In the 2024 Solheim Cup, Leona Maguire of Ireland and her European team-mate Georgia Hall were defeated in the inaugural fourball match, with the game concluding 6&4 in favour of their rivals, Nelly Korda and Megan Khang of Team USA. Despite not being selected for Friday’s foursomes match at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, Maguire played the first of the afternoon fourball games at the same venue.
The team from Europe commenced the afternoon session needing to catch up, as the earlier foursomes concluded 3-1 favouring the American hosts. Korda, leading Team USA’s charge as she had done earlier, secured a 3 up lead for her and Khang after the 6th hole. Maguire and Hall only managed to regain ground at the 9th hole, bringing the score down to 4 up in favour of their opponents, following Khang’s success at the 8th hole.
Despite Maguire prolonging the match with a win at the 13th hole, Korda hit back by winning the 14th hole, thereby securing a 6 up victory for the American pair, ending the round. It was another challenging session for the European team, as they won only one out of four fourball challenges.
Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom did manage a 6&5 victory over Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson for Team Europe captain Suzann Pettersen. However, Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark’s match against Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel concluded 3&2 in favour of the American hosts. Lastly, Linn Grant and Charley Hull were defeated 5&4 by Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang, concluding the day with a 6-2 lead for Team USA.
The tournament will resume on Saturday, beginning with four morning foursomes matches. The afternoon session will feature four fourball matches, with the player lineup yet to be revealed.