Solheim Cup 2024: day one – live | Solheim Cup

A little aside about this morning’s foursomes results and the ongoing backward slide of Celine Boutier in the Solheim Cup. Since she went 4-0-0 on her debut in 2019, the Frenchwoman has gone a slightly worrying 1-5-1.

The third match of the session sees this morning’s only winning European team reunited. Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark are up against the US rookie combo of Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel. Meanwhile, Khang misses her golden chance to win 2 – the opener remains all square.

Korda/Khang A/S Hall/Maguire (2)
Lee (Alison)/Thompson v Norqvist/Sagstrom 1UP (1)

Anna Nordqvist has 12 feet for birdie and a win on the first. Bang in the middle. Early blue on the board. Nordqvist is a European Solheim Cup legend who has top-scored and also made a hole in one. She’s also a playing vice captain this week.

Meghan Khang’s ball is tight to the flag on 2. Partner Nelly Korda is further away. Europe will have two long distance birdie putts on the same green but they might need to hole one of them for a half.

Europe’s captain Suzann Pettersen is bullish as she talks to Amy Rodgers on TV. “We’re trending,” she says, referring to an improved first session compared to last year. “It’s progression. I thought it was a good morning. We’re on the board. Fun to see the girls go out there and play. We have a strong team out there this afternoon.”

The first hole in the first match is halved. Korda could only make par and Maguire’s birdie putt was makeable but her stroke was very tentative. Europe will hope she just needs warming up. Her Solheim Cup (indeed, her career matchplay record) is very, very good. But her form is poor.

The second match sees the all-Swedish pairing of Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom take on Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson. Nordqvist is straight and solid from the tee so captains have tended to play her most often in the foursomes but her fourball record is better (5-3-0). Sagstrom hadn’t won a point on Friday or Saturday in her first two appearances but won 1.5 points from two fourball starts last year. TV’s Karen Stupples makes the shrewd point that the Swedes have the potential to birdie different holes.

The first quartet has taken aim at the first green. Leona Maguire went first and found it. Meghan Kang missed left and has made an early journey toward the second tee. Georgia Hall is in sand. Nelly Korda has joined Maguire in putting for birdie but the Irishwoman’s ball is the nearest.

Stacy Lewis has a quick chat with TV on the first tee. “I love where we are,” she says. “We’re doing good.”

Plenty of noise for Nelly Korda on the tee. She finds the fairway. Then partner Meghan Khang whips the crowd up yet more and tells them to keep cheering. The pair of them dance off the end of the first tee in a manner vaguely reminiscent of Boo Weekley riding his imaginary horse at the Ryder Cup in 2008.

A reminder for any readers who might be new to the Solheim Cup. This morning’s games involved one ball each and alternate shots. The afternoon both golfers play a ball and the best score counts for their pairing.

The first match out this late afternoon (for us) is Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire up against Nelly Korda and Megan Khang. The European duo played together in both of the last two Solheim Cups in the fourballs (but just the once both times). Most importantly they won both of them. Europe would, of course, love a repeat. Barack Obama is on the first tee to the acclaim of Stacy Lewis and the crowds. “Let’s go USA”! that famous deep voice barks.

Thanks Scott. A slight improvement for Europe on its start 12 months ago (in arrears by a score of 3-1 now as against 4-0 last September), but a vast upgrade for myself. On Friday morning in Spain I contrived to get stuck in a lift on the way to the course. It is alarming how what begins as a funny incident rapidly becomes a panicky one. The same could have been said for Suzann Pettersen’s state of mind when her team was trounced in those foursomes but she and they responded in style. The big question of this afternoon is: how will they rebound from this year’s early deficit?

… and with that, my work here today is done. The afternoon rollercoaster will be driven by our old friend Matt Cooper. Enjoy, enjoy, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the second day of foursomes.

5.05pm BST: Nelly Korda / Megan Khang v Georgia Hall / Leona Maguire
5.20pm BST: Alison Lee / Lexi Thompson v Anna Nordqvist / Madelene Sagström
5.35pm BST: Lauren Coughlin / Sarah Schmelzel v Emily Pedersen / Maja Stark
5.50pm BST: Andrea Lee / Zhang v Linn Grant / Charley Hull

3&2 Nelly Korda / Allisen Corpuz v Esther Henseleit / Charley Hull
3&2 Rose Zhang / Lauren Coughlin v Céline Boutier / Albane Valenzuela
Ally Ewing / Jennifer Kupcho v Emily Kristine Pedersen / Maja Stark 2UP
3&2 Lilia Vu / Sarah Schmelzel v Linn Grant / Carlota Ciganda
USA 3-1 Europe

Jennifer Kupcho gives her birdie putt a good roll, but it turns to the left on its last couple of rotations, and Maja Stark is told to pick up her coin. Europe get some blue on the board at last! And hats off to Emily Pedersen, whose game almost completely unravelled along the back nine, only for her to gather it all back together with that pressure-applying putt on 17 and carpe-diem approach at the last. That’s the beauty of golf, ladies and gentlemen!

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 2UP (F)

Ally Ewing’s iron into 18 isn’t all that, a push that only just grabs the right-hand edge of the green. But she gets a fortunate kick into the heart of the dancefloor, and will have a look at birdie from 25 feet. However Emily Pedersen is stepping up to the plate when it really matters, and screeches Europe’s second to a couple of feet! It should be enough to secure Europe’s first point … but this is golf we’re talking about here, and there’s many a slip etc. If Jennifer Kupcho rakes in this birdie putt, all bets will be off!

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (17)

Carlota Ciganda’s downhill birdie putt on 16 trundles five feet past. Linn Grant makes the one coming back, but there’s no way a clutch putter as good as Lilia Vu is missing the birdie chance set up for her by Sarah Schmelzel. In it goes, and the USA have another point on the board!

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (17)
3&2 Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (F)

Maja Stark and Jennifer Kupcho both stripe their drives down 18. They’re side by side. Such a crucial match for Europe. Meanwhile back on the par-three 16th, the jig may be up for the visitors, as while Linn Grant finds the heart of the green, Sarah Schmelzel smoothly sends her tee shot to three feet. Very close to game over.

Emily Pedersen finally gathers herself, and so nearly in spectacular style. She’s inches away from curling in a huge left-to-right swinger from the front of 17. That’s a tap-in for par, enough to rattle Ally Ewing into pulling her short birdie effort wide left. Ewing’s flat stick is costing the USA dear in this match. A salute to Pedersen, who came good there in the clutch after an extremely sticky patch. Europe get away with a huge one, and are now guaranteed half a point. Baby steps, little green shoots.

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (17)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (15)

Jennifer Kupcho is up first. From the middle of the 17th fairway, she flings an absolute dart at the flag to five feet. Serious pressure on Maja Stark, who has a dismal lie. Stark can only swish out to the edge of the green. The USA on the verge of completing a huge comeback here. Meanwhile back on 15, Carlota Ciganda has the opportunity to snatch back another hole, but her 15-foot birdie putt is always missing to the right. Sarah Schmelzel tidies up from four feet to secure the half, and in the anchor match, the hosts are two up with three holes to play.

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (16)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (15)

Ally Ewing becomes the first player to hit a shot at 17 today. Her drive is perfect, too, striped down the middle. Emily Pedersen is up next, and she sends her fairway wood into the cabbage down the left. Pedersen is all over the place right now. Even if Europe hang on for a point, you’d imagine Suzann Pettersen will take her out of the firing line this afternoon.

Hats off to Maja Stark, who raps her par saver confidently into the cup. Emily Pedersen offers her a fist-bump of thanks. Stark got Europe out of a hole of their own making there. Jennifer Kupcho tidies up for par. Both pairs, in their own separate ways, will feel they got away with a big one there. Europe hold onto their slender lead.

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (16)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (14)

… but that doesn’t account for the brilliance of Ally Ewing. She lobs up delicately from the bottom of the grassy swale, a wedge so wonderfully judged that it nearly bounces into the cup. Instead it rolls a couple of feet past. Par most likely secured … but not for Europe, as Emily Pedersen, whose short game has simply crumbled to dust, races a hysterical downhill putt six feet past the hole. This could turn into a huge matchplay switcheroo, and a massive blow for Europe!

Jennifer Kupcho segues from the sublime to the ridiculous, clanking her tee shot at 16 down a swale to the front right of the green. She’s not left her partner with too much green to play with. Maja Stark finds the heart of the green. Advantage Europe there … and there’s a little chink of light emerging from the anchor match, with Carlota Ciganda tidying up for birdie from four feet at 14. She punches the air in celebration, and a situation that was beginning to look desperate for Europe is now … well, it’s still not great, but it’s looking slightly more promising than it did a couple of minutes ago.

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (15)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (14)

Ally Ewing cradles the putt to kick-in distance, and Europe’s big lead is further eroded. With the Americans in control of the anchor match, and already two points to the good, the Scandinavian pair really need to dig deep here. Should they not secure a point, having been four up after five holes, and again four up after eight, the reverberations will be felt throughout the European team.

Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (15)
3UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (13)

Yeah, European nerves are already jangling. Emily Pedersen has looked shaky on the greens; now the problem is extending to her wedges. She duffs her chip from the edge of the green, the ball barely making it ten feet. Not sure why she didn’t putt that. The colour drains from her face. It’s still Europe’s turn. Maja Stark’s long par effort is always dying off to the right, and the USA have two putts to win the hole from 12 feet. What a mess Europe have made of this hole … although you can argue that Jennifer Kupcho forced the mistakes with her brilliant approach.

Jennifer Kupcho is not letting this lie. On 15, Ally Ewing and Emily Pedersen both find the thick stuff up a bank to the right of the fairway. Kupcho is 140 yards away. She muscles a stunning second out of the thick stuff and straight at the flag, ten feet shy. Maja Stark, 20 yards further up the hole, feathers one that only just reaches the fringe. The USA with a big advantage here, and should they reduce the arrears to one, European nerves will seriously start to jangle. A reminder: Europe were four up after five holes in this match.

Par is enough for Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin on the par-three 16th. Albane Valenzuela has the chance to extend the match with a downhill birdie putt, but her touch on the greens has been off all morning, and this one sails four feet past. Zhang confidently rams home from five feet, and it’s all over. The USA notch their second point of the morning foursomes!

3&2 Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (F)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 2UP (14)
3UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (13)

Maja Stark nearly drains a 100-foot eagle putt on 14. But it rolls eight feet past, and Emily Pedersen, who has been getting a little twitchy on the greens, can’t make the one coming back. Ally Ewing, who passed up a big chance to cut the arrears on the previous hole, makes no mistake this time. And the momentum is firmly with the USA across the board, because Linn Grant’s tee shot at 13 goes up against the face of a bunker, Carlota Ciganda can’t reach the green in regulation, and the USA take full control of the anchor match.

3UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (15)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 2UP (14)
3UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (13)

Celine Boutier steers in a very missable downhill right-to-left slider on 15. It’s a crucial par putt, because it salvages a half and ensures the USA still have some work to do. But the hosts go dormie three, and are guaranteed at least half a point.

3UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (15)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (13)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (12)

Esther Henseleit stands over her downhill right-to-left slider on 16 … and overhits it, taking out most of the break and sending her ball four feet past. It’s still Europe’s honour, and Charley Hull tidies up to force Allisen Corpuz into making her birdie putt if the USA are to close this out here. She sizes it up, and … it’s never missing! Korda and Corpuz win the last three holes of the match to register a 3&2 victory. Talk about hitting form at exactly the right time!

3&2 Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (F)
3UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (13)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (12)

Nelly Korda gently presses her golf shoe on Europe’s neck. A 9-iron drawn gently into the par-three 16th. She’s pin high, three feet from the flag. Charley Hull is going to go down swinging, though, in both senses: she replies by sending her effort over the flag to five feet. This match could be over very soon; it could also be back on. Now then.

Charley Hull misses a short par putt on 15. Carlota Ciganda can’t rake in a birdie putt from the fringe on 12 with Lilia Vu right by the hole in three. And Albane Valenzuela isn’t able to put any pressure on Lauren Coughlin by making the long par putt on 14. All of a sudden, this is looking very promising for the USA, with only Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark showing any signs of resistance.

2UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (15)
3UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (13)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (12)

Jennifer Kupcho sends a glorious second at 13 to four feet. Pressure on Maja Stark, who responds by whipping out of a fairway bunker and using the camber of the green to gather her ball, right-to-left, to six feet. But Emily Pedersen takes a tentative prod at the downhill birdie putt, and it’s always dying off to the left. That opens the door for Ally Ewing … but she smacks into the metaphorical frame, ramming an overly aggressive four-footer slightly off line, the pace ensuring it horseshoes out rather than dropping. Big escape for Europe there.

Celine Boutier, dropping and hitting four into 14, has to get close with her wedge. That’s why she takes an absolute age over the shot, checking yardages, discussing tactics with her caddie. Then it transpires it’s Rose Zhang’s turn anyway! Zhang chips to ten feet, and Europe are in serious trouble now. Boutier only just gets her wedge over the water, but finds the green. Europe need to make their 15-foot putt and hope Lauren Coughlin misses.

From the centre of the 14th fairway, Lauren Coughlin plays it safe and lays up. Albane Valenzuela does no such thing, going for the green and taking on the water. She doesn’t catch her shot at all, and the ball’s destined to plonk in the centre of the lake. Serious advantage to the USA here, two up already as they are.

1UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (14)
2UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (12)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (11)

Allisen Corpuz walks in her par putt on 14! That’s redemption for the 2023 US Open champion after carelessly following Esther Henseleit into the drink. The USA take the lead again in this see-saw opening rubber. Meanwhile better news for Europe on 12, as the Scandi duo of Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark calmly and carefully use up their shots to secure the hole in the wake of the USA’s error from the teebox.

1UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (14)
2UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (12)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (10)

Here’s someone who’ll not be put on the clock any time soon: Nelly Korda, who loves nothing better than getting on with the job. The no-faff world number one (there’s got to be a correlation there) chips the USA’s fourth at 14 to 12 feet, plenty inside Charley Hull’s wedge in. Another big putting contest coming up, and while the USA have the advantage here, Europe will be pleased that they’re still in with a shout, because their dreams on this hole looked like disappearing into the lake along with Esther Henseleit’s ball.

Trouble also for the USA in match three, as Jennifer Kupcho’s errant drive on 12 finds a penalty area. The hosts in severe danger of checking their momentum with an unforced error. Meanwhile on 13, Rose Zhang sends a forensic approach from 170 yards to three feet, setting up Lauren Coughlin for a birdie putt she’s never going to miss. In it goes, and she punches the air in delight. The USA taking control of match two after a long back-and-forth struggle.

Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (13)
2UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 2UP (11)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (10)

Bother for Europe at the par-five 14th. Esther Henseleit finds the water guarding the front of the green. She thought that was homing in on the flagstick, and looks accordingly perplexed. But then Allisen Corpuz attempts the same shot, and though her ball lands on the green, it kicks back off the bank and into the drink as well! Ripples caused in the gallery as well as the water. Wow.

Have to say, NBC’s coverage of this event is beyond erratic. Long passages of filler and pointless graphics, followed by short bursts of hectic action. Speaking of hectic action, Carlota Ciganda is trying her best to speed up; if she gets a second warning from the referee, Europe will lose a hole. Her captain Suzann Pettersen arrives on the scene to advance the need for speed.

Albane Valenzuela’s second at 12 didn’t get wet, and Celine Boutier is able to bump a chip up the bank to eight feet. A chance to salvage the situation … and they’ll need to make birdie because while Rose Zhang can’t get close from the fringe at the back, Lauren Coughlin rams in her birdie putt. Valenzuela pulls her putt and the USA take charge of the second match. Meanwhile another hole slips by for Europe at 11, and Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark, who were four up after five holes, are now just two up. Better news for Europe in the lead match, as Nelly Korda dunks into a greenside bunker, leaving the door open for Esther Henseleit to walk in a 15-foot birdie putt and level their match again.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (13)
1UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 2UP (11)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (9)

The anchor match is now out of position, more than a hole behind, and they’ve been put on the clock. Carlota Ciganda, ladies and gentlemen. They’ll need to get a wriggle on, but doing so doesn’t compromise their golf, as both Ciganda and Lilia Vu find the heart of the par-three 9th. Meanwhile trouble for Europe on the par-five 12th as Albane Valenzuela tugs her second towards the water on the left. Lauren Coughlin takes advantage by firing her second straight at the flag, the ball bounding through the green but stopping on the fringe at the back.

Nelly Korda hasn’t made a putt yet … so it’s good news for the US that it’s Allisen Corpuz’s turn at 12. She walks in her downhill 18-footer, and Esther Henseleit can’t match her from a similar distance. Charley Hull had dragged Europe back to parity with those back-to-back birdie putts, but the hosts have regained the lead again in short order. This morning’s matches are swinging like a pendulum do. Roger Miller references, the kids can’t get enough of them.

1UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (12)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (10)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (10)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (8)

A putting contest from 20 feet set up on the par-five 12th. It’ll be especially crucial for the US pair of Korda and Corpuz, who won’t want to ship a third hole in a row.