Team Europe entered the Sunday singles of the Solheim Cup dead‑locked with Team USA at 8‑8, thanks to a series of strong performances from Maja Stark and Linn Grant, and a pair of disappointing outings from Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The match‑play format has produced a dramatic narrative over the past two days, with each side taking turns to claim the advantage before the final day’s singles decide the trophy.
On Friday, Anna Nordqvist’s European squad managed to split the morning sessions, but they surged ahead in the morning foursomes by capturing three of the four available points. That early lead was quickly challenged when the Americans edged the afternoon four‑ball matches, setting up a tantalising climax for the final day. Stark and Grant continued their flawless run, delivering a commanding 2&1 victory over the previously unbeaten American duo of Megan Khang and Lauren Coughlin. Their win marked their third consecutive triumph in as many sessions together, underscoring the chemistry they have developed on the course.
Hull and Woad, meanwhile, endured another heartbreaking finish, losing on the final hole to the pair of Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee. The two Americans were able to pull off a clutch birdie on the last hole, denying the Europeans any point. This result was especially significant because Hull and Woad became the first pair in Solheim Cup history to compete in all four sessions without contributing at least a half‑point to their side’s total. The afternoon’s four‑ball matches saw Rose Zhang and Auston Kim further chip away at Europe’s lead, beating Leona Maguire and Nastasia Nadaud 3&2.
The momentum continued to swing back and forth, with Carlota Ciganda snatching a dramatic half‑point on the final putt of Friday’s four‑ball session. Later, in the bottom match, Jennifer Kupcho produced a spectacular 90‑foot birdie on the par‑four 17th, tying the match and sending it to a decisive finish. In the closing moments of Friday’s play, Kupcho again displayed her clutch ability, holing a more than 20‑foot putt to win the match 1‑up over Ciganda and Celine Bouter. The crowd erupted in celebration as the United States secured a 3‑1 victory in that session, bringing the overall score back to an even tie after two days of competition.
Heading into Sunday, Team USA now needs six points from the singles to retain the Cup, while Europe must capture 6½ points to claim its first outright victory on European soil since 2021. The pressure is palpable, especially given that the last three Solheim Cups that were tied after the first two days all resulted in European triumphs on home ground. The Swedish stars, Stark and Grant, were again sent out first on Saturday.
After breaking Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz’s perfect foursomes record earlier in the day, Stark produced an extraordinary shot by holing out from the first fairway, securing her second eagle of the round. Lauren Coughlin responded with a string of birdies from the third hole onward, briefly putting the United States ahead. However, Europe fought back, sharing the next several holes until Grant seized the 11th and 12th holes with consecutive birdies, regaining the lead. Stark then rolled in a 20‑foot birdie on the 13th, extending Europe’s advantage to two points.
Coughlin answered on the 16th with a long‑range birdie, but Europe’s momentum was unstoppable. The duo’s third win of the week was sealed when they each posted birdies on the final holes, leaving the Americans stunned. The loss marked Khang’s first defeat in ten Solheim Cup appearances, ending a six‑match winning streak that had been one win shy of the all‑time record. It also represented the first ever loss for Team USA in a match involving Coughlin.
"I think we really turned it on during the back nine," Grant reflected after the match. "We really got our things together and started playing like we wanted to. It was a really good game – I think they were just right behind us." Hull and Woad’s historic run—playing in all four sessions without earning a point—continued to be a talking point. Their partnership never held a lead during any of their matches, even as Noh produced an eagle and four birdies on the front nine to surge two strokes ahead early in her match against them.
Europe captured the opening hole of the back nine, but the Americans reclaimed the 13th when Lee birdied. Woad matched Lee’s birdie on the 15th and added another on the 17th, yet the United States closed the match with a par on the final hole, securing the point.
In another notable performance, Nastasia Nadaud, paired with Mimi Rhodes, won two sessions before being teamed with Leona Maguire in the third match. Maguire chipped in for an eagle on the eighth and followed with a birdie on the ninth, but the Americans launched a three‑hole burst that ultimately gave them the victory.
The final moments of the day featured a dramatic showdown between Ciganda and Lindy Duncan. Ciganda won back‑to‑back holes from the 13th, only for Duncan to claim the next, setting up a tense finish that culminated in Kupcho’s spectacular birdie on the 17th.
A final birdie on the 18th completed a remarkable comeback for the United States, allowing them to win the four‑ball session 3‑1 and leaving the overall score dead‑locked after two days for the third consecutive Solheim Cup held in Europe. Team USA captain Angela Stanford summed up the impact of Kupcho’s performance: "That was huge. That absolutely turned our tide.
She [Kupcho] just doesn't give up and she's a fighter. Now her team has seen that in person." Sunday’s singles will begin at 11:10 a.m.
local time (10:10 BST), with heavy rain forecast for much of the day, adding another layer of difficulty to an already tense contest. Historically, when the Solheim Cup is tied after the first two days, the home team has tended to prevail, making Europe’s quest for a decisive 6½ points even more critical. 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 following the action can also stream via NOW without a contract, or explore special Sky Sports offers.
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