Team Europe entered the Sunday singles of the Solheim Cup dead‑locked with Team USA at 8‑8, thanks to a strong showing from Maja Stark and Linn Grant and a repeat of the difficulties faced by Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The match‑play drama unfolded over two days, with each side taking turns to seize the initiative, and the final day now promises a thrilling sprint for the Cup. On Friday, Anna Nordqvist’s Europeans split the morning sessions evenly before pulling ahead in the first foursomes, capturing three of the four available points. That early edge, however, was quickly neutralised when the Americans edged the afternoon four‑ball matches, setting the stage for a decisive final day.
Stark and Grant continued their flawless start, posting a commanding 2&1 victory over the previously unbeaten pair of Megan Khang and Lauren Coughlin. Their win marked their third consecutive point‑gaining performance together, underscoring the growing chemistry between the Swedish duo. Hull and Woad, meanwhile, endured another setback. The pair lost on the final hole to Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee after a tense back‑and‑forth battle.
Their partnership made history by becoming the first pair to compete in all four sessions of a Solheim Cup, yet they returned only half a point to the team. The deficit was widened further when Rose Zhang and Auston Kim defeated Leona Maguire and Nastasia Nadaud 3&2, adding to the pressure on the European side.
The drama intensified on Friday evening when Carlota Ciganda secured a dramatic half‑point with the last putt of the four‑ball session. She was thrust back into the spotlight on the 18th hole of the subsequent match, where a 90‑foot birdie by Jennifer Kupcho on the par‑four 17th forced the match into a tie.
Kupcho then capped the day with a spectacular finish, holing a 20‑plus‑foot putt to win 1‑up over Ciganda and Céline Bouter. The crowd erupted in celebration as the United States clinched the four‑ball session 3‑1, bringing the overall score level at the end of day two. The United States now faces the daunting task of securing six points in the Sunday singles to retain the Cup, a challenge that looms large after their home‑soil victory in Virginia two years ago. Europe, on the other hand, needs 6.5 points for an outright win – their first since 2021 – and will be looking to build on the momentum generated by their early successes.
The Swedish pair of Stark and Grant were sent out first in the morning foursomes, following their earlier triumph over Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz, which ended the Americans’ perfect foursomes record. Stark opened with a spectacular hole‑out from the first fairway, notching her second eagle of the day. Lauren Coughlin responded with a run of three consecutive birdies beginning on the third hole, briefly pulling Europe into a deficit.
The match then saw both sides trade holes until Grant seized the 11th and 12th with birdies, putting Europe back in the lead. Stark added to the pressure by holing a 20‑foot birdie putt on the 13th, extending the European lead to two points. Coughlin answered on the 16th with a long‑range birdie, sealing the third win of the week for the Europeans. The result was historic: it marked Megan Khang’s first loss in ten Solheim Cup appearances, snapping a six‑match winning streak that was one win shy of the all‑time record.
It also recorded the first ever loss for Team USA in this competition. "I think we really turned it on during the back nine," Grant reflected after the match. "We got our things together and started playing the way we wanted to. It was a great game – they were right on our heels the whole time." Her words captured the confidence that now fuels the European camp.
Hull and Woad’s partnership also made headlines for an unfortunate reason. They became the first pairing in Solheim Cup history to compete in all four opening sessions without earning a single point.
Their match against Noh saw the American side dominate, with Noh delivering an eagle and four birdies on the front nine to take a two‑stroke lead at the turn. Europe managed to win the opening hole of the back nine but fell behind again on the 13th when Andrea Lee birdied. Hull and Woad matched Lee’s birdie on the 15th and added another on the 17th, but the Americans clinched the final point with a par on the 18th.
Nastasia Nadaud, paired with Mimi Rhodes, had previously secured two session victories, but her third match alongside Leona Maguire proved more challenging. Maguire chipped in for an eagle on the eighth and followed with a birdie on the ninth, only for the Americans to launch a three‑hole surge that ultimately secured the win.
The closing stages of the day featured a dramatic showdown between Ciganda and Lindy Duncan. Ciganda won consecutive holes from the 13th onward, but Duncan reclaimed the 16th before Kupcho delivered an incredible birdie on the 17th.
A final‑hole birdie completed the comeback, allowing the United States to take the four‑ball session 3‑1 and leaving the overall competition dead‑locked after two days – the third consecutive Solheim Cup on European soil to finish in a tie. Team USA captain Angela Stanford praised Kupcho’s resilience, stating, "That was huge.
It absolutely turned our tide. She doesn’t give up; she’s a fighter, and now the whole team has seen that in person." Her endorsement highlighted the pivotal role Kupcho has played in keeping the Americans in contention. Looking ahead, play on Sunday will commence at 11:10 a.m. local time (10:10 a.m.
BST). Forecasts predict heavy rain for much of the singles session, adding another layer of difficulty for both sides. Historically, when the Solheim Cup has been tied heading into the final day on European soil, the home team has emerged victorious, raising the stakes for the Europeans. Fans can catch the live action on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 a.m., with the opening singles match kicking off at 10:10 a.m.
Those interested in watching the competition in person can explore deals on Sky Sports or stream via NOW with no contract required. Additionally, golfers looking to book a round can search for the best rates across more than 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland. The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion. Will the United States muster the six points needed to retain the Cup, or will Europe finally break through for a decisive victory?
The answer will be written on the greens this Sunday, under the watchful eyes of a global audience eager for one of women's golf's most compelling spectacles.