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09/13 07:19 CDT Solheim Cup finale: Team Europe makes fast start in bid to
reclaim trophy from US as rain eases
Solheim Cup finale: Team Europe makes fast start in bid to reclaim trophy from
US as rain eases
By STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) --- All 12 singles matches are in play on the final
day of the Solheim Cup --- and blue is filling the scoreboards across Bernardus
Golf.
The Europeans made a fast start Sunday in their bid to reach 14 1/2 points and
regain the crystal trophy, with Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit and Linn Grant
--- out in the first three matches --- getting to the back nine with big leads
in wet conditions.
Nelly Korda was 3 up on European rookie Mimi Rhodes after nine holes of the
fourth match, but the world No. 1 wasn't getting much help from her U.S.
teammates. Only one other American was leading --- Lauren Coughlin in Match 9
against Leona Maguire.
Team Europe has played stronger on the shorter front nine this week, however,
so there was still plenty of hope for the Americans.
There has barely been any separation between Europe and the United States this
week, meaning something has to give on Sunday.
Tied at 4-4 after Day 1, the teams were locked at 8-8 ahead of the start of
singles play, with heavy rain greeting the arrival of players and fans on Day 3
and umbrellas lining the fairways as the early groups went out.
The rain had relented by the time Rose Zhang and Celine Boutier teed off in the
final pairing out at 1:22 p.m. local time (7:22 a.m. EDT), with players finally
able to remove their wet gear.
At stake is the trophy that has been on show on the boisterous first tee all
week and in the possession of the Americans since 2024.
They need 14 points to retain it. Both teams require 14 1/2 for an outright win.
Hull, who contributed just a half-point for Team Europe from four matches in a
misfiring combination with Lottie Woad over the first two days, won the first
hole of the lead singles match against Megan Khang and extended her lead to 2
up with a birdie at No. 10.
The singles has been tight in recent years It is the seventh time that the Solheim Cup has been tied after two days. The home team has a record of 5-0-1 on the six previous occasions. In the past five editions of the event, the singles session has been tied three times and Europe has won 6 1/2-5 1/2 the other two times. Whoever wins, it's a day that rarely fails to deliver. ___ See AP's full golf coverage here
The singles has been tight in recent years It is the seventh time that the Solheim Cup has been tied after two days. The home team has a record of 5-0-1 on the six previous occasions. In the past five editions of the event, the singles session has been tied three times and Europe has won 6 1/2-5 1/2 the other two times. Whoever wins, it's a day that rarely fails to deliver. ___ See AP's full golf coverage here
