Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz etched their names into Solheim Cup lore on Friday with a commanding win over England's Charley Hull and her partner Lottie Woad during the opening foursomes round. The match, played at the historic Bernardus Golf course, ended 4&3 in favor of the American duo, marking a historic milestone for both teams. Although Team Europe and Team USA each secured two points in the first session, the American pair’s performance stood out for its consistency and sheer dominance. Hull entered the day with a strong pedigree against Korda, having claimed two victories in three previous Solheim Cup encounters, including a decisive 6&4 singles win two years earlier.
Yet the opening match quickly shifted in favor of the United States when Hull and Woad fell behind after a birdie on the first hole by Woad, only to be overwhelmed by Korda and Corpuz’s relentless play. After dropping the opening hole, the Americans surged ahead, winning three of the next four holes and establishing a lead that proved unassailable.
The partnership of Korda and Corpuz proved to be a formidable force. Their win not only gave them a 4&3 victory but also made them the first American pair in Solheim Cup history to accumulate five foursomes points together. In fact, they became the first duo from either side of the Atlantic to win five consecutive foursomes matches, a record that underscores their chemistry and strategic compatibility on the course.
Beyond the headline match, the day featured several other notable performances. Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin rallied from a deficit to defeat Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and France’s Celine Boutier 3‑2, securing another point for the United States. Their comeback helped USA extend its lead to two points despite the rain‑soaked conditions that added an extra layer of difficulty for all competitors.
On the European side, Sweden’s dynamic pairing of Maja Stark and Linn Grant broke the deadlock by beating the American duo of Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2, delivering Team Europe its first point of the day. In the final match, Ireland’s Leona Maguire teamed with Germany’s Esther Henseleit to edge out Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan 2‑up, ensuring the opening session ended in a tie – only the third time this has occurred in the tournament’s history. Team USA captain Angela Stanford’s decision to start with Korda and Corpuz paid dividends.
The pair had already proven their mettle by winning all their foursomes outings in the 2023 and 2024 Solheim Cups, and they replicated that success on Friday. Even though Woad opened with a birdie, the Americans quickly seized momentum, winning three straight holes from the sixth onward and never looking back.
Their ability to capitalize on the par‑five fifth hole and then maintain composure on the subsequent par‑four and par‑three holes demonstrated a level of poise rarely seen in high‑pressure match play. Woad reflected on the shift in momentum, noting, “We just lost a bit of momentum at the end of the front nine.
They made a couple of birdies and we missed some good chances. Once you lose momentum, it can be tough to come back.” Her comments highlighted the psychological edge that Korda and Corpuz were able to sustain throughout the round.
The victory also set a new benchmark for American pairs. Korda and Corpuz’s combined point total eclipsed the previous record of 4.5 points held by Dottie Pepper and Brandie Burton. Additionally, Korda’s seven career foursomes points now rank as the third‑highest total ever for a United States player in Solheim Cup history, underscoring her sustained excellence in the team format.
Korda expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “I enjoy playing with her [Corpuz] so much. 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.” Their mutual respect and complementary playing styles were evident in every shot they executed.
The second match of the session saw Lee and Coughlin take advantage of a misstep by Madsen, who found water on the sixth tee. The American pair then seized three of the next five holes, ultimately securing a 3‑2 win that doubled the United States’ lead. Lee praised the consistency of their play, saying, “This whole morning we just played super consistent. We 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.” Meanwhile, the Swedish duo of Grant and Stark built a four‑hole lead after seven holes, with Grant holing out from a bunker on the ninth to preserve their advantage. Although Zhang and Kupcho rallied with back‑to‑back birdies on the 10th and 11th, the Swedes held steady, clinching the match on the 16th after a decisive par on the 15th. Leona Maguire’s performance added another layer of significance to the day’s results.
With 9.5 points earned from 13 Solheim Cup matches, she boasts the highest points‑per‑match percentage in European Solheim Cup history among players with at least ten appearances. Maguire credited her success to strong partnerships, noting, “I’ve been very fortunate to have great partners – a lot of those points have come from foursomes and fourball matches.” She also highlighted the enthusiastic support from fans, mentioning the sea of Irish and German flags that lifted the players’ spirits even as the weather turned increasingly miserable. As the competition moves into the afternoon four‑ball matches, the overall score remains delicately balanced, setting the stage for a thrilling continuation of the biennial showdown. Fans can follow Team Europe’s quest to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports, with coverage slated to continue on Saturday from 6 a.m.
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