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 by a record 6-2.
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.
Maja Stark and Emily Pedersen picked up Europe’s solitary point in the morning with a nervy victory that went down the 18th hole, despite them being four up after five holes.
And veteran Anna Nordqvist, playing in her ninth Solheim Cup, alongside her good friend and fellow Swede Madelene Sagstrom, won six successive holes from the eighth for a huge 6&5 victory over the retiring Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee to claim the continent’s only afternoon point.
But they were brief highlights in an otherwise dispiriting day for a Europe side looking to lift the Solheim Cup for a record fourth successive time.
The US have not won since 2017 and Korda came into this week saying they had “unfinished business” after last year’s 14-14 draw in Spain saw Europe retain the trophy.
Captain Stacy Lewis sent Korda and Corpuz out first in the morning as a statement of intent, given they won both their foursomes matches in Spain. And once again they delivered a red point, finishing strongly to beat Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit 3&2 in a see-saw match.
Korda and Khang then danced on to the first tee for the afternoon fourballs before waltzing to a 6&4 victory over England’s Georgia Hall and Ireland’s Leona Maguire. The Americans won five of the first seven holes to set the platform.
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 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 3&2 victory over Stark and Pedersen.
More to follow.
