Solheim Cup 2026: Hull and Woad face Korda and Corpuz
Europe's Charley Hull and Lottie Woad will kick off the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands against American stars Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz on Friday.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The 2026 Solheim Cup kicks off with morning foursomes at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands at 06:40 BST.
- England's Charley Hull and Lottie Woad face American powerhouse duo Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz in the opening match.
- Team USA has dominated the past two opening sessions, winning 4-0 in 2023 and 3-1 in 2024.
The prestigious women's golf team showdown, the Solheim Cup 2026, is set to begin in the Netherlands with an intense lineup of alternate-shot foursomes matches this Friday, setting the stage for a dramatic tournament.
English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, currently ranked seventh and eighth respectively, will face a formidable challenge right out of the gate as they square off against American pairing Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz. The US duo boasts a flawless record, having won all four of their foursomes matches across the last two editions of the competition.
Their previous encounters include a notable victory over Hull and Esther Henseleit during the opening match of the 2024 tournament. US captain Angela Stanford defended her selection for the opener, noting that omitting Korda and Corpuz would have inevitably drawn widespread questioning, as everyone anticipated their appearance.
Play at Bernardus Golf gets underway at 06:40 BST with four high-stakes foursomes matches featuring top golfers from around the globe.
- Match two: Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen and France's Celine Boutier against Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin.
- Match three: Germany's Esther Henseleit and Ireland's Leona Maguire against Andrea Lee and debutant Lindy Duncan.
- Match four: Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant against Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho.
"If I didn't put those two out, I would be questioned. I feel like the whole world knew that they were coming."
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The Solheim Cup remains the pinnacle of women's professional team golf, offering an intense atmosphere distinct from regular stroke-play events. The foursomes format requires absolute synchronization between partners, as alternating shots leave no room for individual recovery from mistakes. Team USA's prior dominance in these opening sessions highlights their tactical strength in pairing consistency, a hurdle Europe must overcome if they hope to reclaim the trophy following their narrow 15½-12½ defeat in Virginia two years ago.
The United States has established strong momentum in previous opening foursomes sessions, securing a 4-0 sweep at Finca Cortesin in 2023 and a 3-1 advantage at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in 2024. Meanwhile, Team Europe enters the tournament eager to reclaim the trophy following a tight 15½-12½ loss in Virginia two years ago in women's golf's premier team championship.
Source: BBC Sport
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