Tag: Solheim Cup

Clutch putts were the story of Saturday foursomes at the 2023 Solheim Cup, where the U.S. holds a two-point lead

The Europeans carried the momentum to Saturday morning while an American pairing earned another big win.

CASARES, Spain — If you didn’t set an alarm to wake up for Saturday morning’s foursomes session at the 2023 Solheim Cup you missed some great golf.

After the Americans swept the Friday morning session for the first time in the biennial event’s 17-year history, Team Europe carried on the momentum from a 3-1 afternoon fourball win and halved the Saturday morning session with the U.S., 2-2. Team USA holds a 7-5 advantage as the event heads into afternoon foursomes.

“I think it’s important because you don’t want to give too much to the Americans,” said fan-favorite Spaniard Carlota Ciganda of changing the momentum. “I mean, they are tough to beat. They are really strong and they are really good, so we can do this, but we have to play good golf, and we have to be very present and hopefully that’s enough.”

Ciganda and Emily Pedersen never trailed in their match against world No. 2 Lilia Vu and Jennifer Kupcho as the Europeans put the first point of the day on the board in the opening match. The Euros won Nos. 5 and 6, the Americans responded by claiming Nos. 7 and 8 and then tied the ninth to send the match to the back nine all square. From there, Pedersen and Ciganda took control with a win on No. 10 and never looked back.

“We knew what the job is, to go out and get points,” said Pedersen after the match. “And Carlota and I spoke last night, from the start every shot counts, and we did that. I think we were really good at staying present. We got over it when we made mistakes and then we just kept on fighting, kept the spirits high. So we did great as a team.”

U.S. captain Stacy Lewis has a dynamite foursomes pairing in Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz as the veteran-rookie combo won their second foursomes match of the week, this time with a 5-and-3 shellacking of Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier. The European pairing entered the week undefeated in the format but have now lost the last two days. Korda and Corpuz are no strangers to taking down high-profile pairings as they beat Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist, 1 up, on Friday.

“Allisen and I just played really well the past two days. I think we just bonded really well on the golf course,” said Korda. “We didn’t make too many mistakes, especially today, and we rolled in a lot of putts.”

“I think Nelly is really calm, which is kind of what I need. I play pretty low energy,” added Corpuz. “Obviously she has the experience as well. So just knowing that having someone like her by my side has helped me a lot to get comfortable.”

Corpuz has played all three matches thus far and has yet to lose, winning twice and earning a tie in Friday fourball.

Speaking of pairings that won and lost on both Friday and Saturday in foursomes, Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang went to work once again on Day 2 and took down Maguire and Nordqvist, 1 up, after the playing assistant captain Nordqvist missed a putt to tie the match on the 18th green.

Thompson and Kang were 2 down through eight holes, but then won Nos. 9-11 to flip the match. Nordqvist and Maguire tied the match with birdie on No. 15, but a par for Team USA on the 17th provided the late advantage.

The best match of the session was the last between European rookies and best friends Maja Stark and Linn Grant against Team USA’s Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee. The Swedes had every opportunity to put Kang and Lee away, but the Americans fought back at every step and made clutch putt after clutch putt to keep the match in check.

Stark made one of her own for birdie on No. 17 to give Europe a 1-up lead with just the 18th to play, and then Grant followed suit with a 10-footer for birdie that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

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2023 Solheim Cup Saturday morning foursomes pairings

The Americans swept the morning session Friday before Europe fought back.

CASARES, Spain — Three of the four pairings that helped the United States sweep Europe in Friday morning foursomes (alternate shot) are returning for Saturday.

U.S. captain Stacy Lewis and European captain Suzann Pettersen announced their pairings for the third session of the 2023 Solheim Cup at the luxurious Finca Cortesin on Spain’s southern coast, and on paper it’s advantage Americans.

The Red, White and Blue hold a 5-3 lead entering the second day of play after Europe fought back to win the Friday fourball session, 3-1.

Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the third session of matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup on Saturday morning. (Note: Spain is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S.)

Live coverage is on TV on Golf Channel and streaming on Peacock starting at 2 a.m. ET Friday until 1 p.m. ET.

MEET THE TEAMS: Europe | USA

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Late-day heroics pull Europe within two points at 2023 Solheim Cup

“I’m immensely proud of the way the entire team fought back in the afternoon,” said European captain Suzann Pettersen.”

It could’ve gotten ugly real fast. Instead, Team Europe holed out three shots – including only the second ace in Solheim Cup history – in the afternoon fourball session to claw their way back and secure momentum after the U.S. team’s historic morning sweep.

In fact, it looked for a moment like Europe might get a sweep themselves in the afternoon. With three of four matches extending to the 18th as sunlight dwindled, Europe managed to put up three points, and now trail the Americans 5-3 with two days left of competition.

“I have to say, I’m immensely proud of the way the entire team fought back in the afternoon,” said European captain Suzann Pettersen. “It’s not easy to stand on that tee in the afternoon knowing you’re down four after the first session. So I got to say, hat’s off to all my players, the way they fought and the way they showed their character on this Friday afternoon. I think the level of golf that was played in the afternoon was unbelievable.”

Solheim Cup: Photos

Leona Maguire, the undisputed MVP of the 2021 Cup at Inverness, chipped in on the 18th hole to secure Europe’s first full point alongside partner Georgia Hall.

“She turned around to me and said, ‘How would you have done it?’ ” said Pettersen. “And I said, ‘just the same.’ ”

Both Maguire and Hall played 36 holes at hilly Finca Cortesin but dug deep.

“It was really tough with the wind,” said Maguire. “I don’t think I ever hit as many 3-woods in my life. But every half point, every point, is really hard-earned and just really proud of the whole team for fighting back this afternoon.”

Emily Pedersen struggled early on Friday but gave the home crowd a jolt of energy with an ace on the par-3 12th and nearly a second one on the 17th.

Gemma Dryburgh of Team Europe reacts on the 12th green during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

It wasn’t long after that rookie Gemma Dryburgh chipped in from 30 yards on the 16th playing alongside Madelene Sagstrom. Rose Zhang drained a birdie putt on top to halve the hole, but it was still a building block of momentum for Pettersen’s squad.

“I loved every minute of it,” said Dryburgh. “That chip-in on 16 was the pinnacle, but I had to calm myself down for the next hole, so that was a new experience for me.”

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda waited her entire life to tee it up in a Solheim Cup in Spain, and then she had to wait all morning before Pettersen put her in the lineup. The Spaniard didn’t disappoint, teaming up with Sweden’s Linn Grant to give Europe its most decisive victory, 4 and 2.

“Carlota, I’m just trying to put a leash on this week,” said Pettersen. “I mean, she would jump off and fly if she could. So I’m really just trying to keep her grounded. She’s playing fantastic.”

History made and rookie success highlight 5 things we learned Friday at the 2023 Solheim Cup

Miss the Solheim Cup action on Friday? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know.

CASARES, Spain — There’s a difference between good matches and close matches.

The early portion of Friday afternoon’s fourball session at the 2023 Solheim Cup was decidedly full of the latter as warm temperatures and high winds sped up the greens at Finca Cortesin, which seemed to perplex players. Then a switch was flipped early on the back nine.

The Europeans made their move and put blue across the leaderboard for nearly an hour before the Americans responded in kind. In the end the continental All-Stars took the session, 3-1, and cut into the American lead. The U.S. will hold a 5-3 advantage entering Saturday morning’s foursomes matches.

From rookie success to history made and some crazy fan support, here are five things we learned from the first day of play at the 2023 Solheim Cup.

Europe’s Emily Kristine Pedersen plays slope to make wild hole-in-one at 2023 Solheim Cup

The ace is just the second in Solheim Cup history.

CASARES, Spain — The struggle had been all too real for Team Europe’s Emily Kristine Pedersen on the first day of the 2023 Solheim Cup.

After losing 5-and-4 alongside Charley Hull to Americans Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight in Friday morning’s foursomes session, the Dane was sent back out to play with Maja Stark in the afternoon fourball session and proceeded to struggle.

Until the 12th hole.

A few players had played the slope from off the green on the par 3 to get close to the hole, but nobody did so better than Pedersen. She landed her ball in the perfect spot and watched it turn right and roll into the bottom of the cup. The ace is just the second in Solheim Cup history as Pedersen joins teammate and assistant caption Anna Nordqvist, who was the first to accomplish the feat in 2013.

Pedersen is making her third appearance for Team Europe this week and carries a 3-5-0 record.

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Photos: Solheim Cup players go glam for the event’s gala in Spain

Take a look at photos from the biennial event’s opening gala.

On Wednesday evening, Solheim Cup captains and players gathered at the Villa Padierna in Marbella for the event’s opening gala.

While Suzann Pettersen’s team wore matching navy dresses, members of Team USA showed off their own sense of personal style for the glamorous affair.

The matches got underway Friday morning at Finca Cortesin with Team USA sweeping the foursomes session for the first time in Solheim Cup history.

This marks the first Solheim ever contested in Spain. Europe has won the past two editions.

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Take a look at photos — and one Instagram post — from the biennial event’s opening gala:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxbc6e4Nv7O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

2023 Solheim Cup Friday afternoon fourball pairings feature Rose Zhang’s debut

The Americans took an early 4-0 lead after sweeping the morning foursomes session on Friday.

CASARES, Spain — While you were sleeping the U.S. made history in the morning foursomes session of the 2023 Solheim Cup.

The Americans got off to a hot start and swept the opening matches to take an early 4-0 lead over their European counterparts. It’s the first time the U.S. has swept a foursomes session and just the second time they’ve swept a session in the event’s 17-year history (2017 Saturday fourball).

Europe’s Caroline Hedwall will be the only player to not tee it up on Friday as all 12 players from the U.S. will be involved in the action, including highly-touted rookie Rose Zhang.

Europe just barely leads the U.S. in all-time fourball play, 51-50-22.

Check out the four matches and pairings, as well as the eight players who will ride the pine pony for the second session of matches at the 2023 Solheim Cup. (Note: Spain is six hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S.)

MEET THE TEAMS: Europe | USA

Stacy’s sweep: Team USA shuts out Europe in foursomes for the first time in Solheim Cup history

The youngest captain in U.S. history, Stacy Lewis is looking like a genius early on at the Solheim Cup.

Stacy Lewis begins the 18th Solheim Cup looking like a genius. Team USA dominated the Friday morning session in Spain, sweeping foursomes for the first time in history. Europe led only four holes the entire session.

“I think everyone that paired together had really good chemistry,” said Nelly Korda of the 4-0 start. “Our captain, she paired us up really well.”

Korda’s partner, rookie Allisen Corpuz, drained a 6-foot putt on the final hole to fully shut out Europe and end the session.

Lewis raised plenty of eyebrows putting a struggling Lexi Thompson out first for the Americans, but the most experienced player on Team USA paired with Megan Khang to make an early statement, beating a strong rookie duo of Maja Stark and Linn Grant, 2 and 1. Stark and Grant had never lost a foursomes match together in previous competitions and begged European captain Suzann Pettersen to stay together.

Lewis said she’d heard from team helpers all week how good Thompson was hitting the ball early at Finca Cortesin. She looked at the stats put together from their practice rounds and gave Thompson the nod. She’ll go back out in the afternoon with two-time major winner Lilia Vu in fourball.

Lexi Thompson of Team USA warms up during Day One of The Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin Golf Club on September 22, 2023 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Lewis introduced a Solheim Cup-specific analytics program to Team USA and used it as her starting point for every decision this week.

“It’s not the be all,” said Lewis. “There’s certainly personalities of people do or don’t want to play together, maybe it’s a golf ball issue, but analytics are a huge part of what we’re doing and it’s helped justify things to me in my head and it’s helped justify things with the players as well.”

Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight put the first point on the board, drumming a formerly successful duo of Charley Hull and Emily Pedersen, 5 and 4. The Americans were 6 up at the turn.

“We were ready to take on the day,” said Ewing, a captain’s pick Lewis has leaned on for experience.

Andrea Lee was the third American rookie to score a point in the morning, pairing with Danielle Kang, who’s like a sister to the former Stanford standout. The pair were 3 under on the day in alternate shot.

“I don’t think my heart ever pumped that fast before in my life,” said Lee of a 10-footer down the stretch that helped the U.S. defeat a decorated European partnership of Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall, 1 up.

It all added up to a shocking start for the Americans, who came to Spain having lost the past two Cups.

“It’s huge,” said assistant captain Angela Stanford. “But we have to understand it’s Friday morning. Hopefully by Sunday night we can look back and talk about the history.”

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Players hang onto Solheim Cup bags like trophies — Paula Creamer made her first one into a barstool

“It’s just really special to be able to carry the USA bag,” said Allisen Corpuz.

Solheim Cup bags aren’t like any other golf bags. Angela Stanford views her Solheim bags like trophies. It’s a life accomplishment to make a Solheim Cup team, and for many, the highlight of their careers.

Rookie Gemma Dryburgh got emotional when she saw her European bag for the first time.

“We’ve gotten so much gear in our room,” said American rookie Cheyenne Knight. “Like every day it’s been such a surprise. Nelly got custom Beats for us all, so that’s really cool. But just every day we get something in our room.

“But my favorite is the golf bag because I’ll have it forever.”

Solheim Cup: Photos | Format schedule, how to watch

Stacy Lewis put a lot of thought into Team USA’s staff bags. There’s a pocket with 13 stars for the 13 past captains. There’s a pocket with 62 stars for the prior 62 Americans that have represented the U.S. at the Solheim Cup.

And there’s a yellow duck on the bottom of the bag in memory of LPGA founder Shirley Spork, an ardent Solheim Cup fan who liked to find ducks on the course when she played to take her mind off the competition.

“I wanted these girls to know how special of a group they’re coming into,” said Lewis. “So you know what you’re playing for. If you don’t know what you’re playing for, you don’t know about the history.”

Paula Creamer made her first Solheim Cup bag into a barstool. (Courtesy: Paula Creamer)

Paula Creamer made her first Solheim Cup bag from the 2005 edition at Crooked Stick into a barstool. Brittany Lang keeps her five bags lined up in her office underneath a collection of framed Solheim pin flags filled with the signatures of her teammates.

Brittany Lang keeps her Solheim Cup bags lined up in her home office. (Courtesy: Brittany Lang)

Morgan Pressel typically auctions off her Solheim Cup bags as part of the annual Morgan & Friends charity event, which raised just shy of $1 million this year for the fight against breast cancer. The bags can easily fetch a couple thousand of dollars.

Rosie Jones lines up her Solheim Cup bags from her seven appearances as a player and 2011 captaincy. (Courtesy: Rosie Jones)

Rosie Jones’ Solheim bags all have flags stitched on the top that represent places that are important to her, like where she grew up or where she currently lives. Gazing upon them all now, she said, brings so much pride and joy.

Rest assured, the next generation feels the same.

“Stacy’s put so much meaning into everything this week,” said rookie Allisen Corpuz. “And, yeah, it’s just really special to be able to carry the USA bag.”

To go or not to go: Drivable par-4 1st hole will set early tone at 2023 Solheim Cup

“We will have the honor on the first tee all week, so that’s an opportunity for us to put some pressure on (Europe).”

CASARES, Spain — Picture this: a thousand passionate fans are packed into grandstands mere feet from the first tee box as you approach to begin your round. They’re screaming and cheering – or booing if you play for the opposition – and you must somehow tee up your ball and make clean contact despite adrenaline and nerves overtaking your body.

That’s Eminem levels of sweaty palms, weak knees and heavy arms, even for the best players in the world. The first tee at events like the Solheim Cup are some of the most intense moments fans get to see in golf, and this year’s 18th matches between the United States and Europe will be even more pressure packed as players will face a risk-reward tee shot on the 280-yard drivable par-4 1st hole.

“I think it’s so cool,” said U.S. assistant captain Angela Stanford, who thoroughly enjoyed watching Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson bomb drives off the first. “It’s elevated, and you have all the fans behind you — and I know Europe has players that can do it too, and it’s just so cool.  I think it will be a fun way to start the day.”

“I think it’s fun.  It’s something that we don’t get to do a lot of,” echoed Korda.  “Obviously there’s a lot of trouble short.  If you land it just short of the green, it’s rolling into the water.  I think it’s a fun opening hole.  I feel like also you’re already going to be so nervous on the first tee and then that being your opening tee shot too, I think you’re definitely going to be feeling it in your stomach on that first hole.”

Solheim Cup: Photos | Format schedule, how to watch

While reachable par 4s on opening holes are rare, this year’s event isn’t unique as the 2017 Solheim Cup in Iowa featured a 306-yard drivable par 4 on No. 1. European captain Suzann Pettersen noted how the 1st hole in 2017 didn’t play out in her side’s favor, so she’s been preaching the power of communication in order to capitalize this time around.

“I just want the players, the team to kind of at least talk through what we’re thinking, at least have some kind of a strategy in mind when they step up on that first tee,” said Pettersen, who also noted the important role that course conditions will play.

There’s water guarding the front left and bunkers to the back and right of the green, meaning a heavy wind blowing left or into players’ faces could lead to a simple lay-up shot with an easy wedge to the green.

“I mean, it depends on the wind, but if I have a good number and I can get there, I will go for that green,” said Carlota Ciganda. A good number for the Spaniard will be 230-235 meters, which equates to somewhere between 250 and 255 yards.

“I need a downwind for me to go for it,” quipped Megan Khang.

Morgan Pressel, another assistant captain for the Americans, noted how Angel Yin teed off with a little driver and easily reached the front edge with just her third swing of the day without a warm-up. A six-time Solheim Cupper with an 11-8-3 record, Pressel saw the reachable green as an advantage for the U.S.

“I think it’s cool.  It’s match play.  It’s fun,” said Pressel. “We will have the honor on the first tee all week, so that’s an opportunity for us to put some pressure on Team Europe to start right out of the gate.  Players who maybe can’t get there, they have all been like, ‘Oh, I could just get up-and-down and make birdie with a wedge.’  I don’t think it’s a deterrent in that sense.”

“Well, maybe actually we have more pressure because we’re the ones hitting the opening tee shots and they will see how we do,” said Korda, playing devil’s advocate. “I don’t know, it’s going to be a tough one.”

A tough one for sure, but an exciting one as well.

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