Leona Maguire bags point as Solheim Cup level after first morning
Leona Maguire of Team Europe tees off on the first hole during the first round morning foursomes matches of the Solheim Cup 2026 at Bernardus Golf on September 11, 2026 in Cromvoirt, Netherlands. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)
Nelly Korda played like the world No. 1 in a record-setting partnership with Allisen Corpuz, helping the Americans split the opening foursomes 2-2 with Team Europe in a loud and wet start to the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands on Friday.
Leona Maguire delivered again for Europe. She and Esther Henseleit completed a 2-up win over Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan on the 18th.
The early soundtrack to Day 1 — party music and chants just after dawn on a typically boisterous first tee — quickly turned into cheers from visiting American fans around a gloomy Bernardus Golf as Korda and Corpuz dominated the star-studded opening match against Europe’s best top players, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad.
With their 4-and-3 win, the U.S. pairing claimed a fifth straight win — an unprecedented feat at the Solheim Cup.
When Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin put more red on the board by beating Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Alison Lee as rain started to fall, the United States had two of the 14 points needed to take the crystal trophy back across the Atlantic.
Europe rallied, though, with victories in the final two matches of the session.
The Swedish pairing of Maja Stark and Linn Grant went 4 up after seven holes and wound up winning 3 and 2 against Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho.
Then, in the only match that went beyond the 16th hole, Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire — who were also never behind — completed victory over Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan on No. 18.
Maguire moved to a 9-3-1 record for the event, the best by any European player who has played at least five matches.
She told Sky Sports: "When the weather got bad and miserable - it was that extra little bit to grind it out. The crowds were amazing this morning. A few new chants and a few more songs that we haven't heard, so that was keeping us entertained."
Hull/Woad (EUR) lost to Corpuz/Korda (USA) 4&3
Madsen/Boutier (EUR) lost to Al. Lee/Coughlin (USA) 3&2
Henseleit/Maguire (EUR) beat An. Lee/Duncan (USA) 2 UP
Stark/Grant (EUR) beat Zhang/Kupcho (USA) 3&2
12.05pm: Charley Hull and Lottie Woad v Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin 12.20pm: Celine Boutier and Nanna Madsen v Megan Khang and Alison Lee 12.35pm: Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud v Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim
12.50pm: Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez v Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin
Associated Press
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