US claim record four-point Solheim Cup lead over Europe

World number one Nelly Korda led from the front as the United States dominated a disappointing Europe on the opening day of the Solheim Cup in Virginia.

Korda was in irresistible form, winning both her matches as the home side took both sessions 3-1 to lead 6-2 – a record margin for day one of the contest.

She teamed up with Allisen Corpuz to claim the first point in the alternate shot foursomes and was then victorious with Megan Khang in the afternoon fourballs.

For Europe it was a largely bruising day.

It had begun with captain Suzann Pettersen enthusiastically dancing to YMCA on the first tee as dawn broke over Lake Manassas and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

It ended with her sounding flat as she delivered a “we have done it before and we can do it again” assessment of Europe’s tough task ahead.

In contrast, US skipper Stacy Lewis revelled in an “awesome day” after “some unbelievable golf” from her players.

Europe came into the contest looking to become the first side to lift the Solheim Cup for a fourth successive time.

But their underdog status was underlined by a US side which is stronger on paper in terms of world ranking positions, despite having not won since 2017.

The whole US mantra this week has been “unfinished business” after Europe fought back from 4-0 down to draw 14-14 in Spain last year and retain the trophy.

And Lewis sent Korda and Corpuz out first in the morning as a statement of intent, given they won both their foursomes matches in Spain. Once again they delivered a red point, finishing strongly to beat England’s Charley Hull and Germany’s Esther Henseleit 3&2 in a see-saw match.

Korda and Khang danced on to the first tee for the afternoon fourballs in front of former US president Barack Obama, who is a member at the exclusive course about an hour west of Washington DC.

They then waltzed to a 6&4 victory over England’s Georgia Hall and Ireland’s Leona Maguire, winning five of the first seven holes to set the platform for a comfortable victory.

Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang were also big winners, 5&4 over Hull and Linn Grant. The match had been finely poised when Lee birdied the ninth to put the Americans one clear and they won four of the next five to clinch another point.

Rookie pairing Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel then rounded off a sensational day for the US with a 3&2 victory over Maja Stark and Emily Pedersen.

Stark and Pedersen had picked up Europe’s solitary point in the morning with a nervy victory that went down to the 18th hole, despite them being four up after five holes.

And the afternoon point came from veteran Anna Nordqvist, playing in her ninth Solheim Cup, alongside her good friend and fellow Swede Madelene Sagstrom.

They won six successive holes from the eighth as they demolished the retiring Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee 6&5.

“I don’t feel like we’re playing poorly,” insisted captain Pettersen.

“The Americans played great and I feel like they had all the putts rolling their way and I don’t feel like we’ve had any momentum.

“Everything’s possible though. Last year was a good example of it. There’s so many points left to play for and we come back ready to fight again.”

The morning session was largely played out in front of sparse crowds after logistical issues prevented thousands of fans from getting to the course in time for the opening tee shots at 07:05 (12:05 BST).

The LPGA apologised for the disruption, which saw some fans take more than two hours to reach the venue by bus from the car park.

It led to the usually bouncing stand around the first tee being half-empty with a slightly muted atmosphere as the DJ’s blaring soundtrack largely drowned out those lucky enough to have made it.

All three of the American victories were by 3&2 scorelines – and all three were down to American dominance on the back nine.

Korda and Corpuz won three successive holes from the 14th, while behind them, Zhang and Coughlin were involved in a tight tussle with Celine Boutier and Albane Valenzuela.

The US pair twice went one up, only to see Europe immediately respond.

However, a run of three successive wins from the 12th gave the American’s daylight and when Switzerland’s Valenzuela was too aggressive with a birdie putt on the 16th, the hole was halved in pars, which was enough for a second red point.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Sweden’s Linn Grant were always behind after losing the first hole to Lilia Vu and Schmelzel. But the Americans only pulled clear when they took the 12th and 13th holes to go three ahead. Ciganda holed a putt on the 14th to claw one back but could not repeat that feat on the 15th and a third red point was confirmed on the next.

Europe desperately needed the final match out on the course to stay blue and Stark and Pedersen blazed to a quick start, but were left holding on down the stretch.

Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho closed to two down with four to play and that was down to one when Europe lost the 15th.

But the Scandinavian pair held their nerve, with Stark firing her approach to the last to within three feet, which was enough to seal an important point.

As holders, Europe need 14 of the 28 available points to lift the Solheim Cup for a record fourth successive time, while the US need 14½ to earn a first win since 2017.