Day 2 of the 2024 Solheim Cup saw the European side come out firing early but unable to make a dent in the home team's overnight lead. Fending off a ferocious charge from the visitors, the U.S. maintained its four-point margin and stands tall with a 10 to 6 advantage heading into Sunday singles at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.
Led by world No. 1 Nelly Korda and Solheim Cup rookies Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin, all of whom have compiled 3-0-0 records, the U.S. needs just 4.5 more points to claim the 19th Solheim Cup and its first since 2017. While the red, white and blue should feel good about its edge, the team understands it is not insurmountable as the U.S. side overcame the same 10 to 6 deficit on the road in Germany in 2015 to win the Solheim Cup.
"Tomorrow is the singles. They will play well," European vice captain Laura Davies said. "The Americans have played unbelievable. I don't know how many eagles they've had. It seems like they've had double figures. They've just played great golf. Out-putted us at the moment. Deep squad of players. We'll never say never, but it is going to be very, very difficult to get the Cup back."
Saturday foursomes
U.S. 8 | Europe 4
Europe | Score | U.S. |
---|---|---|
Emily Pedersen & Carlota Ciganda | 1 UP | Alisen Corpuz & Nelly Korda |
Esther Henseleit & Charley Hull | 1 UP | Ally Ewing & Jennifer Kupcho |
Maja Stark & Georgia Hall | 4&3 | Lexi Thompson & Lauren Coughlin |
Anna Nordqvist & Celine Boutier | 4&3 | Lilia Vu & Sarah Schmelzel |
A big blue wave came roaring out the gates Saturday morning. With Europe taking commanding leads in three of the matches and in contention in the other, it appeared the away team would erase the overnight deficit entirely with a clean sweep. An undefeated session never materialized, and neither did a winning session as the two sides split the four matches.
The opening bout was a big reason why as Korda & Corpuz turned a 2 DOWN deficit at the turn into a 1 UP victory on the 18th green. Winning Nos. 10 and 13, the Americans took their first lead when Corpuz's topped approach into the par-5 14th ran onto the surface to set up an eagle from the blade of Korda, who secured points a few holes later with a stellar approach up the hill into the par-4 17th. This duo is now 4-0-0 in foursomes in the last two Solheim Cups.
Allisen and Nelly convert the EAGLE to go 1 Up! 📈🦅 pic.twitter.com/4kJQlchPG6
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2024
The final two matches ended early as Thompson & Coughlin surged past Stark & Hall, making Coughlin a perfect 3-0-0 in her Solheim Cup debut. Meanwhile, Nordqvist & Boutier put the hurt on Vu & Schmelzel and were 6 UP at the turn thanks to a 2-under front nine.
That set the stage for the second match of the morning, which was pivotal in keeping Europe above water. After going 3 UP through eight, Europe's lead slowly trickled away. Ewing holed a couple of long putts after struggling from shorter distance and cut the lead to one with birdies on Nos. 15-16. Hull went long with her approach on the very next hole, which erased the lead entirely, but the away team bounced back on the last making birdie to secure a full point and a tie in the session.
"Even when you think you're out of it," Hull said. "Just carry on grinding because it's not over until the fat lady sings."
Saturday four-ball
U.S. 10 | Europe 6
Europe | Score | U.S. |
---|---|---|
Anna Norqvist & Madelene Sagstrom | 4&3 | Alison Lee & Megan Khang |
Linn Grant & Celine Boutier | 6&4 | Andrea Lee & Rose Zhang |
Carlota Ciganda & Emily Pedersen | 2&1 | Ally Ewing & Lexi Thompson |
Charley Hull & Georgia Hall | 2 UP | Allisen Corpuz & Lilia Vu |
With Korda and Coughlin sidelined in the afternoon, Lee took the top off the place in the opening match of the session with a hole-out eagle on the par-4 2nd. Khang kicked it into high gear with a couple birdies of her own to grab a commanding 3 UP through the first eight holes. It got trimmed by one in the early stages of the back nine before Khang knocked in an eagle on the par-5 14th to put it one ice.
SHIRTS OFF FOR ALISON LEE'S HOLE OUT FROM THE FAIRWAY 😤💯 pic.twitter.com/VDmLUq8xR6
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 14, 2024
"It was completely surreal, definitely one of the coolest moments of my life, of my career," Lee said. "Got to have one of my best friends there with me and a couple great caddies, and we celebrated just the way we wanted to. We had a lot of fun."
Zhang & Lee were at it again as well as the two Stanford products left no room for doubt. Finishing their match on the par-5 14th for the second straight day, the two have now played their 28 holes together in 20 under. While the first two matches were routs in favor of the U.S., the final two saw the blue flags flying.
Ciganda & Pedersen were down early but tied the match on No. 7 with a birdie from the Spaniard. It remained that way until the par-4 13th where the Europeans once again claimed a hole. The U.S. had its chance to draw even, but both Thompson and Ewing were unable to connect from short range on the par-5 14th after watching Pedersen and Ciganda do the same. The Dane took the air out of the room on the very next hole with a nice roll from outside 20 feet to all but secure the full point.
Hull was in the last match on the golf course and brought home a full point for the second straight session. Hall was great in her own right, but this point was all about Hull as she shot 8 under on her own ball without dropping a shot. With the win, Hull joined Pedersen and Nordqvist as players to tally two points for Europe.