Key events
Back on 1, Allisen Corpuz, taking her first stroke of the week from the dropzone, knocks the ball pin high to 12 feet. Leona Maguire pulls Europe’s approach miles to the left of the flag, leaving Anna Nordqvist with a monster birdie putt. The Swede lags up wonderfully from downtown, enough for par. Nelly Korda can’t atone for her tee-box error, her par putt staying up on the right, and Europe hit the front in match three.
Grant/Stark v Thompson/Khang 2UP (2)
Boutier/Hall v Kang/Lee 1UP (1)
1UP Maguire/Nordqvist v Korda/Corpuz (1)
Some good fortune for USA off the tee at the par-five 2nd. Megan Khang’s drive threatens to disappear into shrubbery down the right of the fairway, but it clacks into some poor member of the gallery en route. But once Lexi Thompson advances the ball down the hole, Khang makes up for it, easing a wedge to four feet. Thompson tidies up for birdie, and the States are off to a flier in match one.
Grant/Stark v Thompson/Khang 2UP (2)
Boutier/Hall v Kang/Lee 1UP (1)
Maguire/Nordqvist v Korda/Corpuz
Danielle Kang rolls the straight birdie putt towards the hole, then wanders after it with her putter in the air. It’s there! A fast start for the USA as they take the lead in the opening two matches. But there’s better news for Europe back on the opening tee, as Nelly Korda, partnering Allisen Corpuz, pulls her tee shot into the pond. Anna Nordqvist, out with Leona Maguire this morning, reacts with the conservative play down the right. Big chance for a first splash of blue on the board here.
Grant/Stark v Thompson/Khang 1UP (1)
Boutier/Hall v Kang/Lee 1UP (1)
Back on the 1st tee, the competitors of the second match arrive on the scene. It’s Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall, who take on Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee. Compared to what went before, Kang and Boutier play conservative opening shots, to the right of the water rather than over it. Boutier’s briefly threatens to draw a bit too much, but it stays dry. However from a downhill lie, Hall knifes the approach through the green and down a swale at the back, while Lee sends the American ball over the flag to 18 feet. Advantage USA in this one too.
Lexi Thompson’s birdie putt shaves the right-hand edge of the cup but stubbornly refuses to drop. She chews her gum in frustration … but no matter, because Maja Stark can’t take advantage by making her six footer, which is always missing on the high side, and that’s the opening hole to the USA. A slightly uncertain start by Europe, and specifically by Stark.
Grant/Stark v Thompson/Khang 1UP (1)
Linn Grant’s tee shot had in fact snagged on the bank by the side of the bunker. That’s a bad break; the sand would have been more inviting. Maja Stark’s club decelerates through the thick Bermuda grass and Europe’s ball topples apologetically into the bunker. Megan Khang demonstrates the advantage of having a good lie in the trap by splashing out to 15 feet, after which Grant pings Europe’s third shot to six feet. Advantage USA here.
Europe captain Suzann Pettersen has selected an all-Swedish pairing of Linn Grant and Maja Stark for the first match of the Friday foursomes. The two debutants bounce excitedly over the bridge to the first tee and receive a tumultuous welcome. Stacy Lewis’s opening team of Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang are no less pumped. What an atmosphere! And what a nerve-shredding opening tee shot, downhill at a short dogleg-left par-four over water. Thompson has the honour of taking the first shot of these Matches, and bravely sends her shot over the drink – there is an option to bale out on the right, but what you gonna do? – and into sand back-right of the green. Linn Grant calmly follows her. We’re off, then. Three days of drama about to unfold in front of our startled eyes. May the best team win.
Good morning and welcome to our live hole-by-hole text coverage of the 18th edition of the Solheim Cup. After dramatic victories at Gleneagles in 2019 and Inverness Club, Ohio in 2021, the cream of European golf attempt to make it three consecutive victories for the first time in tournament history at Finca Cortesin in Spain. It’s already hopping at the first tee with the sun only just peeking up into view, and here are the pairings for the morning foursomes (Europe first, all times BST) … not long now. It’s on!
7.10 am: Linn Grant and Maja Stark v Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang
7.22 am: Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall v Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee
7.33 am: Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist v Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz
7.44 am: Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen v Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight