Team Europe entered the Sunday singles of the Solheim Cup dead‑locked with Team USA at 8‑8, a situation that was forged by a series of strong performances from Maja Stark and Linn Grant and a pair of disappointing outings from Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The competition has been a roller‑coaster, with both sides exchanging leads and the overall score remaining perfectly balanced as the final day approaches. On Friday, Anna Nordqvist’s European squad managed to split the morning sessions, but they surged ahead in the morning foursomes, capturing three of the four available points.
That early advantage was quickly challenged when the United States edged the afternoon four‑ball matches, setting the stage for a thrilling climax. Stark and Grant continued their flawless run, posting a decisive 2&1 victory over the previously unbeaten duo of Megan Khang and Lauren Coughlin. This marked their third straight win as a pair, reinforcing Europe’s momentum.
In contrast, Hull and Woad suffered a heartbreaking loss on the final hole to Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee, underscoring the fine margins that define match play. Hull and Woad made history by becoming the first partnership ever to compete in all four Solheim Cup sessions together, yet they managed to contribute only half a point to the European total. Their effort was further undermined when Rose Zhang and Auston Kim narrowed the gap with a 3&2 triumph over Leona Maguire and Nastasia Nadaud.
The day’s drama continued when Carlota Ciganda secured a crucial half‑point with a clutch putt at the end of Friday’s four‑ball session, only to be thrust back into the spotlight on the 18th hole of the final match. There, Jennifer Kupcho unleashed a 90‑foot birdie on the par‑four 17th, pulling her and partner Lindy Duncan level with Europe.
Kupcho’s brilliance did not stop there. On the closing hole she holed a more than 20‑foot putt to win the match 1‑up against Ciganda and Céline Bouter, prompting exuberant celebrations on the green. That dramatic finish left Team USA needing six points on Sunday to retain the Cup, two years after they celebrated a home victory in Virginia. Europe, on the other hand, must secure 6.5 points for an outright win – their first since 2021.
The Swedish duo of Stark and Grant were the first to tee off again, having already broken the perfect foursomes record set earlier by Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz. Stark demonstrated her power by holing out from the first fairway, notching her second eagle of the day.
Lauren Coughlin answered with a string of birdies from the third hole onward, briefly putting Europe behind before the teams traded holes. Grant then seized the 11th and 12th holes with birdies, extending the lead.
Stark added another birdie from 20 feet on the 13th, pushing Europe two points ahead. Coughlin responded on the 16th with a long‑range birdie, completing Europe’s third win of the week.
The loss marked a significant moment for Khang, who suffered her first defeat in ten Solheim Cup matches, ending a six‑match winning streak that was one shy of the all‑time record. It also represented the first loss ever for Team USA in a match involving Coughlin. "I think we really turned it on during the back nine," Grant reflected after the round. "We got our things together and started playing the way we wanted to.
It was a great match – they were right on our heels." Hull and Woad’s partnership also made history, becoming the first pair to play every session without earning at least a half‑point. Their match saw Noh unleash an eagle and four birdies on the front nine, establishing a two‑stroke lead that Europe could not overturn.
Europe captured the opening hole of the back nine but surrendered the 13th to a birdie by Lee. Woad matched Lee’s birdie on the 15th and added another on the 17th, yet the United States sealed the point with a par on the final hole.
Nastasia Nadaud, who had previously partnered with Mimi Rhodes to win two sessions, teamed up with Leona Maguire for the third match. Maguire displayed remarkable skill, chipping in for an eagle on the eighth and following with a birdie on the ninth, but the Americans responded with a three‑hole surge that ultimately secured their victory. The closing stages of the day saw both teams battling on the final holes of the decisive match.
Ciganda won back‑to‑back holes starting at the 13th, but Duncan reclaimed the 14th before Kupcho delivered an astonishing birdie on the 17th. A final‑hole birdie completed a stunning comeback, allowing the United States to claim the four‑ball session 3‑1 and bring the overall score to an even tie after two days – the third consecutive Solheim Cup on European soil to end in a dead heat. Team USA captain Angela Stanford praised the turnaround: "That was huge. It completely shifted the momentum.
Jennifer [Kupcho] never gives up; she's a fighter. Seeing that determination in person inspires the whole team." Sunday’s singles will begin at 11:10 a.m. local time (10:10 BST), with heavy rain forecast for much of the day. Historically, the three Solheim Cups that have been tied heading into the final day on European ground have all resulted in European victories, adding extra intrigue to the showdown.
Fans can watch the final day live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 a.m., with the opening singles match kicking off at 10:10 a.m. Those interested in playing a round themselves can find the best rates and book a tee time at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.