Team USA’s motto leading up to the Solheim Cup is “unfinished business.” That certainly lit a fire under the American players, and the loud welcomes on the first tee only added fuel.
Friday Foursomes Recap
In the first session – Friday Foursomes – we had plenty of pairings based off data and golf ball preference. Check out our pairings page for the latest selections.
Match 1: Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz (USA) vs. Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit (EUR)
All eyes were on the first match because the highest ranking players on each team – Nelly Korda and Charley Hull – were going head-to-head. Team Europe started strong, going one up on the second hole and again on the fourth hole. However, Team USA tied the match and then won Holes #7 and #8 to go two up. There was a little back and forth between Holes #10 to #13, but then Team USA finished strong going all the way to three up through Hole #16, winning the match 3&2.
After today’s win, Korda and Corpuz are the first American pair to win three consecutive alternate shot matches, which makes it unsurprising that they’ll be paired up again tomorrow morning.
Match 2: Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin (USA) vs. Albane Valenzuela and Celine Boutier (EUR)
The second match – the first ever for Lauren Coughlin – went more smoothly for Team USA. Lauren Coughlin had a chance to get used to the craziness that is the stadium around the first tee, and she and Rose Zhang maintained their dominance throughout the entire round. By Hole #12, Team USA started a three-hole win streak and officially closed out the match on Hole #16, 3&2.
On Hole #15, Coughlin sunk a putt to maintain their three-up lead. While her lag putt on Hole #16 went by about 8 feet, Zhang sunk the putt to win the match. Yesterday, Captain Stacy Lewis said this was a purely analytical match, and while that might not be truly why they won today, it does explain how well Coughlin and Zhang complemented each other out there today. Congrats to Coughlin on winning her first Solheim Cup match point!
Match 3: Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho (USA) vs. Maja Stark and Emily Kristine Pedersen (EUR)
If we take the opposite of the second match, we have this pairing’s results. Team Europe started off strong and never relinquished their lead, ultimately winning 2 up. Team USA did their best to whittle down the lead, but it was too little too late.
Team Europe was finally on the board.
Match 4: Lilia Vu and Sarah Schmelzel (USA) vs. Linn Grant and Carlota Ciganda (EUR)
It must have been the luck of the rookies today, but Team USA had a very similar track to Coughlin’s. Only on the second hole were the two teams tied; otherwise, Team USA maintained their lead until Hole #12 when they won there and on Hole #12 to go three up.
This match also ended on Hole #16 when Sarah Schmelzel hit the perfect tee shot to three feet. Lilia Vu made the birdie putt and officially closed the match at 3&2. Congratulations to Schmelzel on her first Solheim Cup point!
The leaderboard at this point of the day was 3-1, with Team USA in the lead.
Friday Four-Ball Recap
After a quick turnaround, we were back on the first tee welcoming many familiar faces from this morning and a few new ones, including former president Barack Obama. He cheered on all the pairings as they teed off before heading back to his motorcade.
With the first tee louder this time around thanks to the improved shuttle service, plus the excitement coming off Team USA after their fruitful morning, the American players looked more comfortable this afternoon. Both teams were also more courageous, driving the par-4 green #10 and going big where they could.
Match 1: Nelly Korda and Megan Khang (USA) vs. Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire (EUR)
Nelly Korda and Megan Khang are truly #FriendshipGoals. They had an entire dance party on the first tee and skipped on down to the fairway after their tee shots. Khang always brings the energy, and she and Korda closed down the match 6&4, losing only two holes the entire time. Their celebratory handshake – which originated during their Junior Solheim Cup days – at the end of the round was the perfect end to an incredible match.
Korda’s second win today made her the first American woman to win both her matches on the first day, though some of her teammates followed soon after. Captain Stacy Lewis adds, “Korda gained 7.5 strokes this afternoon – the highest ever seen in a single session [that the stat guys] worked.”
Match 2: Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson (USA) vs. Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom (EUR)
The first tee was filled with metal music in on honor of Lexi Thompson’s exposed preferences earlier this week. It was only fitting.
As a fan favorite, Thompson pumped up the crowd and teed off to the loudest stadium thus far. While Thompson and Alison Lee had plenty of support throughout the day from the crowds, it was the pair of Swedes – Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom – from Team Europe that dominated the match. Where Team USA found trouble, Team Europe capitalized on opportunities, winning 6&5 for the second Team Europe point on the board.
Match 3: Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel (USA) vs. Emily Kristine Pedersen and Maja Stark (EUR)
Was it a bold choice to pair the two American rookies together? Perhaps, but the magic of the Solheim Cup entered the chat, and Coughlin and Schmelzel ultimately won their second Solheim Cup point today.
It was a hard-fought match with Emily Kristine Pedersen and Maja Stark – they were tied through 6 holes before Team USA began edging out Team Europe. Schmelzel had the opportunity to win the match on Hole #15 but lipped out her putt; while it wasn’t won yet, she did guarantee at least 0.5 points for Team USA. On Hole #16, Coughlin had her revenge on the putt from her previous match and sunk the 20-foot birdie putt to win.
Match 4: Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang (USA) vs. Linn Grant and Charley Hull (EUR)
Team Europe kicked off the match strong, winning the first hole and then maintaining their lead through Hole #4. After some small movements and plenty of ties, Team USA pulled ahead on Hole #9 and never stopped.
To close out the match, Andrea Lee almost holed out from her drive on #14, a par 5. The crowd went wild for her almost-albatross, and her eagle was the perfect way to win 5&4.
Solheim Cup Records Set Today
Team USA broke some records today, and with 6 points on the scoreboard compared to Team Europe’s 2, they are certainly taking care of business.
- 1990: Last time either team had a score of 6-2 going into the second round of sessions; last time two matches didn’t reach the 15th hole (referring to Four-Ball pairings Nelly Korda & Megan Khang and Anna Nordqvist & Madelene Sagstrom).
- 1998: Last time a U.S. team has won both Day 1 sessions
- 2005: Last time an American pairing was made up of two players from the same university (Rose Zhang and Andrea Lee from Stanford)
- 2015: Number of holes won by a player in a single day – Korda won 16 holes today; Korda also hit the streak of winning all 8 par 5s today.
- 2017: Last time a pair of rookies won both matches on Day 1
- Four players (Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang, Sarah Schmelzel and Lauren Coughlin) won two matches each on Day 1
- Sagstrom played in her 10th match, making her the 10th Swede to do so
All players competed today – let’s see if that’s the case tomorrow.
