Carlota Ciganda produced a dramatic finish on the final hole that ensured Team Europe ended the first day of the Solheim Cup tied with Team USA at 4-4. The Spanish star’s composure under pressure turned a potential loss into a half point, preserving the balance after an eventful opening round that saw both sides exchange leads. The morning foursomes were split evenly, with each partnership taking a half point. The afternoon four‑ball session mirrored that pattern, as Angela Stanford’s American contingent appeared poised to claim an early advantage until Ciganda’s decisive putt changed the narrative.
Facing world No. 1 Nelly Korda and her partner Lauren Coughlin, Ciganda and rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez were two shots down with the 18th green in view. Ciganda’s 15‑foot putt rolled true, securing a par that salvaged a half point for Europe and left the overall score dead‑locked. In the afternoon, Anna Nordqvist stuck with the same pairings that had drawn a tie in the morning foursomes, leading Europe out once more.
Celine Boutier and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, however, were overwhelmed by Megan Khang and Alison Lee, who produced a 5&3 victory. Meanwhile, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad seemed on the verge of their first joint win, pulling three holes ahead with seven to play. Their momentum was halted when the American duo of Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin rallied, taking two of the remaining holes and sharing the point. Rookies Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud made an immediate impact, delivering a 2&1 win over Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim, which gave Europe its sole full point in the afternoon session.
Their success highlighted the depth of the European bench and set the tone for a tightly contested match. Ciganda reflected on the result, saying, “Not losing today is important.
It’s 4‑4 after the day, so we have big momentum heading into tomorrow. I hope we can carry that into the foursomes and win both the morning and afternoon sessions.” Her comments underscored the psychological edge that a level score can provide in a competition that has historically swung on a few pivotal moments. Hull and Woad had taken the early initiative in the four‑ball opener. After Noh birdied the first hole, the European pair responded by winning three consecutive holes starting at the third.
Hull’s long‑range birdie on the sixth hole gave Europe a three‑hole lead, but the Americans fought back, taking the seventh and eighth holes. Woad then produced an eagle on the par‑five 10th, extending the lead before Hull added another birdie on the 11th. Noh answered with a 12‑foot birdie on the 12th and nearly holed her tee shot on the 15th, before sealing a clutch birdie on the 17th. Both teams finished the back‑nine with pars, leaving the match tied.
Boutier and Madsen started strongly, two up after five holes, but could not sustain the advantage against the dominant play of Khang and Lee. The American pair ran eight consecutive holes at six under par, securing the first point of the session for the USA. Khang’s performance marked her sixth straight Solheim Cup win, extending an unbeaten streak to nine matches—a run that ranks as the second‑longest in the event’s history.
She praised her partner, noting, “Seeing a big eagle really opened the floodgates for us. It was a classic ‘ham‑and‑egg’ situation on the back nine, and she was a fantastic teammate.” Rhodes and Nadaud justified their captain’s selections by delivering Europe’s only full point in the afternoon, while the spotlight later shifted to Korda and Coughlin. After falling two down with eight holes remaining, the American pair rallied to win three straight holes, taking the lead.
However, Ciganda’s birdie on the 16th forced a tense finish. Both Korda and Coughlin missed short birdie putts on the 18th green, and Ciganda, after two errant shots, managed to sink a par‑saving putt that sparked jubilant celebrations among the European camp. Sky Sports Golf will broadcast at least twelve hours of live coverage over the first two days, with Saturday’s morning foursomes beginning at 6:40 a.m. local time (6 a.m.
UK). The afternoon four‑ball matches are slated for a 12:05 p.m.
UK start, and coverage will continue through the final putt. Sunday’s singles competition will kick off at 9 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf, with the opening tee shot at 10:10 a.m.
Fans eager to see who will ultimately lift the Solheim Cup can follow Team Europe’s quest live on Sky Sports, which offers comprehensive coverage across all three days. Viewers can also explore Sky Sports deals or stream the action without a contract via NOW. For golfers looking to play on some of the UK and Ireland’s finest courses, Sky Sports provides access to pricing and booking options at over 1,700 venues.
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