Day two began on a chilly morning at Bernardus Golf in The Netherlands with the scores level at 4-4 after the first day of action at the 2026 Solheim Cup.
However, during the morning foursomes Europe won three points out of a possible four to lead the U.S. 7-5 after three sessions.
Maja Stark/Linn Grant def. Allisen Corpuz/Nelly Korda 3&2
After winning their foursomes match on day one, Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant headed back out to repeat the feat, but this time were up against Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda, who were undefeated in foursomes.
The European duo went 1 up early on thanks to Stark’s birdie putt on the first and they went 2 up with another birdie on the seventh. Major champion Stark chipped in from the front of the green on the eighth for eagle to make it 3 up before they won the ninth to go 4 up at the turn.
However, Corpuz and Korda were not going to go quietly as they immediately bounced back winning the 10th and 11th holes to reduce the deficit to 2 down. The Europeans won the 16th hole to secure a 3&2 victory and get the first point on the board on Saturday for Europe.
Stark said: “It’s the best feeling ever. It felt like we put up some really decent golf both today and yesterday. It’s hard to beat where you’re not making any bogeys. We’re just going to keep going. Of course, the U.S. played really good golf in our group as well. We’re hitting good shots and good putts.”
Leona Maguire/Esther Henseleit def. Jennifer Kupcho/Rose Zhang 1 up
In a match that went all the way to the 18th green, it was Leona Maguire and Esther Hensleiet that went into a 1 up lead with a birdie on the first. However, Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang then won the third and fourth holes to go up 1 up themselves.
The Americans then won the sixth hole to go 2 up and maintained that for three holes before Maguire rolled in a putt from 15 feet to win the 10th hole. Henseleit then holed her birdie putt on 12 before Maguire sunk her 10-footer on 13 to be 1 up.
The U.S. won the 14th hole to level the match before going 1 up with Europe in the water on 15. However, the Europeans bounced back with Maguire holing a five-foot birdie on 16 to take it back to tied. On 18, Maguire missed the green left, but Henseleit hit it to within two feet to win the final hole and seal a 1 up victory.
Henseleit said: “The crowd was amazing today. They really helped us turn the momentum on the back nine. It was a lot of fun. It was a grind, but I feel like we still enjoyed it and just made the best out of it. It’s amazing.”
Mimi Rhodes/Nastasia Nadaud def. Andrea Lee/Auston Kim 4&3
European rookies Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud got off to a fast start at Bernardus Golf with birdies on the first and second holes to go 2 up. The U.S. pair of Andrea Lee and Auston Kim clawed a hole back on the sixth, but Europe got their 2 up lead back on the eighth.
The U.S. won the ninth hole but Rhodes and Nadaud kept pushing with birdie on the 10th and 12th holes to go three up. On the 15th hole, Rhodes sunk a brilliant birdie putt to secure another point.
Rhodes said: “Anna [Nordqvist] has always been telling us about the first few holes to try and get up, it’s a high percentage for us to win the match. We made sure that we were playing sensible, hitting the ball on the green and giving ourselves putts, and that’s what happened. Luckily, she [Nastasia] was rolling them in at the start. It was just a great day overall and we played smart out there.”
Alison Lee/Lauren Coughlin def. Charley Hull/Lottie Woad 6&5
The United States sealed their only point of the morning session with a thumping win for Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin over Charley Hull and Lottie Woad. The Americans won four holes in a row to surge into a 4 up lead after the seventh hole.
The U.S. duo continued to play excellent golf rolling in more birdies on the 10th and 11th holes to go 6 up after 11, and they sealed a 6&5 victory after 13 holes. The result tied the record for the largest margin of victory in foursomes in Solheim Cup history.
Lee said: “Lauren played some incredible golf today. I just felt like all I did was sit in the passenger seat. I just was there and participated when I could, but she made some incredible putts, incredible approaches, especially on the front nine.”
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