This may be the Solheim Cup, but the Europeans spent Saturday afternoon name-checking Medinah.
It is that type of situation for the Euro women, who trail the U.S. team 10-6 entering Sunday singles. That was the score 12 years ago in the Ryder Cup, with the European men rallying for a staggering Sunday finish and a cup win, and has since become the rallying cry of most losing teams in international team golf.
The United States must win 4.5 points to win the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017. The Europeans would retain the cup if it ends in a 14-14 tie — exactly what happened a year ago in Spain.
This week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course outside of Washington, D.C., the Americans have been the better team, winning the first two sessions on Friday and claiming half the points on Saturday. Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin are all 3-0 this week, and four more Americans have two points. The mood is joyful for the U.S. team, so much so that a pair of caddies ripped off their shirts on the second hole Saturday afternoon, paying off a bet with Megan Khang and Alison Lee. The U.S. led 10-4 before the Euros fought to win the final two matches of the day.
USA captain Stacy Lewis will send out Korda, the No. 1 player in the world, first on Sunday, and follow her with the undefeated Khang and Lee. Zhang and Lexi Thompson, potentially playing in her final Solheim Cup, are also among the first seven matches on the course.
It matches strength against strength with European captain Suzann Pettersen having to stack her lineup. Charley Hull will face Korda, and Emily Pedersen will take on Khang. Anna Nordqvist vs. Allisen Corpuz is another headliner.
Full tee times
(all tee times ET)
Match 1: Charley Hull (Euro) vs. Nelly Korda (US), 8:50 a.m.
Match 2: Emily Pederson (Euro) vs. Megan Khang (US), 9 a.m.
Match 3: Georgia Hall (Euro) vs. Alison Lee (US), 9:10 a.m.
Match 4: Anna Nordqvist (Euro) vs. Allisen Corpuz (US), 9:20 a.m.
Match 5: Carlota Ciganda (Euro) vs. Rose Zhang (US), 9:30 a.m.
Match 6: Esther Henseleit (Euro) vs. Andrea Lee (US), 9:40 a.m.
Match 7: Celine Boutier (Euro) vs. Lexi Thompson (US), 9:50 a.m.
Match 8: Maja Stark (Euro) vs. Lauren Coughlin (US), 10 a.m.
Match 9: Albane Valenzuela (Euro) vs. Lilia Vu (US), 10:10 a.m.
Match 10: Madeline Sagstrom (Euro) vs. Sarah Schmelzel (US), 10:20 a.m.
Match 11: Leona Maguire (Euro) vs. Ally Ewing (US), 10:30 a.m.
Match 12: Linn Grant (Euro) vs. Jennifer Kupcho (US), 10:40 a.m.
Required reading
• Lexi Thompson’s Solheim Cup legacy is almost complete. Will it include another win?
• Should the Solheim Cup have a tiebreaker? It’s probably time for a refresh
• U.S. team’s Day 1 dominance lifted entire vibe of this Solheim Cup
(Top photo of Megan Khang, left, and Alison Lee: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
