Team Europe entered the final singles session of the Solheim Cup with the scoreboard dead‑locked at 8‑8 against Team USA, a situation that was cemented by the continued brilliance of Maja Stark and Linn Grant and the recurring struggles of Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The two European stars have now amassed three consecutive points in as many sessions, while Hull and Woad have yet to secure a single half point despite playing every session together for the first time in the tournament's history. Friday's action saw Anna Nordqvist’s squad split the points in the morning session, then dominate three of the four available points in the foursomes, giving Europe a modest edge.
The afternoon four‑ball, however, swung back in America’s favour, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown on Sunday. In the morning foursomes, Stark and Grant produced a textbook 2&1 victory over the unbeaten American pair of Megan Khang and Lauren Coughlin. Their win marked their third straight point haul as a partnership, underscoring how quickly they have become the lynchpin of Europe’s strategy. Hull and Woad, by contrast, were forced to concede a heartbreaking loss on the final hole to Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee, leaving them with a zero‑point contribution after four sessions.
Both Hull and Woad made history by being the first duo to compete in every session of a Solheim Cup, yet they have returned only half a point to date. Their fortunes did not improve when Rose Zhang and Auston Kim added another half point for the United States by beating Leona Maguire and Nastasia Nadaud 3‑2. The drama intensified on Friday’s four‑ball when Carlota Ciganda secured a crucial half‑point with a clutch putt on the 18th. The match then proceeded to a dramatic climax on the 17th hole, where Jennifer Kupcho unleashed a 90‑foot birdie on the par‑four, pulling her side level with Lindy Duncan.
That momentum carried into the final hole, where Kupcho holed a 20‑plus‑foot putt for a 1‑up victory over Ciganda and Celine Bouter, prompting an exuberant celebration on the green. These late‑day heroics left Team USA with a clear target: they must capture six points on the final day to retain the Cup, a feat they achieved two years ago on home soil in Virginia.
Europe, meanwhile, needs 6.5 points to claim an outright win – their first since 2021 – and will be hoping the Swedish duo can keep the pressure on. Stark and Grant opened the day’s play by breaking Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz’s perfect foursomes record earlier, with Stark holing out from the first fairway for her second eagle of the competition. Lauren Coughlin responded with a string of birdies beginning on the third hole, briefly putting the United States ahead. The teams then traded holes evenly until Grant seized the 11th and 12th with birdies, giving Europe a two‑hole advantage.
Stark extended the lead further by sinking a 20‑foot birdie on the 13th, while Coughlin answered on the 16th with a long‑range birdie, ultimately securing Europe’s third win of the week. The loss marked a watershed moment for both sides: it was Khang’s first defeat in ten Solheim Cup appearances, ending a six‑match winning streak that fell just short of the tournament record, and it was the first time a United States player had ever lost a match in this edition of the event.
"We really turned it on during the back nine," Grant reflected after the round. "We got our stuff together and started playing the way we wanted to.
It was a great match – they were right on our heels the whole time." Hull and Woad’s partnership remains the only one in Solheim Cup history to contest all four sessions without earning at least a half point. Their match against Noh was particularly stark; Noh fired an eagle and four birdies on the front nine to take a two‑stroke lead, while Hull and Woad never managed to lead at any stage. Europe claimed the opening hole of the back‑nine but surrendered the 13th to an Andrea Lee birdie.
Hull matched Lee’s birdie on the 15th and added another on the 17th, yet the United States closed the match with a decisive par on the final hole, securing the point. Nastasia Nadaud, paired with Mimi Rhodes, had enjoyed success in earlier sessions but was paired with Leona Maguire for the third match. Maguire’s aggressive play produced an eagle on the eighth and a birdie on the ninth, but the Americans responded with a three‑hole surge that ultimately gave them the win.
The concluding moments of the day saw Ciganda win two consecutive holes from the 13th, only to see Duncan level the match on the next, before Kupcho delivered an unforgettable birdie on the 17th. Her final‑hole birdie completed a stunning comeback, allowing the United States to take the four‑ball session 3‑1 and leaving the overall competition square after two days – the third consecutive Solheim Cup on European soil to end in a tie. "That was huge," Team USA captain Angela Stanford said after the session. "It completely turned the tide.
Jennifer doesn't quit; she's a fighter. Seeing that in person really inspired the team." Sunday’s singles are set to begin at 11:10 a.m. local time (10:10 BST) under forecasted heavy rain, a condition that historically has favored the home side. The last three Solheim Cups that were tied heading into the final day have all resulted in European victories on their own turf.
Fans can catch the decisive singles action live on Sky Sports Golf from 9 a.m., with the opening match teeing off at 10:10 a.m. Those looking for a round of golf can also browse the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland for the best rates, entering a city or postcode to find nearby options.