Charley Hull will once again find herself in a high‑stakes duel with world No.1 Nelly Korda as the opening match of this year’s Solheim Cup gets underway in the Netherlands. Hull, currently ranked eighth in the world, is making her eighth straight appearance for Team Europe and will tee off for the host nation alongside fellow English rookie Lottie Woad. The pair will open the morning foursomes against the unbeaten American tandem of Korda and Allisen Corpuz, who have dominated the format in the last two Solheim Cups.
The American duo has won every foursomes match they have played together, and they will look to extend that flawless record when they step onto the first tee at 7:40 a.m. local time (6:40 a.m. BST).
Team USA enters the competition eager to retain the cup and to secure a rare victory on European soil – the last time they succeeded on the continent was in 2015. In the second foursomes match of the morning, former Solheim Cup winner Alison Lee – the only player from the United States’ away win in Germany – will partner Lauren Coughlin. They will face European stalwart Céline Boutier and Denmark’s returning veteran Nanna Koerstz Madsen. The third match pairs Germany’s Esther Henseleit with Ireland’s Leona Maguire.
Henseleit previously teamed with Hull in the 2024 edition of the event, and this time the pair will take on the American combination of Andrea Lee and rookie Lindy Duncan. The final foursomes match of the session features Sweden’s Maja Stark and Linn Grant against the United States’ rising stars Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho. The line‑up for the opening morning is as follows: 06:40 Charley Hull / Lottie Woad vs Allisen Corpuz / Nelly Korda 06:52 Nanna Koerstz Madsen / Céline Boutier vs Alison Lee / Lauren Coughlin 07:04 Esther Henseleit / Leona Maguire vs Andrea Lee / Lindy Duncan 07:16 Maja Stark / Linn Grant vs Rose Zhang / Jennifer Kupcho Woad is the sole rookie selected by captain Anna Nordqvist for the first morning, and Europe is hoping for a stronger start than the sluggish openings they have endured in the past two Solheim Cups.
In 2023 the United States swept the opening session, creating a 14‑14 tie that ultimately led to a dramatic finish. The following year they built a 3‑1 lead in the morning and went on to win the cup at home, a pattern Europe is determined to break.
Historically, Europe has failed to lead after the first morning in six consecutive Solheim Cups, making this opening session all the more crucial. Team USA captain Angela Stanford defended her decision to send Korda and Corpuz out first, noting their chemistry and the expectation that they would be the first pair on the course. "If I hadn't put those two out, I would have been questioned," Stanford said.
"Everyone knew they were coming." Hull, who topped the European scores in the 2024 loss and defeated Korda 6&4 in their Sunday singles match, is expected to be a key contributor for the home side this week. At 30 years old, she brings both experience and a fierce competitive edge, and she is likely to be paired with Woad in future sessions as well. Nordqvist praised Hull’s growth over the years, saying the Solheim Cup has become a major focus for her. "She’s been buzzing and very excited since arriving on Monday.
She and Lottie have played quite a bit together on the LPGA Tour this year, so they were thrilled to be here together," Nordqvist explained. Several European players will sit out the opening session, including rookies Mimi Rhodes, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez, as well as veteran Carlota Ciganda, who is also making her eighth consecutive appearance. Angel Yin, a two‑time LPGA Tour winner, was left out of the morning but remains available for later rounds after a fitness scare 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 captain’s agreement mandates that every player must compete at least once over the first two days, ensuring that all team members will see action before the competition moves into the afternoon four‑ball matches. For those unfamiliar with the foursomes format, it involves two golfers from the same team playing alternate shots with a single ball. Each hole is contested as a single point, and the first team to reach 14½ points over the three‑day event will claim the cup. Team USA needs 14 points to retain the trophy, while either side must reach 14½ for an outright victory.
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, with the opening foursomes tee‑off at 6:40 a.m.
local time (7:40 a.m. CET). The afternoon four‑ball sessions start at 12:05 p.m.
(1:05 p.m. CET) on both days, and coverage will continue through the final putt.
Sunday’s singles matches begin at 9 a.m., with the first tee‑off at 10:10 a.m. Fans eager to follow Europe’s quest to 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. For golfers looking to experience the courses themselves, bookings are available at more than 1,700 venues across the UK and Ireland.