Team Europe and Team USA entered the Sunday singles of the Solheim Cup dead‑locked at 8‑8, a situation that set the stage for a dramatic final day. The Swedish duo of Maja Stark and Linn Grant continued their flawless start to the competition, while the English pair of Charley Hull and Lottie Woad again fell short, underscoring the volatility that has defined this year’s event. On Friday, veteran Anna Nordqvist’s side managed to split both morning and afternoon sessions, but they seized the momentum in the morning foursomes, capturing three of the four available points.
That early edge was quickly neutralised when the United States edged the afternoon four‑ball matches, leaving the overall score balanced and the tension high as the tournament moved toward its climax. Stark and Grant once more demonstrated why they have become the European team’s most reliable partnership.
They produced a commanding 2&1 victory over the previously unbeaten American pair of Megan Khang and Lauren Coughlin, marking their third consecutive win in as many sessions. Meanwhile, Hull and Woad suffered a heartbreaking loss on the final hole to Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee, extending their personal run of disappointment.
It is worth noting that Hull and Woad made history by becoming the first pair ever to compete in all four Solheim Cup sessions together, yet they have managed to contribute only half a point to the European total. Their struggle was compounded when Rose Zhang and Auston Kim trimmed the deficit further by defeating Leona Maguire and Nastasia Nadaud 3&2 in another four‑ball showdown. The drama of Friday’s play reached its zenith during the final four‑ball match. Carlota Ciganda secured a dramatic half‑point with a clutch putt, only to be thrust back into the fray on the 18th hole.
A spectacular 90‑foot birdie by Jennifer Kupcho on the par‑four 17th forced a tie between Ciganda and her partner Lindy Duncan, setting up a nail‑biting finish. Kupcho’s heroics did not end there. On the 18th hole she holed a putt from more than 20 feet to clinch a 1‑up win over Ciganda and Celine Bouter. The gallery erupted in celebration as the United States secured the four‑ball session 3‑1, pulling the overall match level after two days of play for the third straight Solheim Cup held on European soil.
The result leaves Team USA in a position where they must capture six points from the Sunday singles in order to retain the Cup—a feat they achieved two years ago on home turf in Virginia. Europe, on the other hand, needs 6½ points to claim its first outright victory since 2021, a target that will require every player to deliver under pressure. The Swedish stars opened the day’s singles with a bang, having already broken the perfect‑record streak of Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz in the foursomes earlier.
Stark produced an extraordinary moment by holing out from the first fairway, securing her second eagle of the tournament and further cementing her reputation as a clutch performer. Lauren Coughlin responded with a string of aggressive play beginning on the third hole, briefly putting the United States ahead. The two teams then traded holes evenly until Grant seized the 11th and 12th with consecutive birdies, pulling Europe back into contention.
Stark continued her surge by sinking a 20‑foot putt on the 13th, extending Europe’s lead to two points. However, Coughlin answered on the 16th with a long‑range birdie, completing Europe’s third win of the week and showcasing the back‑and‑forth nature of the match. Megan Khang’s defeat marked her first loss in ten Solheim Cup appearances, snapping a six‑match winning streak that was one win shy of the all‑time record.
Coughlin’s loss, meanwhile, was historic for the United States, as it represented the first individual defeat for an American player in this edition of the Cup. "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." Hull and Woad’s experience remains a cautionary tale.
They are the inaugural pairing to compete in each of the first four sessions without securing at least a half‑point, and they never led a match where Noh surged ahead with an eagle and four birdies on the front nine, establishing a two‑stroke advantage. Europe captured the opening hole of the back nine but surrendered the 13th to an Andrea Lee birdie. Woad matched Lee’s birdie on the 15th and added another on the 17th, yet the United States closed the hole with a decisive par on the final hole, clinching the point. Nastasia Nadaud, partnered with Mimi Rhodes, had won two earlier sessions before being paired with Leona Maguire in the third match.
Maguire delivered an eagle chip on the eighth and followed it with a birdie on the ninth, but the Americans responded with a three‑hole surge that ultimately secured their victory. In the closing stages, both teams fought fiercely.
Ciganda won two consecutive holes from the 13th, only for Duncan to claim the next, while Kupcho delivered an incredible birdie on the 17th that swung momentum back to the United States. A final‑hole birdie completed a stunning comeback, leaving the four‑ball session in favour of the Americans and maintaining the overall tie. "That was huge," USA captain Angela Stanford said after the session. "It completely turned the tide.
Jennifer just doesn’t give up – she’s a fighter. Now her teammates have seen that first‑hand." Sunday’s singles are slated to begin at 11:10 a.m. local time (10:10 BST), with heavy rain forecast for much of the day.
Historically, the last three Solheim Cups that were tied heading into the final day have all resulted in European victories on home soil, adding another layer of intrigue to the showdown. Fans can watch the decisive singles live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 9 a.m., with the opening match kicking off at 10:10 a.m. For those looking to follow the action online, streaming options are available via NOW with no contract required, and Sky Sports frequently offers promotional deals for subscribers.
Whether the United States can summon the six points needed to defend their title, or whether Europe can muster the extra half‑point for a historic win, remains to be seen. The stage is set, the players are ready, and the world will be watching as the Solheim Cup reaches its most critical juncture.