Solheim Cup 2024: Group USA lead Group Europe 10-6 forward of Sunday singles as holders goal ‘Miracle in Medinah’ end

The USA take a snug four-point lead over Europe into the Sunday singles as they appear to regain the Solheim Cup for the primary time in 4 makes an attempt.

The spoils have been shared two every in each the foursomes and ultimate fourballs, with the US efficiently seeing off the specter of a European fightback within the morning on their method to securing a 10-6 lead heading into the ultimate day’s motion at Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership in Virginia.

Carlota Ciganda, who holed the Solheim Cup clinching putt to see Europe retain the trophy with a 14-14 tie final yr, says she nonetheless believes the workforce can pull of a ‘Miracle at Medinah’ fashion comeback to match the Ryder Cup thriller from 2012 the place Europe trailed by the identical scoreline earlier than gorgeous the USA within the singles.

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Sunday fifteenth September 1:00pm

“We have a chance for sure,” Ciganda mentioned. “I don’t know what the score is going to be, but there’s 12 points [still to play for] and we can win all of them – that’s what we’re going to try to do, everyone focusing on their match.

“Why not? The Miracle of Medinah… it is coming.”

Group USA haven’t received the Solheim Cup since 2017, with Europe following back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2021 by retaining the title with that dramatic 14-14 attract Spain final September.

Eight factors is essentially the most a European workforce has ever scored on the ultimate day of a Solheim Cup, again in 2003. A repeat of that right here would see Europe once more retain the trophy by way of a tie.

Group Europe captain Suzann Pettersen additionally struck a optimistic observe going into Sunday, telling Sky Sports activities: “There is hope, absolutely.

“We’ve got seen miracles earlier than – Medinah, and Germany in 2015. We’ve got given ourselves an opportunity, and so long as there may be hope, these women are going to go on the market and struggle.”

How the USA fended off risk of Europe fightback

Trailing 6-2 in a single day, Europe earned leads in three of the 4 foursomes matches within the opening session on Saturday, earlier than world No 1 Nelly Korda sparked an American rally as she and Allisen Corpuz recovered from being two down via 9 holes to finally beat Emily Pedersen and Ciganda 1up.

The US pair nudged themselves forward after a shocking eagle on the par-five fifteenth, and once more with birdie at 17, making certain Korda maintained her 100 per cent file on this yr’ Solheim Cup.

It was a shock, due to this fact, to see Korda rested for the ultimate fourballs, however Alison Lee and Megan Khang, main issues off, helped whip the house crowd right into a frenzy after a shocking eagle hole-out on the second from Lee sparked a 4&3 success over Swedish pair Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom.

Alison Lee and Khang’s caddies greeted the holed chip by whipping their shirts off in celebration after having apparently fallen foul of a pleasant wager with the ladies earlier than their spherical.

Alison Lee mentioned afterwards: “It was completely surreal. Definitely one of the coolest moments of my life and my career. We celebrated just the way we wanted to!”

Khang added: “What an electric start to the day. It was crazy that that happened… the caddies are definitely going viral right now!”

And it wasn’t to be the one bonkers second of the opening match, with Khang later seeing a birdie putt lastly (and dramatically) drop in on the par-three eleventh after an agonising 10-second wait whereas her ball held on the sting of the outlet.

Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang additionally dominated their fourballs match with Linn Grant and Celine Boutier, profitable 6&4. Following on from their different convincing victory on Friday, the pair have now performed 28 holes via the week in an astonishing 20 underneath par.

With these two wins within the bag, the USA moved 10-4 in entrance, making the 2 closing matches must-wins for Europe and, fortunately for the visiting workforce, Pedersen and Ciganda have been in a position to beat Ally Ewing and Lexi Thompson 2&1, whereas England’s Charley Hull and Georgia Corridor additionally secured an important level with a 2up overcome Corpuz and Lilia Vu.

Ewing and Thompson had held the early benefit of their match, going two up via the opening two holes earlier than being pegged again around the flip, shortly after one other standout second for the People noticed Lexi Thompson chip in from off the inexperienced for birdie on the sixth.

However down the again 9, Pedersen specifically got here up clutch in the important thing moments for Europe, holing a protracted putt on the fifteenth for birdie and a match-clinching effort at 17.

Hull’s victory was her second of the day, rewarding Europe captain Pettersen’s religion in her after having misplaced each of her matches on Friday.

Hull and Esther Henseleit squeezed out a 1up win over Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho within the morning foursomes on the ultimate gap after a terrific strategy from the German rookie to arrange a closing birdie.

Eire’s Leona Maguire, with a superb Solheim Cup file via her two prior appearances, was disregarded for each Saturday classes, after shedding 6&4 alongside Corridor within the Friday fourballs.

Pettersen defined: “It’s always hard to see great, great players miss out, but we have to play the ones that are really playing well this week.

“Leona goes to be 100 per cent tomorrow. She is all in regards to the workforce, she’s an important team-mate and he or she understands. However she is allowed to be disenchanted.”

Who will win the 2024 Solheim Cup? Watch live throughout the weekend on Sky Sports! Live coverage continues on Sunday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the Solheim Cup and extra with NOW.

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