Solheim Cup Scores, Leaderboard And Live Updates: USA Lead After Nelly Korda Wins Second Successive Game

HULL AND GRANT NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME MAGIC

Hull and Grant are still battling away and are on the par 4 13th with a chance of a birdie, they need something special quickly. Zhang’s putt races but Andrea Lee drains her impressive downhill birdie effort before Grant follows it in. USA stay up four up in the final game with five holes left.

EUROPE’S BEST CHANCE OF GETTING SOMETHING IS NOW PENULTIMATE GAME

Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark are two down with six holes left. They are putting out on the 13th where Pedersen has a birdie putt which slides by giving Sarah Schmelzel a chance to go three up which she converts impressively.

ROSE ZHANG’S PUTTER CONTINUES TO DO DAMAGE 

Rose Zhang’s putter continue to hammer the visitors. She has holed a couple of big ones and just nailed an eagle putt on the 13th to put USA four up against Hull and Grant after getting a read from Hull’s attempt which slid by. 

EUROPE WRAP UP EMPHATIC WIN IN THE SECOND GAME

Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom birdied the 13th to seal a 6&5 win over Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson. The pair made seven birdies and an eagle. Nordqvist, whose caddie Jack Clarke married Sagstrom last week,  said: “I crashed her wedding last week and this week I am crashing her and my caddie’s honeymoon. USA came out really strong today which we expected and one of two putts can make the difference.” Sagstrom added: “Anna played super good on the front nine and I turned it around on the back nine. I couldn’t be anymore happy to celebrate my honeymoon here.”

USA TAKING CONTROL IN THE BOTTOM GAME

Lee and Zhang have hit fine tee shots into the par 3 11th with Zhang making her birdie putt to put USA three up in the final fourball game. 

Madelene Sagstrom DRAINS BIG EAGLE PUTT 

Madelene Sagstrom has really come to the party on the back nine and has just made a big putt for an eagle on the the par 5 12th. She and Anna Nordqvist are now five up with six holes left and on course for Europe’s only point.

KORDA AND KHANG REACT TO THEIR EMPHATIC WIN

Korda said: “I hit some solid putts in the morning and I saw the green speed and how they were breaking. That was beneficial for the afternoon.”

Khang added: “We have been asking for his pairing for a while and we had so much fun out there. It was awesome having a front row seat to see some of these putts she has been making.”

KORDA COMPELTES SECOND SUCCESSIVE WIN

Korda has just made her second eagle on the back nine to win the hole and the match 6&4 with Khang against Hall and Maguire in a stunning performance.

GRANT PRODUCES EXQUISITE CHIP

With her partner Hull in trouble off the green, Linn Grant , who short-sided herself, has just produced a superb chip to about three feet to give herself a chance of making a birdie to halve the hole against Lee and Zhang after Lee made a birdie on the short par 4 10th. But the Swede shoves her putt out to the right and Europe are two down.

KORDA SET TO WRAP UP WIN ON THE PAR 5 14TH 

Korda has just stuck a four iron hybrid in close with her second shot at the par 5 14th. USA are five up and that should be enough to clinch the win in the top match. She has been on fire with Khang. 

Sarah Schmelzel in close on par 3 11th 

Sarah Schmelzel and Lauren Coughlin are one up against Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark and have a chance to potentially extend that lead after both the hosts players hit the green at the par 3 11th. Schmelzel will be last to putt and should get a read off Coughlin too as they are on a similar line. Schmelzel makes it to go two up.

USA BACK INFRONT IN CLOSE FINAL MATCH 

Andrea Lee has just made an impressive two on the par 3 ninth to put USA one up in the final game against Hull and Grant.

MAGUIRE KEEPS TOP MATCH ALIVE

USA are five up with five remaining after Maguire makes a birdie to win the hole on the the par 4 13th. Korda and Khang both had birdie putts to win the match but missed. 

BRILLIANT TEE SHOT FROM Anna Nordqvist ON THE 11TH

Europe having a tough day but are looking good in the second match where the Swedes have a very close birdie look on the par 3 11th and a chance to go four up potentially against Thompson and Lee which Nordqvist converts.  

KORDA WITH OUTRAGEOUS SHOT TO PAR 5 12TH

Korda is on a different level here. She has made four birdies and has put her approach to the par 5 12th to about 18 inches which has been conceded. Korda hit a 5 iron into the green with her second at the uphill 475 yard hole. USA are six up with six to play in the top match and have a chance to equal the biggest ever 7&5 scoreline in the competition in the fourballs.

Madelene Sagstrom has just made her first birdie 

Madelene Sagstrom makes a birdie two at the par 3 ninth to win the hole for the Swedes in the second match who go two up against Lee and Thompson.

Advantage to Lauren Coughlin at the par 5 eighth

Lauren Coughlin will be last to putt at the par 5 eighth after chipping up to around eight foot with her third as Europe can only make par. Coughlin then drains the uphill right to left putt as they go two up.

EUROPE HIT BACK QUICKLY IN THE BOTTOM MATCH

Grant has nailed a birdie at the seventh to tie their match with Hull after USA duo Lee and Zhang briefly took the lead. 

EUROPE PUT SOME BLUE ON THE BOARD IN THE SECOND GAME

Europe are up in the second match by one hole after they won the eighth where Anna Nordqvist made a four on the par five. 

USA TAKE THE LEAD IN THE THIRD MATCH 

Sarah Schmelzel’s birdie three on the seventh has put USA one up in the third match as the hosts hit the front for the first time today in this match against Pedersen and Stark. 

AWESOME DRIVE FROM KORDA ON THE PAR 4 10TH WHO FINDS GREEN

Korda has just put her drive at the 362-yard par four tenth to about 10 feet past the hole. It has coincided with USA taking the lead in the bottom match and they are course for a dominant lead on day one. Hall and Maguire by contrast have both failed to find the green in two with Hall leaving her second in the sand.

Andrea Lee helps USA take the lead in the bottom match

Andrea Lee has been having an indifferent round but has just made a birdie three on the sixth to put USA ahead for the first time today against Hull and Grant.

HALL AND MAGUIRE STILL FIGHTING ON THE PAR 3 NINTH 

Hall and Maguire both have a chance to land their first birdie of the day after putting their tee shots in close at the par 3 ninth. Nothing has dropped for them so far though and they trail Korda and Khang five down after eight holes. The Americans are down for three leaving Europe a chance to reduce the deficit which Hall makes.

KORDA AND KHANG LOOK UNSTOPPABLE

Khang has just nailed her second birdie in a row and they have a seemingly unstoppable lead of five up through eight holes in the first match against an out of sorts Hall and Maguire who don’t look best pleased – especially after sitting out the opening session. 

GRANT AND HULL DENIED BY ANOTHER BIG ZHANG PUTT

Grant and Hull are both on the green with decent birdie looks on the fifth as USA opponent Andrea Lee struggles on the long course. Partner Rose Zhang will putt first for the hosts who are one down in the final match and she drains her second big putt from distance en-route to a win in that hole.

CLOSE IN THE SECOND GAME WHICH REMAINS TIED

Lexi Thompson’s birdie on the par 5 fifth levelled the second game and all four players just made a par on the sixth. 

USA RACING AWAY WITH IT IN THE TOP MATCH

Nelly Korda and Megan Khang are now four up after seven holes after Khang’s first birdie of the round. Hall and Maguire were also in close with birdie chances but both European players are still yet to make a single birdie so far. 

LINN GRANT AND CHARLEY HULL WIN THE FOURTH

Grant and Hull have won the par 3 fourth where they have both made birdies and USA were unable to reply. Europe go back to one up in the final match.

KORDA ON A ROLL AFTER THIRD BIRDIE IN SIX HOLES

Korda is living up to her world No.1 status with a third birdie in six holes and it has left Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire trailing three-down. Europe are yet to make a single birdie in contrast in this game and it is hard to see them turning this game around right now. 

ROSE ZHANG WITH A BIG BIRDIE PUTT ON THE THIRD

The final match is back level after the third after Zhang drained a big birdie putt and Hull was unable to get hers. 

Sarah Schmelzel makes a superb par with a sand save

That is a brilliant sand save from Sarah Schmelzel on the par 3 fourth after she missed the green and her partner went in the water. Emily Pedersen then missed her par putt after hitting the green and having a birdie putt. Stark now must hole for par despite also being on the green with a birdie putt. Stark does it and the game remains tied.

GREAT PLAY FROM KORDA AT THE SIXTH FROM THE SAND

Korda will have another birdie look at the sixth after a fine approach from a bunker but both Hall and Maguire are both on the green too. Korda makes it and is on a roll.

Lauren Coughlin goes in the water at the par 3 fourth

Advantage Europe at the par 3 fourth were both Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark while Lauren Coughlin went in the drink and then Sarah Schmelzel missed left into the sand. It is a great chance for Europe to go ahead in this game which is all square. Coughlin takes three off the tee and finds the green at the second attempt.

KORDA LOOKING GOOD AFTER MAKING ANOTHER BIRDIE

Nelly Korda and Megan Zhang are two up in the top match now against Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire. It was the world No.1’s second birdie in three holes. It came after she wedged in close and converted the putt at the par five fifth.

Brilliant birdie from at the fourth Anna Nordqvist

Anna Nordqvist has holed out for a superb birdie at the fourth , leaving Lexi Thompson with a birdie putt to tie the hole which she makes and does a fist-pump but Europe remain one up.

Europe fire in fine shot at the par three fourth but Thompson fired up

Great shot from Anna Nordqvist at the par 3 fourth where she will have a good look at potentially her second birdie of the day after opening with a birdie which has put the Europeans ahead, one up. Lexi Thompson then replies with a superb short iron of her own to close range for USA. 

Lee and Zhang scrambling to make par on the first

Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang both failed to hit the green at the first in two and are scrambling to make par. Lee’s putt for a four has missed. Zhang’s putt, from shorter range, has also missed leaving Hull and Maguire shorter putts for the win on the first. Hull holes out and Europe are one up.

US DODGE A BULLET IN THE OPENING FOURBALL 

Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire blew putts apiece there at the fourth to get their match back to level and they remain one down against Nelly Korda and Megan Khang in the opening match.

HULL LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK AND MAKES GOOD START

Linn Grant and Charley Hull take on Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang in the final four ball today and both Europeans are on the green in two and in decent shape.

ALL MATCHES NOW OFF

Advantage USA in the bottom match. Linn Grant is quite far back and Hull is in the fairway bunker. Andrea Lee is the only player to find the fairway. 

ALL SMILES IN THE CROWD 

OBAMA OFFERING HIS SUPPORT

MISSED CHANCE

After getting pumped up on the 1st tee, Khang maybe needs to take a few deep breaths. She spurns a glorious chance for a win at the 2nd, her putt from just a few feet lipping out hard. 

GOOD START FOR EUROPE

Europe get the start they wanted. Very early days but they take a lead in the second match courtesy of Nordqvist’s putt. 

ALL SQUARE UP TOP

Maguire has a chance to win the first hole, but her putt is a poor one – a bit of a pull. Match two teed off very promptly… more whipping up the crowd. 

FOURBALLS ARE OFF 

Maguire hits what looks like a hybrid into the 1st. It’s a beauty. A pumped Khang goes left – well left. Hall goes bunker to bunker. Korda with a 7-iron to 18 feet. Maguire in closest after being the first to play. We’re underway in the fourballs… 

“AWESOME MORNING”

Stacy Lewis describes the morning’s foursomes as “awesome”. It was for America, not so good for Europe. There’s no need to panic, yet. I think Pettersen would take 5-3 after the first day’s play. She’s still smiling and looks relaxed. Why would you worry when you’ve seen your team come back from 4-0 down before? Right, back to the action… 

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Stand by for aggressive golf. There will be lots of flag hunting with four balls in play. It doesn’t mean you can play recklessly, just that you get a nice green light to attack if your partner puts one in a good position. And if they don’t, and your opponents get one in close, you have no real choice. Attack! Great format.

The announcer, one you might recognise from DC United games, is just as excited as the fans. After the players are announced, Leona Maguire finds the fairway. Georgia Hall takes a tight line and finds the fairway bunker. 

Now for Nelly Korda. Fairway. Obviously. Megan Khang whips up the crowd. Crowd obliges. Fairway. Fist pumps. Let’s go…

“Let’s go USA”

Barack Obama is in the house. “Let’s go USA,” he shouts. The former US president, a keen golfer, is a member at the club. 

WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING? 

HOW TO CLOSE OUT A MATCH 

EUROPE CLAIM FIRST POINT

USA LEAD 3-1

It was a great fightback from Ewing and Kupcho, but it’s to no avail. 

VU MAKES IT 3-0

The Americans close out a third match. That one had been coming – and it’s another 3&2 victory. All eyes now on the third match. They’ll feel desperate to take a point after being 4UP. It’s tense. 

Ewing finds the putting surface – a touch fortunate with the bounce. 25 feet birdie chance coming up. Pedersen isn’t in the mood to relinquish the lead. She’s surely closed the door there with an arrow at the flag. The ball nestles about two feet away. 

EUROPE SURVIVE 

Ewing’s putt stays out – so USA stay 1DOWN. It was more like 6 feet to be fair, and very slippery. 

THE PAIRINGS ARE OUT

EUROPE UNDER PRESSURE

Kupcho fires one close on 17 and Stark can’t reply from the thick rough. It looks as though Ewing could have a putt of some 4 feet to square the match up. Huge moment coming up. 

EUROPE CLINGING ON 

They may have come back from 0-4 last year, but Europe will be desperate to take at least a point from the opening session. Pedersen and Stark are wobbling after being 4UP through five. 

4-0 STILL ON 

Drama on 16. Pedersen has a rush of blood. Stark is left with six feet after her partner smashes her effort past the hole from no more than 20 feet. In the end, it’s a half. Pretty much all eyes are now on this match. What a bonus point this would be for the USA. 

USA, USA, USA 

GETTING BETTER FOR USA

And now Ewing and Kupcho are just 1DOWN. They’ve battled back from 4DOWN and there’s still a chance USA can make it a clean sweep after the first session. Early warning signs for Europe. 

ZHANG MAKES IT TWO 

USA GO 2-0 UP

Another point quickly follows – Rose Zhang closing out match 2. 

HERE’S HOW MATCH 1 ENDED

RED ON THE BOARD

KORDA/CORPUZ WIN

The first point goes to USA. They win the last three holes of the match to take it 3&2. That was a classy finish. A high-quality match ends with Corpuz converting for birdie.

USA ON A ROLL

Korda does what Hull can’t do – she holes from short range on the 15th. It’s all looking rather nice for US now, 2UP in the top match. It’s looking more and more like 3-1 after the first session. 

BIG CHANCE GOES

Ally Ewing wastes a great chance to cut the deficit on the 13th. Kupcho’s approach deserved better. Europe remain 3UP. As things stand, it’s likely to be the only match that goes their way this morning.

IT’S GOING RED

Rose Zhang with a beauty on the 14th. She sends a pitch into the par-5 14th that checks up at about 15 feet from the hole. Europe need to make it from a similar range and hope Coughlin misses. The scoreboard has started to turn red when it matters most. 

MORE TROUBLES ON 14

Boutier is in the drink now, and Europe aren’t in a position to give the US gifts. It’s looking good for the US now, up in three, down in one. 

MASSIVE PUTT!

Redemption for Korpuz who holes the putt on 14. Now 1UP with four holes to play. That was clutch. 

NEARING THE END FOR MATCH 1

Back on the 14th. Hull playing the 4th shot. 84 yards over the water. Safe. For a moment, it looked like it might spin back into the drink. Korda plays her 4th from closer in and she can take a lower route – just a 6/10. It will be a putt-off. 

WHAT A MISTAKE

Drama on the par-5 15th. First Henseleit finds the water with her second, then Corpuz follows her in. That has to go down as a mistake. Things are starting to get tense out there. 

A SHOUT OUT TO FORMBY LADIES 

Support for Team Europe on show on a blue and gold flag – ‘Good luck from Formby Ladies.’ I can confirm, as Catriona matthew says in commentary, that Formby Ladies is one very fine golf course and well worth adding to your list if you haven’t been there. Talking of great courses, this Trent Jones layout looks fantastic, too, with those par 3s particularly easy on the eye. 

USA ON THE MARCH

Suddenly USA are leading 3-1… then it’s back to 2-1. Henseleit with a crucial putt in the top match to level things up. This match has been topsy-turvy. Which way will it go? On the bottom match, Europe have a bad time. Two bad times and they will have to give USA a hole. 

BACK TO TWO

Kupcho has a chance to get another one back in match three – just misses to the right. It matters not because Pedersen can’t convert from 10 feet. A comeback is being staged – US were 4DOWN remember. 

MORE ON THAT LAST GROUP

ONE MATCH BEING TIMED

The final match is on the clock – they’ve fallen behind. There’s a suggestion Carlota Ciganda might be the reason for that. She has a reputation, apparently, for not being the quickest of players. Anyway, the USA lead that match 1UP through eight holes. To provide a bit of context, match three are playing the 11th. 

PROBLEMS FOR THE FANS

We’ve seen fans trickling in through the gates this morning. This statement probably explains why it’s not as noisy as you’d expect out there. 

KORDA/CORPUZ REGAIN LEAD

The credit here goes to the 2023 US Women’s Open champion, who holes her putt from 18 feet. Henseleit can’t follow her in and the US go back into the lead in the top match. 

HULL ON A ROLL 

Hull has a putt from 5 feet to make it two in a row. Flag in. Downhill, bit of a break to the right…. makes it! It’s now tied in the top match. Onto the 12th hole in the top match. Tough to call, this one.

BIG FROM HULL & BOUTIER 

Charley hole holes an important putt from about 16 feet to reduce the deficit. Back to 1UP USA in the top match. And there’s more good news for Europe as Valenzuela holes for par on the 9th. It was about 3 feet that one, Boutier’s first effort a touch aggressive.  

REACHING THE TURN

So, as the first match finishes the 9th, USA currently leads 3-1 (that’s to say, they’re up in three and down in one). Valenzuela and Boutier are 1DOWN as they arrive on this beautiful par 3. Coughlin just goes through the green, leaving Zhang with a chip; Valenzuela with a little held-off shot is all over the flag – rolls out to about 20 feet, maybe a little less. 

USA 3-1 EUROPE

That’s how it stands, although we’ve already seen the scores changed quickly. 

KORDA 2UP

They were down early, but Nelly Korda shows her class there with a deft chop from the back of the 9th – that was not easy. It means the World No.1 and Allisen Corpuz make the turn 2UP.

Meanwhile, Pedersen restores Europe’s 4UP lead in match three with a mid range putt on the 7th. 

WORLD NO.1 DIALLED IN

Don’t forget this one… Nelly Korda and her partner are beginning to take control in their match. 

PIN HUNTING 

This is the beauty of this contest – take aim and fire. We’ve seen lots of this already and both sides trade early punches. 

EWING/KUPCHO STOP THE ROT

Ewing and Kupcho are now just 3DOWN through six holes. A bit sloppy there from Europe. Pedersen lips out from about 5 feet – that will annoy them as it gives their opponents a glimmer of hope. Losing to a par is never good. 

HORSESHOE ALERT

Linn Grant can’t hole another one – just misses the par putt, which leaves Schmelzel to tidy up from close range. USA go 2UP in that match. 

SHOT OF THE DAY SO FAR…

We won’t see many fairway bunker shots better than this this weekend. 

It’s tight 

Boutier is in the zone. She answers the US birdie with a lovely putt of her own on the 5th. This match is producing the most quality so far – a very high bar set. Lilia Vu and Sarah Schmelzel are now 1UP in the bottom match. 

EUROPE GO 3UP THROUGH 4

Schmelzel not playing like a rookie – she hits a stunner into the 3rd. Moments later, we almost see Valenzuela hole out at the par-5 5th. Kupcho and Ewing are now 3DOWN in match number 3. 

EUROPE UP IN 1, THREE TIED

Grant with her first putt on the match on 2. It’s a good one. Strokes it in from 6 feet to convert Ciganda’s lovely approach. Meanwhile, Europe go 2UP in the third match courtesy of Pedersen’s putt on 3. The first match has reached the par-5 5th, and it goes to the US. Europe rather make a mess of that hole. 

3-PUTT BOGEY

No sooner does Korda level things up, than she misses from 7 feet on the 4th. Corpuz was rather too aggressive with her effort from range, and that’s a 3-putt bogey to gift Hull/Hen the hole. 

ALL MATCHES NOW UNDERWAY

The players are being announced onto the tee like boxers. I like it. The PA announcer certainly does. Ciganda over does it with her fade – finds the right rough. Lilia Vu responds with a beauty. Advantage US there. Meanwhile, Korda wins the 3rd with a par and Zhang makes one on 2 to go IUP alongside Coughlin. 

WHAT A FIRST HOLE

Par 4, 430 yards. Some players hitting woods into the 1st. It’s not an easy one to start – no easing the players in with something gentle. It makes for great viewing. 

TAYLOR SWIFT IS BOOMING OUT

It’s 2024 and of course we have loud music on the 1st tee. Some players appear to ask for silence, others whip up the crowd and ask them to keep the cheers going whilst they hit. Personal choice. Might give this a go. Maybe lots of noise provides a distraction, helping you to clear all the negative thoughts. Would make for an interesting piece of research. 

Henseleit with a dart

Henseleit has come out swinging beautifully – this time with a dart of a wedge into the 2nd. Korda misses from about 12 feet. Hull tidies up from about 3 feet to give Europe an early lead in this one. 

HOW’S THIS FOR A NERVE SETTLER? 

What nerves! The perfect tee shot will make Esther Henseleit feel like a million dollars. Hull fires her approach slightly long, leaving Henseleit a tricky chip from the back of the green. The German plays a beauty and the putt is conceded. Corpuz has a putt from about 15 feet for the win… slides by. Hole halved. 

RESPECT 

Let battle commence. 

WE’RE OFF

Corpuz leaks one into the fairway bunker. Hull, meanwhile will like where her partner has left her – on the short stuff. 

HERE WE GO THEN

Goosebumps. It’s rowdy. The players are coming out to ‘Eye Of The Tiger’. As you’d expect, Team Europe fans are well outnumbered. That won’t bother Suzann Pettersen. Can the US stop Europe making it four in a row? I have a feeling this is going to be a thriller. I also have a feeling it might get a little prickly at times – not sure why, but I think the US are sick of being on the losing end. We could have real fireworks. The first shot is moments away…

THIS MORNING’S FOURSOMES MATCH-UPS

NEARLY READY!

The 1st tee shot will be struck in just 10 minutes’ time and the atmosphere is building on the first tee.

Hello and welcome to the opening day’s play at the 2024 Solheim Cup! We have a very special three days ahead of us in Virginia, where the stars of the women’s game battle it out in one of the sport’s greatest events.

Follow along on golfmonthly.com all weekend for the latest scores and updates from the 19th Solheim Cup.