Charley Hull will open this year’s Solheim Cup in the Netherlands with a marquee pairing that pits her against the world No.1, Nelly Korda. The English star, currently ranked eighth globally, is making her eighth straight appearance for Team Europe and will tee off first for the hosts on the Bernardus Golf course alongside fellow newcomer Lottie Woad. The duo will face the unbeaten American pair of Korda and Allisen Corpuz in the Friday morning foursomes, a match that promises drama from the first tee. Korda and Corpuz have built a flawless foursomes record over the last two Solheim Cups, winning all four of their joint outings.
They will look to extend that perfect streak when they step onto the first tee at 7:40 a.m. local time (6:40 a.m. BST). Team USA, eager to defend the trophy, are also hoping to secure a historic victory on European soil – the last time they succeeded was back in 2015.
In the second morning match, Alison Lee – the sole American still involved from the previous away win in Germany – will partner with Lauren Coughlin. They will take on European stalwart Céline Boutier and Denmark’s returning player Nanna Koerstz Madsen. The third match features Esther Henseleit paired with Leona Maguire; Henseleit previously partnered with Hull in the 2024 Solheim Cup foursomes. They will challenge Andrea Lee and rookie Lindy Duncan.
Finally, Swedish teammates Maja Stark and Linn Grant will square off against Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho. The exact tee times are as follows: 0640 Charley Hull & Lottie Woad vs.
Allisen Corpuz & Nelly Korda 0652 Nanna Koerstz Madsen & Céline Boutier vs. Alison Lee & Lauren Coughlin 0704 Esther Henseleit & Leona Maguire vs. Andrea Lee & Lindy Duncan 0716 Maja Stark & Linn Grant vs.
Rose Zhang & Jennifer Kupcho Woad is the only rookie sent out by captain Anna Nordqvist for the opening morning, underscoring Europe’s desire for a stronger start than the sluggish openings they have endured in the past two Solheim Cups. In 2023, Team USA swept the opening session, creating a 14-14 tie that set the tone for the competition. The following year, the Americans built a 3-1 lead after the first morning and eventually clinched a home victory, a pattern Europe hopes to reverse.
Team USA captain Angela Stanford defended her decision to lead with Korda and Corpuz, saying, "They have a nice rapport, so I felt they earned the right to go out first. If I didn’t put those two out, I would be questioned – the whole world knew they were coming." Hull, who topped the scoring board for Europe in the 2024 loss and defeated Korda 6&4 in their Sunday singles match, is expected to play a pivotal role in Europe’s quest for the cup. At 30, she combines experience with a fresh enthusiasm that has been evident since the team arrived on Monday. Nordqvist noted, "Over the years the Solheim Cup has really grown on her.
She’s buzzing and excited. She and Lottie have played together on the LPGA Tour this year, so they were thrilled to be paired together here." Not all European players will see action in the opening session.
Rookies Mimi Rhodes, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez sit out, as does veteran Carlota Ciganda, who is also making her eighth consecutive appearance. Angel Yin, a two‑time LPGA winner, was left out of the morning but remains available for later rounds after a fitness concern limited her to a single 72‑hole event since May. On the American side, debutants Auston Kim, Megan Khang and Yealimi Noh are also benched for the first session. The Solheim Cup rules require that every player must participate at least once during the first two days, so these golfers will likely feature in the afternoon four‑ball or Sunday singles.
For those unfamiliar with the foursomes format, it involves two players from the same team sharing a single ball and alternating shots. Each hole is worth one point, and the first team to reach 14.5 points wins the Cup; the defending champions need 14 points to retain it. The format adds a layer of strategy and chemistry, making the Hull‑Woad versus Korda‑Corpuz match a true test of partnership.
Sky Sports Golf will broadcast at least 12 hours of live coverage across the first two days, beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The opening foursomes start at 6:40 a.m. BST (7:40 a.m.
local). Afternoon four‑ball matches commence at 12:05 p.m.
BST (1:05 p.m. local) and will run until the final putt falls. Sunday singles coverage kicks off at 9 a.m., with the first tee shot at 10:10 a.m.
Fans eager to see whether Team Europe can reclaim the Solheim Cup can watch the entire three‑day event live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available via NOW without a contract. Golf enthusiasts can also explore special Sky Sports deals or book a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the provided booking platform.