Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz etched their names into Solheim Cup lore on Friday by delivering a commanding performance against Charley Hull and Lottie Woad in the opening foursomes session. The match, held at Bernardus Golf, saw Team USA and Team Europe split the points in the first round, but the American duo’s 4&3 triumph was the headline of the day. Hull entered the competition with a strong pedigree against Korda, having won two of their three previous Solheim Cup encounters, including a decisive 6&4 singles win two years earlier.
Nevertheless, the pair of Hull and Woad found themselves on the back foot from the outset. After losing the first hole, Korda and Corpuz quickly turned the tide, stringing together a series of decisive shots that propelled them to a comfortable lead.
Their victory marked the first time an American partnership has amassed five foursomes wins together in Solheim Cup history, and it also set a new record for any side – male or female – achieving five consecutive foursomes victories. The match unfolded with both teams trading pars and birdies, but the turning point arrived on the sixth hole when the American pair seized three straight holes, establishing a clear advantage. Hull, who was not at her usual best, struggled to find rhythm alongside her English partner, while Woad managed a birdie on the opening hole but could not sustain the momentum.
The Americans held steady, taking the 12th and 13th holes with pars, and Woad briefly narrowed the gap with a birdie on the 14th. However, Korda and Corpuz sealed the win with a solid par on the par‑three 15th, clinching the match.
"We lost a little momentum at the end of the front nine," Woad reflected after the round. "They made a couple of birdies and we missed some good chances.
Once momentum slips, it’s hard to get it back." The result not only gave the United States a valuable point but also broke the record for the most points earned by an American pair in Solheim Cup play, surpassing the previous benchmark of 4.5 points set by Dottie Pepper and Brandie Burton. Korda’s career total of seven points in foursomes now ranks as the third‑highest in Team USA history. Korda praised her partnership with Corpuz, saying, "I really enjoy playing with her.
We have a lot of fun out there. She’s a solid player, and it’s great to rely on her while also having fun together." The day’s action continued with other notable matches. Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin rallied from behind to defeat Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier 3‑2, delivering a second point for the United States and pushing the overall score to a delicate balance. Meanwhile, the Swedish duo of Maja Stark and Linn Grant secured Team Europe’s first point by beating Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2, and Leona Maguire paired with Esther Henseleit edged out Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan 2‑up.
These results left the opening session tied – a scenario that has occurred only twice before in the tournament’s history. Team USA captain Angela Stanford had placed confidence in Korda and Corpuz, recalling their flawless foursomes record in both 2023 and 2024. Their performance lived up to expectations, even after Woad’s early birdie on the first hole. The Americans were unable to capitalize on the par‑five fifth, but they quickly recovered, taking three consecutive holes from the sixth onward, which proved decisive.
Lee highlighted the consistency of her play, stating, "We kept the ball in the fairway, hit the greens, and gave each other birdie chances when we could. I’m really happy with how we performed." The pair’s steady play helped double the United States’ lead heading into the afternoon fourball matches. On the European side, Grant and Stark built a four‑hole lead after seven holes, with Grant holing a bunker shot on the ninth to preserve their advantage.
Zhang and Kupcho fought back, winning the 10th and 11th holes, but the Swedish pair held firm, securing the 15th with a par and wrapping up the match on the 16th. Maguire and Henseleit were forced to the final hole, where they finally clinched their win after a tightly contested finish. Maguire’s Solheim Cup record is impressive: she has accumulated 9.5 points from 13 matches, the highest points‑per‑match ratio among European players with at least ten appearances.
She credited her success to strong partnerships, noting, "I’ve been very fortunate to have great partners – many of my points have come from foursomes and fourball matches." The atmosphere at Bernardus Golf was electric, with a sea of Irish and German flags waving in support of the European team, especially as the weather turned dreary. "The crowd’s energy, especially when the weather got miserable, really spurred us on," Maguire added.
As the competition moves into the afternoon fourball sessions, the balance of power remains finely poised. Fans can continue to follow Team Europe’s quest to reclaim the Solheim Cup on Sky Sports, with live coverage starting Saturday at 6 a.m.
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