U.S. Solheim Cup Team Continues to Lead Europe After Record-Tying Success in Alternate Shot

The U.S. earned six total points in two alternate-shot sessions to match their all-time record in this event.

ANDALUCIA, Spain — The U.S. Solheim Cup continues to lead the 18th edition of this event, 7 to 5, after a 2-2 result in the Saturday morning alternate shot session.

Saturday’s round of foursomes was more competitive than Friday, when the U.S. swept Europe 4-0. This time two of the matches went to the 18th hole with both Europe and the U.S. winning crucial points.

The U.S. earned six total points in the two foursomes sessions, which tied the 1998 U.S. team at Muirfield Village for the most points earned in the alternate-shot format.

Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang won their match Saturday morning on the 18th hole / Getty Images

On Saturday morning Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang faced Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist in perhaps the most tense match of the session. The European duo took the lead on the second hole and was never behind until the U.S. made par on the par-4 11th. After more back-and-forth action, the U.S. regained the lead for good on the par-3 17th.

“That's the whole thing, match play, you can never give up, and you never know when it can turn, so you have to stay in it and stay in the moment,” Thompson said after earning her second point in foursomes this week.

Europe trails by two points going into afternoon fourballs, and European Captain Suzann Pettersen shifted her lineup from the one that went 3-1 in Friday’s session. She has added Caroline Hedwall and will also play Maguire, Emily Pedersen and Linn Grant four times, putting their Sunday singles stamina in question.

Pettersen said earlier in the week that she knows her players better than they know themselves. During the next two sessions of fourballs and singles, we’ll learn if she’s correct.

2023 Solheim Cup Saturday Afternoon Fourballs Pairings

Match 13 – Nelly Korda/Ally Ewing (USA) vs. Charley Hull/Leona Maguire (Europe)

Match 14 - Cheyenne Knight/Angel Yin (USA) vs. Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall (Europe)

Match 15 - Rose Zhang/Andrea Lee (USA) vs. Madelene Sagstrom/Emily K. Pedersen (Europe)

Match 16 - Danielle Kang/Lilia Vu (USA) vs. Carlota Ciganda/Linn Grant (Europe)

2023 Solheim Cup Saturday Morning Foursomes Results

Match 9 – 2 & 1 Carlota Ciganda & Emily Pedersen (Europe) d. Jennifer Kupcho & Lilia Vu (USA)

Match 10 – 1 Up Lexi Thompson & Megan Khang (USA) v. Anna Nordqvist & Leona Maguire (Europe)

Match 11 – 5 & 3 Allisen Corpuz & Nelly Korda (USA) d. Celine Boutier & Georgia Hall (Europe)

Match 12 – 1 Up Linn Grant & Maja Stark (Europe) d. Andrea Lee & Danielle Kang (USA)