Solheim Cup golf 2024: USA lead Europe 8-4 after day two foursomes – live

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That promised much more for Europe, when they were 2UP , 3UP and 4UP in three of the matches. Then, for a while towards the end of the session, it threatened to turn very sour. So hats off to Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit for pulling something out of the hat on 18 there. The lead match will be the cause of regret, a two-hole lead let slip, albeit to the finest player in the world. But what a difference it would have made had Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda managed to hold on. Still, a share of the spoils isn’t a complete disaster for the visitors as they battle to keep their four-in-a-row hopes alive. They’ll need to make inroads in the afternoon, though.

ShareDay two foursomes results

1UP Allisen Corpuz / Nelly Korda v Emily Pedersen / Carlota Ciganda
Ally Ewing / Jennifer Kupcho v Esther Henseleit / Charley Hull 1UP
4&3 Lexi Thompson / Lauren Coughlin v Maja Stark / Georgia Hall
Lilia Vu / Sarah Schmelzel v Anna Nordqvist / Celine Boutier 4&3

ShareUSA 8-4 Europe

Nope, Jennifer Kupcho can’t get anywhere near. Ally Ewing’s two monster putts all for nothing in the end, cancelled out in one swish of Esther Henseleit’s wedge. What a clutch chip! “We [word redacted by Golf Is For All Ages editor] love you Charley!” screams the sweary contingent of the European fanbase. Forgive them, folks, for that was a nail-biter and Europe really needed that.

Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (F)

Jennifer Kupcho’s drive ends up on a hillock to the right of the fairway. Ally Ewing can only whip America’s second into greenside sand. That leaves the door ajar for Europe, with Charley Hull having boomed one down the track. Esther Henseleit, well aware of the importance of a win, paces out each and every one of the 86 yards that remain … before hitting a simply outrageous wedge in. The ball takes a couple of gentle bounces before gripping and halting 12 inches – if that – from the hole! The birdie putt is conceded, and Kupcho will have to hole out if the USA are to take anything from this match.

Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (17)

ShareUSA 8-3 Europe

Emily Pedersen gives her long birdie putt a good go. An effort that oscillates this way and that, and over a ridge to boot. But it’s not dropping. Nelly Korda cradles her putt up to kick-in distance, and a session that earlier threatened to turn into a European clean sweep will most likely be won by the hosts … unless Esther Hernseleit and Charley Hull can somehow snatch something back up 18. What a turnaround! What collective moxie by the Americans.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (F)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (17)

Allisen Corpuz and Carlota Ciganda both find the 18th green in regulation. The former much closer than the latter. You’d think Emily Pedersen needs to make like Ally Ewing and drain a monster if Europe are to salvage a half-point. Meanwhile the inevitable occurs on 17 in the wake of Charley Hull’s astonishing misjudgement, and the last remaining splash of blue is removed from the scoreboard. Those two huge rakes by Ewing have visibly shocked the European pair, who aren’t quite in thousand-yard-stare territory yet, but are sure close to getting there.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (17)
Ewing/Kupcho A/S Henseleit/Hull (17)

ShareUSA 7-3 Europe

Some respite for Europe, as 15 is halved in the anchor match. That’s good enough to chalk up a third point for the visitors. It was all over after five holes, in retrospect, but Lilia Vu’s street-fighting smarts kept the European duo of Celine Boutier and Anna Nordqvist honest. Sarah Schmelzel’s putting woes so costly for the hosts. Nordqvist is two from two.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (17)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4&3 (F)

Updated at 17.27 CEST

A huge, and potentially very costly, rush of blood for Charley Hull on 17. She flies the green with her approach and her ball disappears into the penalty area behind. An astonishing mistake, and Jennifer Kupcho twists the knife by knocking her second to 12 feet. It looks like match two will be level going up the last, and Europe are in serious danger of letting this all go south.

Disaster for Europe on 17. Carlota Ciganda races a long birdie putt four feet past, and Emily Pedersen can’t make the one coming back. In truth, that situation was forced by Nelly Korda’s world-class approach, and the American’s don’t even need to putt out. The hole’s conceded, and what was looking like an extremely promising morning for Europe begins to look much more average. A big 30 minutes coming up.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (17)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (14)

Updated at 17.15 CEST

USA 7-2 Europe

Lexi Thompson has been magnificent this afternoon, and her second into 15 sets up Lauren Coughlin for birdie. That’s the match, and the local hero Coughlin is three points from three!

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (16)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
4&3 Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (F)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (14)

Updated at 17.10 CEST

Ally Ewing rakes in another monster putt! This one from 30-odd feet on 17 to halve a hole the USA looked like losing! She gambols across the green in wild delight as the gallery goes ballistic. In the circumstances, Esther Henseleit does well to hold her nerve and tidy up from four feet, because that could have been one of the all-time smash and grabs!

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (16)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (16)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (14)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (14)

On 17, Emily Pedersen finds the centre of the green from the first cut down the left. But that’s going to be a long look at birdie, and Nelly Korda will be hitting her approach from the centre of the fairway. Korda doesn’t disappoint, landing her ball on the back portion of the green, using the backstop to bring her ball back to five feet! A huge opportunity for the USA to take control of the lead match right at the death! Meanwhile on 14, Sarah Schmelzel isn’t able to make eagle, and the hole is halved in birdie. Europe dormie four in the anchor match.

Charley Hull responds to the hammer blow of Ally Ewing’s long hole-winning rake across 15 by landing her tee shot at the par-three 16th 15 feet to the left of the flag. The camber of the green takes it back to six feet. As the ball sailed along its delicate arc, she stood back to admire her work. The USA are on the green, but much further from the pin, and may need some more long-distance magic if they’re not to find themselves dormie two.

At the par-five 14th, Lilia Vu sends a stunning hybrid from 200 yards straight at the flag. As sweetly struck as Allisen Corpuz’s earlier topper was awful, but the results are just the same: eagle opportunity coming up!

Allisen Corpuz isn’t able to rake home the long birdie putt on 16. That opens the door for Carlota Ciganda, who is a past master at making big putts in the Solheim Cup … but she’s seriously spooked by a huge roar that goes up when Ally Ewing makes a 40-footer on 15 for birdie and the hole! She doesn’t step away from the putt, and knocks it five feet past. What a huge error. She’s thankful to her partner Emily Pedersen for tidying up. Nelly Korda does the same for the hosts, and what a nerve-jangling series of events unfolded there.

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (16)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (15)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (14)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (13)

Lilia Vu sends USA’s third into 13 to ten feet, and though Sarah Schmelzel isn’t able to make the par save, the hole is halved, with Europe unable to get up and down from greenside sand. That’s a big escape for the States after Schmelzel battered the face of a bunker with their second shot. But they’re still four holes down with five to play.

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (15)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (14)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (13)

Emily Pedersen fires her tee shot at 16 over the flag to eight feet. Nelly Korda pulls her iron, though, sending her shot 35 feet to the right. Goodness knows how this lead match is going to end, it’s been glorious back-and-forth entertainment on this back nine.

Updated at 16.45 CEST

Allisen Corpuz’s errant drive and Nelly Korda’s poor bunker shot cost the USA dear at 15. The lead match is tied again, with par enough to land the hole for Europe.

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (15)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (14)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)

Allisen Corpuz hits from a bunker on the 15th. Photograph: Chris Szagola/APShare

Updated at 16.50 CEST

Jennifer Kupcho’s wedge into 14 isn’t all that. Ally Ewing’s long birdie putt sails by, but with Esther Henseleit’s wonderful approach setting up an eagle chance from ten feet, she had to be aggressive. The hole is conceded and Europe are two up again.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (14)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)

Lilia Vu’s drive at 13 finds a fairway bunker, and Sarah Schmelzel hits the face firing out of it. The ball escapes onto the fairway, but the hosts are on the back foot here, and if they lose this hole, Europe will be dormie five. Big moments coming up there.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)

Lauren Coughlin rakes a monster across 13 for birdie! Georgia Hall was well inside her, but can’t make her 10-footer and the USA take proper control of the third morning match. But the first one is certainly not over, and when Nelly Korda can only find a greenside bunker from a fairway one, Emily Pedersen sends her approach into the centre of the green. A fine approach into 14 by Esther Henseleit, meanwhile, and Europe are finally showing signs of countering the fightback.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
3UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (13)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)

Celine Boutier nearly drains a long eagle putt on 12. Not quite. Lilia Vu tidies up to halve the hole in birdie. The nerves continue to jangle meanwhile in the lead match, as Alissen Corpuz’s drive finds a bunker down the left of the fairway, while Carlota Ciganda hoicks hers into rough on the other side.

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (12)

Nelly Korda walks in her eagle putt on 14! She punches the air theatrically. Talk about taking advantage of a big break! Somewhere in the multiverse, Allisen Corpuz’s topped hybrid whistled into the drink. But in our reality, it somehow squeaked pin high, and the USA hit the front in the lead match for the first time today!

1UP Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen (14)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)

An outrageous stroke of fortune for Allisen Corpuz on 14. She tops her second stroke, a hybrid from 192 yards, and it looks like disaster for the USA. But somehow the ball trundles down the fairway, and instead of kinking off towards the water on the left, makes it onto the green, the camber on the right kicking the ball towards the flag. She’s pin high, 15 feet from the cup! Corpuz and her partner Nelly Korda walk to the green laughing uncontrollably. It could be their day! Meanwhile Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull are always out of position going up 13, and finally Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, after three spurned chances in a row, win another hole!

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 1UP (13)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)

Lexi Thompson is on one today. At the par-five 12th, she wedges from 66 yards to three feet. She’s enjoying her valedictory lap, a huge smile on her face. It puts pressure on Europe, for whom Maja Stark had also gone close. Georgia Hall is up to the task of ramming home her birdie putt from six feet. Lauren Coughlin tidies up for the half.

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (12)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (12)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)

Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho won the 9th. They were then denied what looked nailed-on wins at both 10 and 11. So they really need to convert this one. Esther Henseleit rolls her birdie putt down to three feet, but it still shouldn’t be enough. Ally Ewing can’t make what is in fact a six-footer, and Charley Hull tidies up. Three escapes in a row. Meanwhile Allison Corpuz nearly drains a long birdie putt on 13. It’s still enough for the hole, and the lead match is all square for the first time since hole 1. And it’s back-to-back birdies for the USA in the final match, Lilia Vu creaming a gorgeous tee shot at 11 to six feet, Sarah Schmelzel finally making a putt. They couldn’t, could they?!

Corpuz/Korda A/S Ciganda/Pedersen (13)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (12)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (11)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (11)

Jennifer Kupcho and Charley Hull both in the bunker to the right of the 12th green. Kupcho’s escape is decent, no more, but left ten feet short. That opens the door for Hull … but she can’t make it through the frame, sending a skinny one 25 feet past the flag. Advantage USA here. Europe can’t escape again, can they?

Lauren Coughlin swishes her tee shot at 11 pin high, setting up Lexi Thompson with an eight-footer for par. Lexi’s not missing that, certainly not in the mood she’s in today, with her flat stick hot, and the USA’s lead is back to two holes. Maja Stark’s miss from short distance on the previous hole suddenly stings a little more.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (11)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (11)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (10)

Lilia Vu sends a tramliner into the cup for eagle at 10! That’s everything Sarah Schmelzel’s tee shot deserved, and technically, if not totally realistically, the comeback is on!

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (11)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (10)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (10)

Sarah Schmelzel has been having a hell of a time on the greens today. But she’s just hit one of the shots of the week so far on the driveable par-four 10th, creaming her ball pin high to 20 feet or so. Eagle opportunity coming up, and a chance to cut Europe’s lead to just the five.

Maja Stark misses a makeable right-to-left curler from eight feet on 10. A birdie would have tied up match three. She cocks her head back in disappointment, a Pez dispenser of emotion. But there’s a big birdie putt from 15 feet on 12 by Carlota Ciganda to salvage a half for Europe in the lead match. And another huge escape for Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull, this time on 11. Henseleit sends her tee shot towards the water down the right, but it plugs in the bank, and Hull is allowed to place. Europe get up and down, and breathe again.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (12)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (11)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (10)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 6UP (9)

Carlota Ciganda tees off on the 11th. Photograph: Matt York/APShare

Updated at 16.16 CEST

Sarah Schmelzel’s putting woes continue. Celine Boutier rolls in a ten-foot birdie putt on 9. Schmelzel has a straighter, shorter one … and it slips by on the right. The biggest Solheim Cup foursomes result in history is 6&5, something that’s happened several times. We could be heading towards Spartacus Mills territory here.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (11)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (10)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (9)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 6UP (9)

A huge steal for a half on 10 for Team Europe. Not sure the exact outcome of Charley Hull’s errant tee shot, but it looks like Esther Henseleit took a penalty drop and chipped to 12 feet. A win for the USA was still on the cards, but Ally Ewing clanks a terrible chip from the fringe at the back of the green 20 feet past the hole, and when Jennifer Kupcho fails to rescue the situation by making birdie, the hosts are sickened when Hull curls in a left-to-right par saver. A half out of nowhere! That could prove crucial.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (11)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (10)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (9)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (8)

There’s a big search on for Charley Hull’s ball at 10. It’s a jungle down there, and it’s either disappeared or maybe even bounded into the water. They’re surely not going to find it. But some good news for Europe elsewhere: Carlota Ciganda makes a knee-knocking three-footer for a half on 11, Anna Nordqvist extends Europe’s lead in the anchor match with another birdie, and it’s a bounceback birdie for Maja Stark on 9.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (11)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (9)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (9)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 5UP (8)

A look at the shoes of Ally Ewing. Photograph: Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 15.42 CEST

Yep, this is changing quickly all right! On 11, Allisen Corpuz swishes her tee shot over the flag to 20 feet; Carlota Ciganda pulls hers 40 feet to the left of the pin. On the green, but still, that’s advantage USA. And it’s serious advantage USA on 10, where Jennifer Kupcho belts her tee shot through the back of the drivable green, spooking Charley Hull into sending a duck hook into the penalty area down the left. Europe in danger of laying waste to so much of their morning’s work here.

Updated at 15.29 CEST

NBC have just pointed out that before that burst, Team USA had only won four holes all morning. They’ve just won three in as many minutes. Talk about a momentum shift! Europe need to dig in here.

There’s some American momentum here now. Three putts cost Georgia Hall and Maja Stark on 8, and for the third time today, Lexi Thompson wins a hole for the hosts. She fist-bumps with Lauren Coughlin and all of a sudden the scoreboard doesn’t look quite so comfortable for Europe.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (10)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (9)
2UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (8)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (6)

Charley Hull splashes out of the bunker at 9 to 15 feet, and Esther Henseleit walks in the sandy par save. The best they could realistically hope for, but it’s all in vain as Jennifer Kupcho takes her turn to walk one in, for birdie from six feet. Some of Europe’s lead chipped away. And in the lead match, Team USA finally make a birdie, and there’s some more of Europe’s precious lead eaten into.

Corpuz/Korda v Ciganda/Pedersen 1UP (10)
Ewing/Kupcho v Henseleit/Hull 2UP (9)
1UP Coughlin/Thompson v Hall/Stark (7)
Schmelzel/Vu v Boutier/Nordqvist 4UP (6)

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Solheim Cup golf 2024: USA lead Europe 8-4 after day two foursomes – live | Solheim Cup

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