Full Breakdown
Europe Takes 7-5 Lead After Saturday Morning Foursomes
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Saturday Morning Foursomes (September 12)
On Saturday 12 September 2026, the Solheim Cup’s second-day foursomes at Bernardus Golf swung three points to Europe. The Swedish pair Maja Stark and Linn Grant beat Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz 3 and 2, ending the Americans’ 5-0 career record in the format. Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit won 1-up over Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang. Rookie teammates Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud repeated their success with a 4 and 3 win over Andrea Lee and Auston Kim. The anchor match saw Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin thrash Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 6 and 5, tying the record margin. Europe led 7-5.
Background & Context
The Solheim Cup pits Europe against the United States in a three-day, 28-point competition. Historically, the team leading after Saturday has won 11 of the last 13 editions. The United States entered as defending champions, needing 14 points to retain; Europe requires 14½ to capture it.
Data & Statistics
- Score after Saturday foursomes: Europe 7 – USA 5.
- Korda/Corpuz record: 5-0 before the loss, now 5-1.
- Lee/Coughlin margin: 6 and 5, matching the largest foursomes win.
- Rhodes/Nadaud achievement: first rookie pair to win two matches in a single Solheim Cup.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. captain Angela Stanford defended starting Korda and Corpuz, saying omitting them “would have been questioned.” European captain Anna Nordqvist praised the rookie duo as a “great surprise” and confirmed their continued selection.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I feel like if I didn’t put those two out, I would be questioned,” — Angela Stanford
- “It’s kind of hard to beat where you’re not making any bogeys,” — Maja Stark
- “I think we did a really good job at sort of balancing each other out today and just tried to keep as much pressure on them as we could the whole way around,” — Leona Maguire
On-the-Ground Reports
The morning began under a gloomy sky, but the grandstand stayed electric. Spectators cheered as Maguire and Henseleit delivered a short-game master class on the closing holes, with Henseleit’s chip on 18 securing the point.
Why It Matters / Impact
Europe’s 7-5 lead after the third session puts the team in a statistically advantageous position, echoing the historical trend toward victory. The United States now faces a larger deficit in the remaining sessions, needing at least 14 points overall to retain the Cup. The session also ended the Korda/Corpuz unbeaten streak, highlighting Europe’s depth and rookie impact.