Solheim Cup 2026 LIVE: Europe and USA tied after dramatic opening day at Bernardus Golf

Team USA and Europe will head into the second day of the 2026 Solheim Cup all square after a dramatic opening day at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.

The defending champions and Europe are tied at 4-4 after the two sides shared both sessions on Friday, with the morning foursomes ending 2-2 before the afternoon fourballs also finished level at 2-2.

This is the first time in Solheim Cup history both of the first two sessions have ended in a tie.

The day began with history as Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz became the first pairing in Solheim Cup history to win their first five matches together.

World No.1 Korda and Corpuz defeated England’s Charley Hull and Solheim Cup debutant Lottie Woad 4&3 in the opening match, despite Europe’s pairing being regarded as one of the strongest on paper.

Korda was delighted to continue her remarkable partnership with Corpuz.

“She’s just so solid, I enjoy playing alongside her so much,” Korda said.

Corpuz added: “It’s so much easier playing where she puts me in the fairway.”

Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin then doubled the USA’s advantage by defeating Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier.

Europe refused to allow the session to get away from them, however, as Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire beat Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan 2&1.

The victory further enhanced Maguire’s outstanding Solheim Cup record, with the Irishwoman now boasting a 9-3-1 record in the competition and the highest winning percentage of any European player.

Maja Stark and Linn Grant completed the comeback by beating Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2, leaving the morning session all square at 2-2.

Hull and Woad were sent out together again in the afternoon and looked set for victory after twice moving three holes ahead of Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin.

The Americans fought back, though, to secure a tied match and the first half-point of the week.

Megan Khang and Alison Lee then put the USA back in front with a convincing victory over Boutier and Koerstz Madsen, who endured a difficult day after suffering back-to-back defeats.

Europe responded through rookies Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud, who claimed a hard-fought 2&1 victory over Corpuz and Auston Kim.

That left the final match of the day finely poised, with Korda teaming up with Coughlin against Spanish duo Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez.

The Americans looked set to claim another crucial point after Lopez Ramirez made bogey on the 18th. 

But Ciganda held her nerve, just as she has done for many years at the Solheim Cup, rolling in a pressure-packed par putt from 18 feet to tie the hole and the match, ensuring Europe took a share of the afternoon points.

The dramatic finish meant the overall scoreline ended 4-4, leaving everything to play for on Saturday.

Alison Lee was the only player on either team to finish the day with two points. 

Korda and Coughlin were next, taking 1.5 points from their two matches.

The same format will be used on Saturday, with morning foursomes followed by afternoon fourballs, before the competition concludes on Sunday with 12 singles matches.

The USA are bidding to retain the Solheim Cup after their victory at home in 2024 and they 14 points to keep hold of the trophy. 

Europe require 14.5 points to regain the Cup.

The Americans are also seeking their first away victory since 2015, when they won in Germany.

The USA currently hold an 11-8 advantage in Solheim Cup history, with the biennial contest having been played since 1990.

Scroll down to see how day one played out at the Solheim Cup...