Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz etched their names into Solheim Cup folklore on Friday morning at Bernardus Golf, combining to defeat Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 4&3 in a commanding display that saw them achieve a milestone no American pair had reached before. The victory marked a watershed moment for Team USA in the opening foursomes session, though Team Europe fought back impressively to ensure the morning concluded level at 2-2.
Hull arrived at the Dutch venue having won two of her previous three Solheim Cup encounters against Korda, including a commanding 6&4 singles triumph two years earlier. Yet on this rain-soaked morning, the English star and her partner Woad found themselves outplayed from start to finish by the American duo, who controlled the match with clinical precision after an early setback.
Beginning with a deficit after Woad claimed the opening hole with a birdie, Korda and Corpuz responded with ruthless efficiency. They reeled off three consecutive birdies beginning at the sixth hole, seizing command of the contest and never relinquishing their grip. Steady pars proved sufficient to secure the 12th and 13th, and although Woad briefly threatened a comeback with a birdie at the 14th, the Americans sealed victory with a par on the par-three 15th.
The significance of the win extended far beyond the scoreline. Korda and Corpuz became the first American pairing in Solheim Cup history to claim five foursomes victories together, and the first team from either continent to win five consecutive matches in the format. Their combined record now stands at 5-0 in foursomes pairings across the 2023, 2024, and 2026 editions of the competition.
For Korda personally, the triumph added to her already impressive Solheim Cup foursomes legacy. Her seven career points in the format ranks third all-time for Team USA, a testament to her consistency in partnership play. The victory also saw Korda and Corpuz surpass the previous American record of 4.5 points held by the legendary pairing of Dottie Pepper and Brandie Burton.
We just lost a bit of momentum at the end of the front nine,Woad reflected afterwards.
They made a couple birdies and we missed some good chances. I think once you lose momentum, it can be tough to come back.
I enjoy playing with her [Corpuz] so much,Korda said of her partner.
We have a lot of fun out there. She's just such a solid player. It's really good to rely on her and it's also fun.
Lee and Coughlin stage comeback to double USA advantage
In the second match, Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin demonstrated their own resilience by overturning a deficit to defeat Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier 3&2. Europe had held the advantage until Madsen's wayward tee shot at the sixth found the water, a pivotal moment that shifted momentum decisively. Lee and Coughlin capitalised ruthlessly, winning three of the next five holes to secure a victory that doubled Team USA's lead in the session.
This whole morning we just played super consistent,Lee said.
We just kept it in the fairway, kept it on the greens, gave each other birdie chances when we could. I'm just really happy with how we performed.
Team USA captain Angela Stanford had strategically deployed Korda and Corpuz first, rewarding their perfect record together in the previous two editions of the competition. The decision proved vindicated, though Europe's response would prevent the Americans from running away with the session.
Europe fights back to level the morning
The Swedish combination of Maja Stark and Linn Grant provided Team Europe's first point of the day, overcoming Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2 in a match that showcased Grant's clutch play. Racing into a four-hole lead after seven holes, Grant demonstrated her nerve by holing from the bunker at the ninth to preserve their advantage. Though Zhang and Kupcho threatened a comeback by claiming consecutive holes from the 10th, Stark and Grant steadied themselves to claim the 15th and seal victory at the next.
The final match saw Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit edge past Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan 2up in a tightly contested affair that went to the final hole. The victory added to Maguire's remarkable Solheim Cup record: she has now accumulated 9.5 points from 13 matches, the highest percentage of points won in European Solheim Cup history among players with at least 10 matches played.
The tied opening session marked only the third occasion in Solheim Cup history that the morning foursomes concluded level at 2-2, leaving the biennial contest delicately balanced heading into the afternoon fourballs. According to Sky Sports' live coverage, the afternoon session was scheduled to commence at 13:05 local time, with Bernardus Golf's published timetable confirming the continuation of the four-match format.
The Friday afternoon fourballs would see Hull and Woad return to action, facing Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin, while Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez were set to challenge Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin. According to BBC Sport's coverage, the opening-day format consisted of four foursomes matches in the morning followed by four fourball matches in the afternoon, with both sessions crucial to establishing early momentum in the competition.
Television coverage and what comes next
Sky Sports Golf will provide comprehensive coverage throughout the three-day event, with at least 12 hours of live broadcasting from the opening two days. Coverage of Saturday's action begins at 6am, with the opening foursomes match scheduled to tee off at 6.40am (7.40am local time). The afternoon fourballs are set to commence at 12.05pm (1.05pm local time), with coverage continuing until the final putt drops.
Sunday's singles matches will begin at 9am (10am local time), with the opening tee shot at 10.10am (11.10am local time). The full three-day Solheim Cup will run through Sunday, September 13, 2026, with Team Europe bidding to reclaim the trophy from Team USA under the captaincy of Anna Nordqvist.
