Hope had cascaded through the European contingent at this Solheim Cup during Friday afternoon until the sort of fightback that endorsed the sense that, come Sunday evening, the US will have won this trophy in a foreign land for the first time since 2015. This compelling day concluded with the scores level at 4-4. For Europe, it had promised to be so much better.
After a morning session that closed all square at 2-2, Europe surged ahead in three fourball matches. This felt like validation for Anna Nordqvist, the home captain. She had opted not to deploy any of the four players who returned two foursomes points – Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit – after lunch.
Heads turned, especially in respect of Maguire. She was controversially lightly raced as Europe lost in the 2024 Solheim Cup. Victory for Maguire and Henseleit over Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan meant the Irishwoman became statistically the most successful European Solheim Cup player of all time.
Maguire had cause to wonder why she was left on the sidelines; especially as Céline Boutier and Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who visibly toiled in the foursomes, slumped to a second defeat out of two. Megan Khang and Alison Lee cantered to a 5&3 fourball success in the one straightforward clash of the afternoon. As the heavens opened and competitors turned for home, the US discovered pulses elsewhere.
Blue started to be wiped from scoreboards. The sun was out again by the time Yealimi Noh produced the shot of the day, from a fairway bunker on the 17th. Noh could not even see the green from the sand trap yet played a glorious iron to five feet.
As Noh converted from there, a three-up lead for Charley Hull and Lottie Woad after 11 holes had been cancelled out. Noh had made birdie at four holes from a run of six. On the final green, Noh stood over a putt to complete the turnaround and win the match.
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