Team Europe will open their Solheim Cup campaign against a formidable United States pairing as Charley Hull and debutant Lottie Woad take on world No.1 Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz in Friday morning’s foursomes at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
The opening match promises to provide an immediate test for Europe as captain Anna Nordqvist sends two very different but complementary players out together. Hull brings vast Solheim Cup experience into the contest, making her eighth consecutive appearance in the biennial event, while Woad will experience the unique pressure of the competition for the first time.
The European pairing is facing one of the strongest combinations available to the American captain Angela Stanford. Korda and Corpuz have been unbeaten in their four previous foursomes matches together across the last two Solheim Cups, giving them an impressive 4-0 record in the format. Stanford described their selection as an obvious decision, while also highlighting Corpuz as one of the key figures in her team.
For Woad, the occasion represents another major milestone in what has already been a rapid rise through the professional game. The 22 year old is one of Europe’s rookies and now finds herself starting the Solheim Cup against the world’s leading player in front of a passionate home crowd.
Rather than viewing the challenge as a burden, Woad has embraced the opportunity. She has already played alongside Hull during the season, giving the pair some familiarity before being thrown into one of the most demanding matches of the opening session.
Nordqvist believes that existing relationship was an important factor in her decision. The European captain said Hull and Woad had played together several times during the year and were excited about the opportunity to form a Solheim Cup partnership.
Hull, meanwhile, brings the kind of experience that could prove invaluable to a rookie playing her first match in such a high pressure environment. The Englishwoman has been one of Europe’s most recognizable Solheim Cup players for more than a decade and will be expected to provide leadership alongside Woad.
There is also an intriguing individual battle within the opening match. Hull will once again find herself across the course from Korda, a player she has already faced on major stages. The two have developed a compelling rivalry, and their latest meeting adds another layer to an already highly anticipated opening contest.
Korda enters the competition as the world’s No.1 player and one of the central figures in the American challenge. She also has considerable Solheim Cup experience, while her partnership with Corpuz has developed into one of the United States’ most reliable combinations.
The Americans arrive in Europe determined to retain the trophy after winning 15½-12½ at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia in 2024. However, they face a significant historical challenge: the United States have won on European soil only once since 2007, with that victory coming in 2015.
That makes the opening foursomes particularly important. Europe will be hoping the home support at Bernardus Golf can give Hull and Woad an early lift, while the United States will be looking to rely on the experience and proven chemistry of Korda and Corpuz.
The foursomes format adds another layer of difficulty. Unlike fourball, where players compete with their own balls and the better score counts, foursomes requires teammates to alternate shots while playing with a single ball. That makes communication, patience and trust essential, particularly when one member of a pairing is making her Solheim Cup debut.
Woad has already shown that she is not intimidated by the scale of the occasion. She has stressed the importance of every point in what is expected to be a closely fought contest, noting that even a half point could prove decisive by the time Sunday’s singles matches arrive.
The wider Friday morning session features three other European pairings. Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Céline Boutier will face Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin, Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire take on Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan, while Maja Stark and Linn Grant meet Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho.
The contest comes at the start of the 20th Solheim Cup, with 28 points available across three days. Friday and Saturday feature foursomes and fourball sessions before all 12 players from each team compete in Sunday’s singles. The United States will retain the trophy if the competition finishes level at 14-14.
For Europe, however, the immediate focus will be on the first tee.
Hull has the experience, Woad has the excitement of a debut and Korda and Corpuz have an unbeaten foursomes record behind them. It is an imposing challenge for the European pair, but also an opportunity to establish the tone of the entire tournament.
With the home crowd watching and the Solheim Cup on the line from the very first match, Hull and Woad have been handed the perfect stage to make an early statement. And against Korda and Corpuz, they will know that nothing less than their best will be required.
