, made any sort of complaint about Madelene Sagstrom conceding that birdie putt in seven seconds and picking the ball up before the allotted ten. It was spotted by the referee, who raised the issue herself. Catriona Matthew isn’t happy about it, but once there’s a bit of time and distance applied to the affair, she’ll most likely accept it as one of those things and move on. It’s probably for the best that the next hole is halved.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (14)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (12)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 3UP (12)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (10)
USA ½-3½ Europe
While that fiasco was revealing itself, Georgia Hall sent her second at 10 to six feet, and knocked in the birdie putt. After stemming the bleeding at the previous hole, Europe have clawed themselves level in the final match.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (13)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (12)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 3UP (11)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (10)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Hole awarded to USA
Korda’s ball has been deemed to be overhanging, so she’s awarded the eagle three and the USA win the hole. They go one up. That’s harsh in a way on Europe, because there was little chance the ball would topple in - only a very small section of it was over the lip - and having come to a halt, without a freak gust it was never going to move again in the next three seconds. But Sagstrom didn’t wait long enough, and the rules of golf are the rules of golf. When you boil it all down, that’s on Sagstrom and Europe. They can have no complaints.
Controversy here!
Madelene Sagstrom only waited seven seconds to pick up Nelly Korda’s ball on 13 and concede the birdie putt. The referee has therefore awarded Korda her eagle three, because technically the USA were robbed of three seconds in which the ball could have toppled in. Sagstrom and captain Catriona Matthew are arguing that the ball wasn’t overhanging and would never have dropped. “It was never going to go in,” insists Sagstrom. “It doesn’t matter, you didn’t wait the ten seconds,” says the referee. But then she asks whether the ball was overhanging, and agrees to look at television footage. Hmm. I suspect Europe may be bang to rights here on a technicality, but we’ll see.
Thompson/Harigae and Nordqvist/Castren share the 11th in four. Castren had a decent opportunity to stretch Europe’s lead to four holes, but her 12-foot tickle from the fringe at the back is always drooping wide left. The USA need something to happen in this match quickly.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (13)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (12)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 3UP (11)
1UP Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire (9)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Nelly Korda looks to have made a sensational eagle putt on 13. Her 30-foot effort has a huge semi-circular right-to-left break, and stops right on the edge. Sagstrom doesn’t hang about in picking it up and conceding the birdie, just in case the ball thinks about a belated topple. That leaves Koerstz Madsen with a much straighter eagle chance, but hers never looks like dropping, staying up on the right. A birdie and a half.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (13)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (12)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 3UP (10)
1UP Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire (9)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Noh is this close to draining her birdie putt on 9. She’s the width of a dimple away from winning a fourth hole in a row. Maguire gets up and down from sand to secure the half and stop the rot. The first group share the spoils at the par-three 12th, nobody having gone close with their tee shots. And after Harigue fails to make her outside birdie chance on 10, Nordqvist rolls in her shorter effort to take another hole. She and Castren are the first team to go three up in any match so far today.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (12)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (10)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 3UP (10)
1UP Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire (9)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Nordqvist clips one heck of a shot out of a fairway bunker on 10, sending her ball pin high from 160 yards. She’ll have a six-foot look at birdie, and resistance will be down to Harigue, who gives herself a chance from 15 feet. Thompson misses the green with her approach, her game having become a little ragged over the past few holes. Meanwhile on 9, Noh is in the box seat on the green, with neither Hall nor Maguire threatening. The final US pairing could be about to win their fourth hole in a row.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (11)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (10)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (9)
1UP Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire (8)
USA ½-3½ Europe
The match referee has put the first fourball on the clock. All four quickly find the dancefloor at 12, but nobody’s particularly close to the flag. It’ll be interesting to see if this disrupts anyone’s rhythm or sang-froid.
Jennifer Kupcho drains a 25-footer on 10, and the USA have clawed their way back to parity in match two. Meanwhile on 11, Ewing, having missed one to the left on the previous hole, sends her latest birdie effort wide right. That opens the door for Sagstrom, but she misreads her putt woefully, missing the five-footer to the right by the width of a couple of balls. A let-off for both teams, as the opening match remains all square.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (11)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (10)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (9)
1UP Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire (8)
USA ½-3½ Europe
More flag peppering at 11, when Ewing and then Sagstrom knock approaches to five feet. Back on 9, Harigae’s birdie putt is indeed conceded, but Nordqvist walks in her own birdie and Europe remain two up as they hit the turn. And on 8, Altomare rolls in her six-footer for a birdie that puts her pairing in the lead for the first time this afternoon.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (10)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (9)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (9)
1UP Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire (8)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Two fine shots into 8 by Noh and Altomare. They’ve both got six-foot looks for birdie, so Europe will be happy that Maguire has stuck her approach to ten feet. A chance to stay competitive. And it’s a similar story on 9, where Harigae wedges a stunner to kick-in distance, only for Nordqvist to follow her to four feet. Harigae’s putt will surely be conceded.
Koerstz Madsen and Sagstrom are both wild off the tee at 10. They’re pleased therefore to escape the hole with a half, Ewing missing a very makeable birdie putt from six feet, pulling it left.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (10)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (9)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (8)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (7)
USA ½-3½ Europe
They’re presented with a chance at 9, where Carlota Ciganda has a 15-footer for birdie and the hole. It misses on the left. But Sophia Popov has a look as well ... however she pulls a miserable effort from eight feet wide left. A brave smile from last year’s British Open champion as she departs the scene; they are still one up, I suppose.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (9)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (9)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (8)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (7)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Yealimi Noh makes yet another putt, for a birdie this time at 7. Having scrambled a half at 5, she’s now won two holes in a row. The US could have been three down; now they’re level! Stupendous stuff from the 20-year-old rookie. So good. This was looking awful for the hosts an hour ago; now they’ve fought their way right back into it. Now you feel it’s Europe who are in need of a momentum shift.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (9)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (8)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (7)
Noh/Altomare A/S Hall/Maguire (7)
USA ½-3½ Europe
So having said that, Europe hit back immediately. Nanna Koerstz Madsen rolls in a five-footer for birdie at 9, and she high-fives with team-mate Madelene Sagstrom, who breaks into loud, excited laughter. The Scandinavian pair are clearly loving this battle, and it’s also good to see that Sagstrom has got over the attack of the killer bees.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (9)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (8)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (7)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (6)
USA ½-3½ Europe
A fine lob from thick oomska at the back of 7 by Mina Harigae. She nearly sends it rolling serenely into the cup, but it’s a tap-in to save par and halve the hole. Meanwhile up on 8, Lizette Salas does chip in. She makes a brilliant eagle having been unlucky to see her fairway wood, taking the same line as Ally Ewing’s a few minutes ago, snag in the rough. A deserved reward, and she waves her arms to get the crowd going. The crowd get going, sensing that the USA are working their way back into this tournament.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (8)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (8)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (7)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (6)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Yealimi Noh made a staunch par-saving putt on 5, to scramble a half, and now she’s followed it up with a ten-foot par effort on 6 to win the hole. Great stuff from the young rookie, who came so close at the Evian earlier this year, and looks every inch the part. She’s clearly enjoying her first Solheim Cup adventure.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (8)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 2UP (7)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (6)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (6)
USA ½-3½ Europe
A wee bit of a lull again, at much the same stage of the round as the morning. Maybe there’s something in the ley lines.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (8)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 2UP (7)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (6)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (5)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Par for Anna Nordqvist at 6. She’s the only one in her fourball who found the green in regulation, and a four-foot putt is enough to win the hole. Europe are now two up in three of the matches, but they’re behind in the other, as a two-putt birdie on 8 by Ally Ewing, reward for that outrageously good fairway wood, puts some red on the board at long last.
1UP N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (8)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 2UP (7)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (6)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (5)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Updated
Jennifer Kupcho knocks her second into 7 pin high. She leaves herself a 12-foot look at birdie, and she’s surely made it, but somehow the ball gives the hole the big swerve, skating around the left-hand side of the cup and sitting stubbornly behind. That’s just not on. Gravity has done a number on the USA there. And it means Sophia Popov has a chance to plunge the knife with a birdie putt of her own. In it goes, from similar distance, and the German’s punching the air with great excitement and feeling once more. What a body blow for the hosts. The small margins, eh?
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (7)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 2UP (7)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (5)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (5)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Having crashed a stunning drive way down the track at the par-five 8th, Ally Ewing then sends an exceptional fairway wood into the front of the green, utilising the bank to the side to bring the ball to 15 feet. Pin high, she’ll have a great look at eagle. That puts the pressure on Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who had hit an equally fine drive ... but the Dane pulls her second into a bunker guarding the front left. Signs that the US have snatched the momentum in this opening match. We could be seeing a flash of red on the board again very soon.
A wild scene on 4, where Brittany Altomare rakes in a 35-footer for birdie ... only for Leona Maguire to trundle in a similarly long putt. Hole halved. The crowd have been quiet for a while, but that trading of blows woke them up a bit ... and then there’s a proper full-blooded roar as Nelly tidies up for a fine crash-bang birdie at 7. For the first time in a little while, the USA have put a little something back on the board.
N Korda/Ewing A/S Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom (7)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (6)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (5)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (4)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Nelly Korda has been strangely subdued all day - to be fair, her efforts in winning the PGA and the Olympics must have taken plenty out of her - but here’s a small sign of recovery. Having flashed a long drive down 7, she whips her second straight at the flag, and will have a great chance to make birdie. Meanwhile Sagstrom’s approach topples off the false front, completing a painful few minutes for the Swede, who has reportedly been stung by a bee.
Georgia Hall appears almost as serene and unruffled as her partner Georgia Hall. She demonstrates this by creaming a smooth approach over the flag at 4, using the ridge across the green to draw the ball back towards the hole, Lyle-at-Augusta style. That’ll be a good look at birdie.
Now it’s the 2021 British Open champion’s turn to make a wonder putt. Anna Nordqvist guides in a downhill left-to-right birdie slider on 4 to put Europe up in all four matches. She’d got a bit of a read from Lexi Thompson, who had woefully misjudged her own downhill birdie effort, her ball breaking well right, focusing Nordqvist’s mind on giving it enough on the other side.
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 1UP (6)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (5)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (4)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (2)
USA ½-3½ Europe
The 2020 British Open champion Sophia Popov sinks another monster putt! She races her birdie effort at 5 straight into the cup, and hoists a fist into the sky in celebration. A marked bounce in her step now! Probably not the best time to remind US fans that she was born in Boston, only moved to Germany at the age of four, and has dual nationality. What could have been, huh.
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 1UP (5)
Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov 1UP (5)
Thompson/Harigae A/S Nordqvist/Castren (3)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (2)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Updated
Europe have the advantage on the par-three 5th. Ciganda and Popov knock their tee shots pin high, leaving 25-foot looks at birdie, but Kupcho and Salas both fly the green and go over the back.
Europe respond instantly with a one-two of their own! First Leona Maguire makes birdie at 2, wasting no time over a four-footer, then on 4 Carlota Ciganda rattles in a 20-footer to cancel out Lizette Salas’s earlier eagle at 2. Already the fourballs are promising to be as hotly contested as this morning’s foursomes.
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 1UP (5)
Kupcho/Salas A/S Ciganda/Popov (4)
Thompson/Harigae A/S Nordqvist/Castren (3)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 2UP (2)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Could this be the momentum-turner the USA need? Ally Ewing rakes in a long birdie putt across 5, and halves Europe’s lead in the opening match at a stroke. And then on the par-three 3rd, Lexi Thompson makes up for her error on 2 by chipping in from the fringe! She flashes a smile and raises a fist in the air. Neither Nordqvist nor Castren can make their birdie efforts, and what a scoreboard one-two for the hosts, and a double whammy for Europe!
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 1UP (5)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (3)
Thompson/Harigae A/S Nordqvist/Castren (3)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (1)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Updated
Goodness knows how many majors Lexi Thompson would have on her CV if she was dependable with her flat stick. She’d have won this year’s US Open, for starters, and probably a couple more ANA Inspirations as well. But her capacity for yipping short putts kills her so often. And here we go again, as she hoicks a three-footer wide right of the cup at 2, to hand the hole to Europe in par. The USA are now down in three of this afternoon’s four matches, and while there’s a long, long, long way to go, and plenty of opportunity to turn things around, their fans can be forgiven for starting to worry a little bit. Momentum isn’t with them right now, and they need to share the spoils in this session at the very least.
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 2UP (4)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (3)
Thompson/Harigae v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (2)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (1)
USA ½-3½ Europe
Updated
Another birdie opportunity for the fast-starting Madelene Sagstrom, this time at 4. This one looks like going in too, only to turn gently right over the last couple of feet. Par will have to do. Europe remain two up in this afternoon’s opening match.
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 2UP (4)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (3)
Thompson/Harigae A/S Nordqvist/Castren (1)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (1)
USA ½-3½ Europe
What scenes on the 1st green! The extraordinary debutant Leona Maguire sends her approach to six feet, setting up a magnificent chance for birdie. But she doesn’t get to make the putt and take the applause, because her partner Georgia Hall sends a tramliner straight into the cup from the best part of 70 feet! If there’s a better putt sunk this week, we’ll be lucky to see it. Europe grab a lead in the final match, then, though not in the manner anyone expected.
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 2UP (3)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (2)
Thompson/Harigae A/S Nordqvist/Castren (1)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire 1UP (1)
USA ½-3½ Europe
The big news from the early fourball exchanges: Madelene Sagstrom birdies the first two holes to establish an early lead over Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing; Lizette Salas drains a long eagle effort on 2 to snatch the hole off Sophia Popov, who was spooked by the American’s putt and missed a significantly shorter eagle chance; and Lexi Thompson is extremely unfortunate to see a long birdie effort stop on the lip at 1. More drama didn’t take long in coming, huh?
N Korda/Ewing v Koerstz Madsen/Sagstrom 2UP (3)
1UP Kupcho/Salas v Ciganda/Popov (2)
Thompson/Harigae A/S Nordqvist/Castren (1)
Noh/Altomare v Hall/Maguire
USA ½-3½ Europe
One of the stars of this morning’s show, Leona Maguire, batters a monster drive down the 1st fairway. Georgia Hall follows her, as do US debutant Yealimi Noh and Brittany Altomare. All the afternoon fourballs are now underway.
Here are the pairings for the afternoon fourballs (all times BST). I’ll be back in an hour to report on the early afternoon exchanges and everything thereafter.
1735: Nelly Korda / Ally Ewing v Nanna Koerstz Madsen / Madelene Sagstrom
1750: Jennifer Kupcho / Lizette Salas v Carlota Ciganda / Sophia Popov
1805: Lexi Thompson / Mina Harigae v Anna Nordqvist / Matilda Castren
1820: Yealimi Noh / Brittany Altomare v Georgia Hall / Leona Maguire
Updated
Day one, morning foursomes result
That’s silenced the Toledo crowd, who are almost completely supporting the USA, travel restrictions, all that. And no wonder. All four matches were in the balance all morning, all four matches went up the last, all four matches tumbled in favour of Europe, with even the one tie feeling more like a loss for the hosts.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP
Ewing/Khang A/S Boutier/Hall
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP
Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen 1UP
USA ½-3½ Europe
USA ½-3½ Europe
... strokes it straight into the middle of the cup! A big point, snatched from Europe at the last!
Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen 1UP (F)
USA ½-3½ Europe
In fact, USA are slightly outside Europe, so it’s Lexi first. It’s a must-make ... and in it goes, forcing Europe to make their putt, and keeping USA in with a chance for a half. Classic matchplay, this! Pedersen prowls around it, and ...
Altomare pulls off something special! She wedges to four feet, roughly in Korda Country. Not a gimme, especially with Thompson’s erratic reputation with the flat stick, but that’d secure a par more often than not. In other words, Emily Pedersen most likely needs to make her birdie putt if Europe are to win the match. What a morning this has been!
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (17)
USA ½-2½ Europe
Leona Maguire is a superstar in the making, mind. That’s some introduction to the Solheim Cup; she barely put a foot wrong, making several clutch putts. Hey, if you can shoot 61 in a major, as she did at the Evian earlier this year, you can do anything. Meanwhile back down the fairway, serious bother for the hosts. Thompson is right up against the lip, and has no choice but to splash out. And Altomare has to knock her approach close, because Charley Hull lands her second pin high, five feet from the cup. A real chance Europe could snaffle this point now, unless Altomare pulls off something special.
USA ½-2½ Europe
... Reid’s birdie effort slips three feet by. Jessica Korda has a putt from six feet to snatch a half ... but she pulls it wide left. Maguire, totally unflappable, tidies up calmly, then ditches the supercool and runs into Reid’s arms in celebration. What a performance against America’s superstars!
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (F)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (17)
USA ½-2½ Europe
Pedersen splits the fairway on 18 ... but Altomare finds the sand down the right. Much will depend on whether she’s up against the face. It could be make or break for the USA. Meanwhile up on the green ...
... but are America going to snatch a half of their own? Nelly Korda clips her approach at 18 from 120 yards to six feet, well inside Europe’s ball. Meanwhile back on 17, Charley Hull’s long birdie putt slips by, and the final match remains all square. Every match going up the last!
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (17)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (17)
USA ½-1½ Europe
USA ½-1½ Europe
Ally Ewing is left with a three-and-a-half-feet downhill slider for the win ... but she pulls a nervous one to the left. Europe have been behind in that match all morning, but they’ve snatched half a point at the last!
Ewing/Khang A/S Boutier/Hall (F)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (17)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (16)
USA ½-1½ Europe
Georgia Hall meanwhile has sent Europe’s approach straight over the flag to 15 feet. That ramps up the pressure on Megan Khang, who really needs to get close to force Celine Boutier to make her birdie putt to tie the match. And she stands up to that pressure wonderfully! She wedges to four feet! That’s more than made up for sending her drive into the bunker, and it looks to have sensationally saved the USA a precious point!
Khang’s drive at 18 finds sand down the right. The ball ends up near the face, Ewing can’t go for the green. She’s forced to take her medicine and lay up.
Pedersen pours in a dead-weight 25-footer on 16 to tie up the final match! Meanwhile on 17, Maguire has a putt for the win, but her uphill 15-foot right-to-left curler dies on the left. Events continue to unfold at pace. This has been a brilliant morning’s golf.
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (17)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (17)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (16)
USA 0-1 Europe
USA 0-1 Europe
Europe have two putts to win the match thanks to Nordqvist’s second. Castren tickles it down the glassy green ... but underhits it a little. She leaves Nordqvist with a little work! But the British Open champion is made of the strong stuff, and in goes the putt. Europe strike the first blow in the 2021 Solheim Cup!
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (F)
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (17)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (16)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (15)
USA 0-1 Europe
No she can’t. Her downhill 12-footer slips by on the right. Hole to Europe, and they’ll go up the last. Meanwhile on 18, Nordqvist sends Europe’s second to 15 feet, and the USA need something special now.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (17)
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (17)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (16)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (15)
Georgia Hall rattles in a 15-foot birdie effort on 17! At dormie two, that needed to drop. Can Ally Ewing respond, or is this match going down the last as well?
Reid has a chance from 20 feet to win 16, but sends a jittery effort four feet past, leaving Maguire with work to do. But the young Irish star tidies up without drama, retaining Europe’s one-hole lead. Meanwhile on 18, early advantage to Europe, as Ernst sends her drive into the thick stuff, while Castren goes straight down the middle.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (17)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (16)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (16)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (15)
Castren and Nordqvist can’t respond to Ernst’s excellent second at 17, and the opening match is still alive. Meanwhile on 15, Hull walks in a 15-footer to claw one back for Europe. These matches are deliciously poised!
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (17)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (16)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (15)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (15)
Now it’s Ally Ewing’s turn to whip the crowd into a frenzy! She rattles in a 20-footer on 16 that would still be going today had the hole not got in the road. But it salvages an unlikely half, and now the US are dormie two in the second match!
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (16)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (16)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (15)
2UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (14)
Jessica Korda’s tee shot at 16 is miles right. Mel Reid splits the fairway. Up on 17, Ernst keeps American hopes alive by powering out of the cabbage and bumping her ball onto the green, the camber gathering it to 12 feet. That’s a sensational effort given the circumstances, and the gauntlet’s down at Castren’s feet.
A crucial mistake by Charley Hull on 14. She comes up short with her approach, while Lexi Thompson powers onto the green. Hole to the USA, and the hosts are taking control of the final match. All the more important, then, that they see out the matches they’re up in. Maguire is unlucky with a long birdie attempt on 15, and that’s halved, while on 17, both Nordqvist and Kang miss the fairway with their tee shots.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (16)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (15)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (15)
2UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (14)
The USA restore their two-shot lead in the second match, Ally Ewing sending the second at 15 to five feet, Megan Khang tidying up without fuss ... then generating one heck of a rumpus as she gesticulates to the crowd in the come-on style! She enjoyed that one, as did the Kordas, waiting back down the fairway and waving their support. Meanwhile up on 16, Castren has a long rake for birdie and the win ... but a magnificent effort lips out. Europe are dormie two in the opening game.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (16)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (15)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (14)
1 UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (13)
The British Open champion Anna Nordqvist turns up the heat on Danielle Kang, sending her approach at 16 over the flag. She’s 20 feet away, setting up a birdie opportunity that could close out the opening match in Europe’s favour. But Kang responds bravely, knocking hers a wee bit inside her opponent. Big putting competition coming up!
A huge move by Europe on 15. Nordqvist and Castren take advantage of Kang missing the fairway from the tee. A par, secured by another fine putt from the debutant Castren, and suddenly they’re two up with three to play. Huge smiles as they depart the scene. Another big putt on 13 by Emily Pedersen, who rolls in an eight-footer to halve the hole after Brittany Altomare had curled in a 20-footer to put some huge match-play pressure on the Europeans. And some more Leona Maguire magic on 14, as she manages to find the green from the tricky position Reid had left her in. Two putts later, and an unlikely half is salvaged.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 2UP (15)
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (14)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (14)
1 UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (13)
But up on the green, Europe make a move of their own. Ally Ewing pulls a short par effort wide left, opening the door for Georgia Hall. She takes her time - holes are running out, after all - before rolling in the putt that cuts America’s lead in half. This really couldn’t be much closer! We’ve played 53 holes of golf this morning, and there’s barely anything to separate these two teams. What drama already ... and it’s only the morning of the opening day!
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (14)
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (14)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (13)
1 UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (12)
Potentially a huge moment on 13! Nelly Korda hits a clumsy chip through the back of 13. She’s left her sister with a decision to make: putt from the fringe or chip? After long deliberation, out comes the wedge, and Jess bumps a delicate effort, with slight right to left drift, into the hole! That looked in from the split second it left the face of her club. What a moment, and she punches the air in delight as the crowd go wild! The Kordas have been dismal so far, but that could change everything ... and it may have put the wind up Europe, because on 14, Mel Reid flays her tee shot into deep trouble down the right.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (14)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (13)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (13)
1 UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (12)
Brittany Altomare is the latest player to go very close to a hole-in-one at 12. Two feet away, this one. Emily Pedersen tugs her tee shot a tad, and Charley Hull can’t salvage the situation from 20 feet. That bad news for Europe is offset by events at 14, where Matilda Castren’s hot putting streak continues. She nearly drains a monster from the apron, and it’s enough to best the USA.
Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren 1UP (14)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (13)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (12)
1 UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (12)
Updated
Leona Maguire has nerves of steel. She scoops a delicate effort out of the sand at 12, rolling the ball unerringly towards the cup. It hits the flagstick flush, but somehow fails to drop. That is so unlucky. Nelly Korda meanwhile splashes to four feet, sister Jessica tidying up. Hole halved. Meanwhile Europe level up in the leading match, so good luck guessing how this morning’s matches are going to end up.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (13)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (12)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (12)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (10)
Somewhere in the multiverse, we’ve just had three hole-in-ones in the last ten minutes ... with one match halving the 12th with aces. One flap of that butterfly’s wings, that’s all it would take. But it’s not that easy, as Mel Reid and Jessica Korda set about demonstrating, both taking their turn to dunking their tee shots at 12 in the bunker to the left. Meanwhile Brittney Altomare nearly chips in from distance at 10, and it’s enough to level that match up again.
1UP Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren (12)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (12)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (11)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (10)
Updated
Megan Khang goes even closer to a hole-in-one than Austin Ernst! She’s a dimple away from rolling in her tee shot at 12. That’s not much more than six inches away! And then ... well ... this is astonishing ... Celine Boutier uses the bank to the left of the green to guide her ball towards the cup, and nearly aces herself! What a response! That’s three feet away, and Hall is forced to tidy up, but the hole’s halved in birdie. It was very nearly halved with a pair of aces. As close as you’ll get to golfing perfection. Anna Nordqvist is still the only woman to make a hole in one at the Solheim, though goodness knows how that remains the case.
1UP Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren (12)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (12)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (11)
Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen 1UP (9)
Austin Ernst very nearly aces 12! There’s only been one hole-in-one at the Solheim Cup ... and it was by her opponent today, Anna Nordqvist, on the 17th at Colorado in 2013. That record stands, but it’s enough to win USA the hole. They retake the lead in the opening match. Meanwhile Thompson and Altomare can’t untangle themselves from bother at 9 and go one down, while Reid has a chance from six feet to extend Europe’s lead against the misfiring Kordas, but misses and entertains the nation with an exasperated and perfectly timed sigh of “fuck me”. Some top-notch effing and jeffing, right there.
1UP Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren (12)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (11)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (10)
Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen 1UP (9)
Nordqvist allows a chance to win 11 slip by, pulling at a fairly straight uphill putt from six feet. Ewing rolls in a missable five footer on 10 to halve that hole. A couple of bullets dodged by the Americans there, but can they swerve another? Because on 9, Altomare has sent her second into the rough down the right, while Pedersen has knocked hers over the flag to 12 feet.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (11)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (10)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (9)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (8)
Oh this is magnificent. Leona Maguire! Ms 61 has ice in the veins. She clips a brisk wedge down the slippery green, the best part of 60 feet, stopping the ball three feet from the flag. That’ll surely secure par. Pressure on Nelly, then. But she’s not world number one and Olympic champion for nothing, and she chips from thick rough at the front - Jessica had just missed the bunker, as it happens - to four feet. Everything’s tidied up and the hole is halved. The Kordas are being pushed all the way here, but they’re still in touch, just two adrift. Somewhere in the multiverse, they’re five down; it wouldn’t have taken too many flaps of a butterfly’s wings.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (10)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (9)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (9)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (8)
... and now Europe draw level in the last match, too. Hull rolls in a gentle right-to-left 15-footer to claim the spoils at the 8th. She walked that in. Meanwhile up on 9, Jessica Korda dumps her approach in the bunker at the front, while Mel Reid sends a flyer through the huge green and into the fringe at the back. Europe are lucky that didn’t topple down the bank, but nevertheless Maguire is left with a hell of a chip coming back.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (10)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (9)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (8)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (8)
Europe are hanging on a bit in match two. Ewing nearly drains a 30-footer on 9 for a birdie that would give the States a three-hole lead. It stops one dimple short. Boutier is left with a tricky eight footer for a half, but makes it. That could be a crucial putt; it’s certainly stemmed the bleeding. Even better news for the visitors on 10, where Castren drains a monster to level up with Kang and Ernst.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (10)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (9)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (8)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (7)
Updated
Another chance for Europe to move three up in the third match passes by. Nelly Korda’s attempt at birdie on 8 slips five feet past. That gives Maguire the opportunity to win the hole from six feet, but despite going to school on Nelly’s putt, she misreads. Jessica knocks in what’s left for the States to halve the hole, who are still two down, but could and arguably should be four adrift and in all sorts of bother.
1UP Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren (9)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (8)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (8)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (7)
The thick greenside rough at 7 snares Charley Hull’s wedge as she attempts a delicate chip. That leaves Emily Kristine Pedersen with a long putt for par, and she can’t make it, sending a dreadful effort wide right and several feet past. Sadly for Europe, Brittany Altomare eased her approach to four feet, and Lexi Thompson made no mistake from there. Hitting the lead at last, she whips up the crowd in the pantomime style; she’s really enjoying herself this morning. Meanwhile the States double their lead in match two, and suddenly things are looking very bright for the hosts.
1UP Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren (9)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (8)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (7)
1UP Thompson/Altomare v Hull/Pedersen (7)
Kang and Ernst complete the turnaround in the opening match! Castren’s approach is long, and leaves Nordqvist facing a monster putt. The new British Open champ sends it skittering miles past the cup, and Castren can’t make the one coming back. But while momentum is all America’s in that match, the Kordas are struggling. Nelly leaves a putt from the fringe way short, and Jessica’s subsequent effort slides by. Reid has a downhill dribbler to win the hole, but misreads it, the ball always destined to glide by on the right. Hole halved in fairly undistinguished style, and maybe that escape will light a fire under the sisters. Captain Pat Hurst and team mascot Bubba Watson have arrived to lend some much-needed support to their star turns.
1UP Kang/Ernst v Nordqvist/Castren (8)
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (7)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (7)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (6)
Updated
Ewing faces a 30-foot downhill putt from the fringe at the back of 7. She nearly drains it, the ball shaving the left-hand side of the cup, but it’s not enough to halve the hole. Europe cut the deficit to one. Meanwhile back on 6, Pederson shows the Kordas how to get that chip done, sending a crisp effort bouncing over the false front and screeching her ball to a halt 18 inches from the hole. It rescues a half.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (7)
1UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (7)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (6)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (6)
The Kordas make an awful mess of 6. Nelly’s chip into the green stalls on the false front, and topples back down into thick rough. Jessica’s effort stays up, albeit miles from the cup. That leaves Europe with two putts to win the hole. Maguire rolls the rock to a couple of feet, and the hole’s conceded. USA go two down in a match they started as hot favourites ... though it can all change so quickly, as Nordqvist and Castren have already discovered.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (7)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (6)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 2UP (6)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (5)
Kang nearly lets Europe wriggle out of bother at 7. Nordqvist sends her drive into thick nonsense, then Castren is unable to extricate herself with her hybrid. But Nordqvist chips close from the cabbage, while Kang chunks a wedge from the side of the green. It looks for all the world like the hole will be halved, but then Ernst rattles in a 25-footer to scramble America’s par, while Castren’s attempt at a saver slides by. What a turnaround, and suddenly the leading match is all square.
Kang/Ernst A/S Nordqvist/Castren (7)
2UP Ewing/Khang v Boutier/Hall (6)
N Korda/J Korda v Reid/Maguire 1UP (5)
Thompson/Altomare A/S Hull/Pedersen (5)
The first slight lull. Don’t knock it, there won’t be too many more.
1UP Nordqvist/Castren v Kang/Ernst (6)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 2UP (5)
1UP Reid/Maguire v N Korda/J Korda (5)
Hull/Pedersen A/S Thompson/Altomare (4)
Updated
Jessica Korda can’t splash close from the sand at 4, and it’s first blow to Europe in match three. Nordqvist rolls in a staunch 12-footer to halve the 6th in the opening game. But it’s bad news for Europe on 5, where Khang so nearly chips in. The ball stops on the lip, but Hall can’t make the six-footer Boutier has left her, wedging up from thick stuff over the back, and the Americans are two up in that game again.
1UP Nordqvist/Castren v Kang/Ernst (6)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 2UP (5)
1UP Reid/Maguire v N Korda/J Korda (4)
Hull/Pedersen A/S Thompson/Altomare (3)
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Thompson is dialling in those irons. She nearly slam-dunks her tee shot at 3 for an ace, leaving Altomare with a dribbly downhill six-footer. That birdie chance slips a couple of feet past, the sort of distance Lexi has had so much trouble with over the years. No bother this time, though, and despite looking a little concerned as she stands over it, in it goes. Hole tied.
Nelly Korda pulls her approach at 4 into a trap on the left. Advantage Europe, because the unflappable Maguire, surely a major-winner in waiting, lands her second close. Up on the par-three 5th, trouble for the visitors as Hall whistles her tee shot through the green, while Ewing sends hers to the fringe at the back.
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Brittany Altomare makes no mistake with her eagle putt on 2, tidying up to level things up again in match four. Up on 4, Celine Boutier faces a monster putt from the fringe, so elects to take out most of the break by chipping instead, and guides a lovely effort to a couple of feet. Par, which is enough for the hole, Khang having sent that drive into the drink.
1UP Nordqvist/Castren v Kang/Ernst (5)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 1UP (4)
Reid/Maguire A/S N Korda/J Korda (3)
Hull/Pedersen A/S Thompson/Altomare (2)
There’s another eagle coming up at 2, surely, because Lexi has just creamed USA’s second to a couple of feet. A fine response to that questionable putt on the 1st, which happily hasn’t dented her confidence, or stopped her smiling, caught up in the giddy atmosphere. More good news for the States in the opening match at the par-three 5th, where Castren and Nordqvist take turns to hit excitable putts way off course. Par enough for the hosts to claim the hole.
1UP Nordqvist/Castren v Kang/Ernst (5)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 2UP (3)
Reid/Maguire A/S N Korda/J Korda (3)
1UP Hull/Pedersen v Thompson/Altomare (1)
Castren takes control of the opening match, pouring in a 15-foot birdie effort at 4 to give Europe a two-hole advantage. Lexi Thompson’s putter lets her down, as it so often does, from the fringe at 1. She leaves Altomare a long par putt which isn’t made. Par is enough for Europe to move ahead in this morning’s final match. And it’s advantage Europe on 4, Khang sending her tee shot into a creek down the right. It is, to quote the great comedian Danny Boon, all happening.
2UP Nordqvist/Castren v Kang/Ernst (4)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 2UP (3)
Reid/Maguire A/S N Korda/J Korda (2)
1UP Hull/Pedersen v Thompson/Altomare (1)
The short par-five 2nd offers huge opportunity if you get your drive away, and the hosts make the third eagle of the morning in the second match, Ewing sending a sensational second to kick-in distance. That was so close to albatross. It earns the USA another hole, and that’s a fast start for Ewing and Khang. But Europe take advantage of America’s visit to a greenside bunker at 3 to take the lead in the opening match. Meanwhile on the opening hole, the Kordas and Reid/Maguire half, while back on the tee, the final morning foursomes game hits the course. Charley Hull sends her drive into the first cut down the right, while Lexi Thompson splits the fairway, then strides down it with an excited smile.
1UP Nordqvist/Castren v Kang/Ernst (3)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 2UP (2)
Reid/Maguire A/S N Korda/J Korda (1)
Hull/Pedersen v Thompson/Altomare
If Matilda Castren, the first Finnish player to tee it up at the Solheim, was indeed nervous, she’ll be much more settled now. She pours in a 30-foot eagle putt on 2. But it only earns Europe a half, as Ernst responds with a 15-footer of her own.
Nordqvist/Castren A/S Kang/Ernst (2)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 1UP (1)
Reid/Maguire v N Korda/J Korda
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Here comes match three. Ireland’s in-form Leona Maguire, who shot a joint-low major round of 61 at the Evian earlier this summer, batters a huge drive down the opening hole. Nelly Korda, the world number one and Olympic gold medallist, follows suit. Maguire is paired with Mel Reid, while Nelly is naturally teamed with sister Jessica. There could be fireworks here.
Hall’s splash out of the bunker front left of 1 is not all that. An open door for USA. Ewing can’t steer in her 20-foot birdie putt, but she’s close enough for it to be conceded. Boutier can’t make the 15-footer she’s left with, and the first blow of the 2021 Solheim Cup is made by USA!
Nordqvist/Castren A/S Kang/Ernst (1)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang 1UP (1)
Boutier’s approach at 1 follows the early trend. The green’s missed, her ball bunkered. Khang finds the heart of the dancefloor, though, the first green found in regulation so far. Hey, it’s early. But it’s very much advantage USA there. Up on 2, Castren booms a big drive down the fairway, setting up Nordqvist to send Europe’s second into the green. But Kang has knocked America’s approach closer. The hosts will fancy taking early leads in both matches now.
A reminder of the format
For the benefit of folk who fancy getting up on the downswing this weekend but don’t always follow 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, Europe 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 ANA Inspiration 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 (ANA Inspiration-speak for hipsters), Lexi Thompson shoots 63-63-63-63 and Georgia Hall shoots 87-87-87-87, Lexi will have taken 252 strokes, and beaten Georgia 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 Lexi takes five shots at the 1st, but Georgia needs only three, Georgia goes 1up. If Georgia 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 Georgia remains 2up. It doesn’t matter if Lexi 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 Hall wins the first nine holes of our make-believe match. With nine played, and nine remaining, she is 9up. Lexi can only tie at best; Hall can’t lose. This is known as dormie. (And more specifically, in this slightly ludicrous example, as dormie nine.) If Lexi wins the next nine, the game will end all square, and each team will get half a point to their overall total. But if Georgia wins the 10th, she’s 10up with eight holes to play. She has won 10&8. If the 10th hole is halved, Georgia would be 9up with eight to play. She’s won 9&8. Similarly Lexi 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.
Labor Day: 12 singles matches.
Ernst rolls a delightful 30-foot putt to kick-in distance. Just one more turn to the left and it’d have been a sensational par scramble. Bogey, but that putt will settle a few nerves. Especially as the slightly shaky Castren pulls Europe’s par effort. Hole halved. Back up on the tee, Georgia Hall and Ally Ewing take turns to send fine opening drives down the track. They’re going round with Celine Boutier and Megan Khang respectively.
Nordqvist/Castren A/S Kang/Ernst (1)
Boutier/Hall v Ewing/Khang
Kang is left with a wedge in from 90 yards. She’s shortsided, though, with that bunker in her way, and can only find the back fringe of the green. A big smile nonetheless, she’s clearly enjoying the moment. Nordqvist has an awkward stance, one foot in the trap, one out, but splashes confidently to ten feet.
Kang has left her partner Austin Ernst a tricky second. She’s up against the lip, and clips it a little when wedging out. The ball disappears into thick rough down the right. Advantage Europe, you’d think, but Nordqvist’s teammate Matilda Castren sends a nervous approach into the bunker front right of the green. You’d still rather be in European shoes, mind.
Here we go, then, the first shots of the 2021 Solheim Cup. Absolute bedlam in the bleachers. Anna Nordqvist, who won her second major at the British Open at Carnoustie last month, stripes Europe’s opening drive down the middle. Then, to huge cheers - U-S-A! U-S-A! - Danielle Kang steps up. The 2017 PGA champion addresses the ball, before stepping back to whip up the crowd a bit more. Whether the showmanship does her any good or not is a moot point, as her tee shot dunks in a fairway bunker to the left, but there’s plenty of time to sort things out. This is happening!
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The teams
United States of America: Brittany Altomare, Austin Ernst, Ally Ewing, Mina Harigae, Danielle Kang, Megan Khang, Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Jennifer Kupcho, Yealimi Noh, Lizette Salas, Lexi Thompson.
Captain: Pat Hurst.
Europe: Celine Boutier, Matilda Castren, Carlota Ciganda, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Leona Maguire, Anna Nordqvist, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Sophia Popov, Mel Reid, Madelene Sagstrom.
Captain: Catriona Matthew.
Preamble
Welcome to our coverage of the 17th Solheim Cup between the United States of America and Europe at Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio. Let’s not faff around, the opening foursomes are going out soon. Here are the pairings (all times BST) …
1235 Anna Nordqvist / Matilda Castren v Danielle Kang / Austin Ernst
1247 Celine Boutier / Georgia Hall v Ally Ewing / Megan Khang
1259 Mel Reid / Leona Maguire v Nelly Korda / Jessica Korda
1311 Charley Hull / Emily Kristine Pedersen v Lexi Thompson / Brittany Altomare
… here’s a reminder of what happened last time …
… and, while we’ve still got the opportunity, breathe. If we experience anything half as dramatic as Gleneagles – and no, you’re not the only one already missing the street-fighting brilliance of Bronte Law, but other heroes will reveal themselves, so worry not – we’ll be doing well. Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, the greatest golfers from the USA and Europe are about to put on a show. Here it comes! It’s on!
