Solheim Cup 2024: day one – live | Solheim Cup

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)

USA 1-0 Europe

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.

Maja Stark is this close to making another sensational putt. Her 35-footer across 9, over a ridge with a lot of right-to-left swing, somehow defies gravity to stop on the lip. She holds her head in her hands, in a mixture of shock and amusement. The Europeans enjoying themselves … until Jennifer Kupcho rolls in a downhill 15-footer for birdie to cut the USA’s deficit to three.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (11)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (9)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (9)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (7)

Another Nelly Korda birdie opportunity goes by, this time at the par-three 11th. That gives Charley Hull the opportunity to tickle one in from six feet after Esther Henseleit’s fine tee shot. She makes it. Consecutive birdie putts for Hull, and it’s been a fine few minutes for the visiting team.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (11)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (9)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 4UP (8)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (7)

The USA can’t get up and down from the fringe at 9. That means Europe have two putts to win the hole … but Celine Boutier races her 12-foot birdie putt three past. That’s super careless, and puts her partner under severe pressure. But Albane Valenzuela is up to the task, and wipes the red off the board in match two. Meanwhile Ally Ewing needs to make a ten-footer for birdie on 8 just to halve the hole … and that one goes in as well. Some big putts being made here.

1UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (10)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (9)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 4UP (8)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (6)

Nelly Korda blows her cheeks out in frustration as yet another birdie putt slips by the hole. To be fair, this one wasn’t expected to drop, from 20 feet, but the world number one sets herself exacting standards. And her annoyance doubles when Charley Hull rattles one in from half the distance. It does the full 360 before dropping, but drop it does, and Hull bounces off the green in delight.

1UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (10)
1UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (8)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 4UP (7)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (6)

Lauren Coughlin sends her tee shot at the downhill par-three 9th over the back right of the green. A difficult chip coming up. Albane Valenzuela’s effort is much better, landing softly 12 feet to the left of the flag. Birdie chance. Advantage Europe, but then we thought this here in the lead match, and the US escaped with a half.

Maja Stark made some big putts last year; she’s doing it again this morning. She walks in a 20-footer on 7 to restore Europe’s four-up advantage in the third match. Meanwhile in the second, Lauren Coughlin drains a 15-footer, Albane Valenzuela can’t respond, and there’s a good splash of red on the board now.

2UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (9)
1UP Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela (8)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 4UP (7)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (5)

Allisen Corpuz gets lucky on the par-three 9th. A thin tee shot bounds through the green and for a second looks like leaping into the drink behind. But her ball snags in the thick rough. Esther Henseleit finds the green, though she’s further away from the flag than Corpuz, and the US hand the initiative over to Charley Hull, who nearly drains the long birdie putt. Nelly Korda can’t chip in – the lie was no good – but the hole is halved.

2UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (9)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (7)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (6)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (5)

Lilia Vu can’t make the 12-footer for par on 5. Linn Grant walks the birdie putt in anyway, and cuts the USA’s lead in half. But there’s a really careless three-putt bogey for Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark on 6, Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho walking off the green with an extra bounce in their step, the gift checking Europe’s momentum in that match. And there are unforced errors by Europe on 8, Charley Hull hoicking a gap wedge into a greenside bunker, Esther Henseleit flubbing her attempt to splash out. She picks up the ball and the hosts double their advantage in the lead match. They’ve won three of the last four holes.

2UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (8)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (7)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (6)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (5)

A big opportunity for Europe to halve the deficit in the final match. Lilia Vu carves an uncharacteristically poor approach into a greenside bunker. Carlota Ciganda responds by sending her wedge over the flag to five feet. Sarah Schmelzel splashes out from the sand to 12 feet, but the USA will be putting first and surely need to hole out for par if they’re to have any chance of saving the hole.

Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit are always out of position on 7. A poor tee shot, an approach pulled wide left of the green, an average chip. Hull can’t rescue the situation with a 15-foot par attempt, and the hole goes to Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz.

1UP Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull (7)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (6)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 4UP (5)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (4)

Ally Ewing and Emily Pedersen pepper the flag at the par-five 5th. Pedersen eight feet away, Ewing half that distance. But then Maja Stark ramps up the pressure on the US by confidently rattling in her birdie putt. Jennifer Kupcho shoves her four-footer wide right, and this is turning into a horror show for the American pair, who go four down through five holes.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (6)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (5)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 4UP (5)
2UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (4)

A two-putt par is enough for Lilia Vu and Sarah Schmelzel on the par-three 4th. Linn Grant only just finds the front of the large green, Carlota Ciganda leaves her long putt ten feet short, and Grant’s effort to salvage the situation horseshoes out. The US double their lead.

A birdie chance for Nelly Korda on 6 from 15 feet. It’s fairly straight, but her ball stays stubbornly out on the right lip. She grimaces as yet another of her putts fails to drop. Nothing quite happening for the world number one yet.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (6)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (5)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (4)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (3)

A proper matchplay moment on 5. Boutier responds to that big Zhang birdie putt by ramming home what’s left. Europe had been thinking about winning that hole, but at least they didn’t lose it to a smash-and-grab. Meanwhile back on 3, Sarah Schmelzel delivers another is-she-really-on-debut stunner, creaming the USA’s second to three feet, another flagstick botherer. Lilia Vu, so dependable with the flat stick, isn’t missing that. And on 4, Ally Ewing misses a short putt, match three in danger of slipping out of control for her and Jennifer Kupcho. Europe three up.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (5)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (5)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 3UP (4)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (3)

Lauren Coughlin turns up the heat on Europe at the par-five 5th, knocking her approach to 12 feet. But Albane Valenzuela responds majestically, nearly slam-dunking her iron for eagle. One bounce and the ball pings off the flagstick and back to six feet. Advantage Europe … until Rose Zhang makes another big putt for birdie to put the pressure back on the visitors! Celine Boutier’s simple-looking straight birdie putt suddenly looks twice as long.

A couple of big putts for Europe. Linn Grant tidies up for birdie on 2, and the last match of the morning is tied up again. Both holes won to birdie. And there’s now some clear blue water in match three, with Maja Stark creaming her second to six feet and Emily Pedersen knocking in the putt to move two up. However when Charley Hull duffs her chip from the rough to the left of 5, the die is cast and the lead match is once again tied.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (5)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (4)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 2UP (3)
Vu/Schmelzel A/S Grant/Ciganda (2)

A couple of sensational approaches on 2. Lilia Vu, one foot in a fairway bunker and the other out, grips down and manufactures a shot that screeches to a halt pin high, 12 feet from the flag. Carlota Ciganda responds by screwing a wedge from the centre of the fairway to four feet. Not so impressive on the par-five 5th, where Esther Henseleit pulls a short iron into the crowd down the left, clanking some poor punter upside the head. Happily there’s no real damage done, the dude in question laughing and smiling. But Europe in a spot of bother now.

Yeah, it’s fair to say the rookie Sarah Schmelzel isn’t consumed by opening-night nerves. She walks in a 30-footer for birdie on 1 to win the hole for the USA. But par on 3 is enough for Europe in matches two and three, and suddenly blue dominates the scoreboard again. Plenty of thrust and counter-thrust during these early exchanges.

Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull 1UP (4)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (3)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark 1UP (2)
1UP Vu/Schmelzel v Grant/Ciganda (1)

It’s advantage Europe on the par-three 4th. Charley Hull swishes her tee shot to 12 feet; Nelly Korda only just finds the green. Allisen Corpuz sends an aggressive birdie putt four feet past, and while Esther Henseleit isn’t able to make birdie, the par is enough. Nelly Korda prods at the par saver with great uncertainty. Another pull, and that’s a three-putt bogey. If Korda’s putting demons are back, that’ll be a huge blow for the hosts.

A beneficial 30 seconds of action for the USA. Europe can’t find the green in regulation on 3, allowing Corpuz and Korda to carefully and conservatively use up their two-putt allowance for par and the hole. The opening match is tied again. Meanwhile on 2, Coughlin arrows her approach to six feet, and Zhang tidies up to put the first splash of red on the board.

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

This morning’s final foursomes match turns up for work. Carlota Ciganda, Europe’s hero last time round, looks well up for the battle. So too does the US’s second rookie, Sarah Schmelzel, who dances her way out of the tunnel and onto the tee. No obvious sign of nerves there. Hey, it helps when the world number two, Lilia Vu, has your back. Ciganda smiles wryly as she carves her opening drive into thick nonsense down the right. Vu, who came so close to retaining her British Open title last month, flirts with a fairway bunker but finds the short stuff. Everyone up and running now!

Match three is out. Emily Pedersen finds the first cut down the left, as does Ally Ewing. Up on the green, Celine Boutier makes up for finding the sand by draining a 25-footer to save par. Lauren Coughlin has a 15-footer to win the hole, but races her birdie putt three feet past. It’s not conceded, but Rose Zhang tidies up, then mimes a slam dunk by way of celebration. A huge smile as she leaves the grene.

Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull 1UP (2)
Zhang/Coughlin A/S Boutier/Valenzuela (1)
Ewing/Kupcho v Pedersen/Stark

If Nelly Korda’s putter is hot, Europe watch out. But it goes cold a little too often for the world number one’s liking, and she pulls her first birdie chance of the week. Charley Hull tidies up for Europe’s birdie, and the first splash of colour on the board is blue!

Korda/Corpuz v Henseleit/ Hull 1UP (2)
Zhang/Coughlin v Boutier/Valenzuela

Up on 2, Allisen Corpuz puts the US pin high, 12 feet from the pin, but Esther Henseleit goes even closer. Three feet, maybe even closer, not quite within concession range. Back on 1, Celine Boutier dunks Europe into a greenside bunker.

Back on the tee, Europe’s other rookie, Albane Valenzuela, enjoys her first taste of Solheim Cup battle. Into the semi-rough to the left of the fairway she goes. The first US rookie takes her turn: Lauren Coughlin sends her tee shot safely down the track.

Esther Henseleit sends a crisp wedge to kick-in distance. It’s conceded for par. That leaves Allisen Corpuz with a putt for an opening birdie. Corpuz races it three feet past, but it’s fairly generously conceded for the half. A slight look of anxiety on Corpuz’s face washes over with relief. A good chance a putt of that length won’t be given come Sunday afternoon.

Korda/Corpuz A/S Henseleit/ Hull (1)

Charley Hull isn’t happy with her first shot of the week, a skinny 5-iron that scampers through the green and nestles in the fringe back right. It’s not that far from the pin, but Henseleit will be chipping. But from the sand, Nelly Korda manages to hold the green back right, and the hosts will have a look at birdie from 15 feet or so. Back on the tee, Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin, and Céline Boutier and Albane Valenzuela turn up for work. More bedlam. There’s a cracking atmosphere at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

The first foursomes match takes to the first tee! The European pair of Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull are introduced first. Warm applause for the rookie Henseleit, a big roar for Hull. Then genuine TUMULT as the world number one Nelly Korda is announced. The hollers for Allisen Corpuz aren’t nothing, either. Henseleit hits her first shot of her Solheim Cup career – and the first shot of this year’s matches – by striping one down the fairway. Corpuz sends a slightly nervous effort into a fairway bunker. We’re up and running, folks. This is on!

A reminder of the format

Preamble