Charley Hull and rookie Lottie Woad will lead out Team Europe against Team USA star Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz in the opening match of the 2026 Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Korda and Corpuz have won all four of their foursomes matches together across the last two Solheim Cups. The undefeated American pair will tee off against the English duo at 6:40am BST on Friday morning as Team USA begin their bid to retain the trophy and claim a first victory on European soil since 2015.
The Solheim Cup is the premier biennial team tournament in women's professional golf, featuring 12-player teams representing Europe and the United States competing in match play. Bernardus Golf, a championship course located in Cromvoirt in the southern Netherlands, hosts the 2026 edition of the event from September 11 to September 13.
Hull, the 30-year-old world number eight who is making her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance, top-scored for Europe during their 2024 defeat and dispatched world number one Korda 6 and 4 in their Sunday singles match. Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist selected 20-year-old Woad, one of four rookies in the European squad, to partner Hull after the two English players featured alongside each other on the LPGA Tour earlier this season.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Nordqvist called on her players to show bravery and make lifelong memories at Bernardus Golf. "I feel like over the years that the Solheim Cup has really grown on her," Nordqvist said of Hull. "She has been buzzing and so excited since she got here on Monday. Her and Lottie have got to play quite a bit on the LPGA Tour this year, so I think they were very excited to be here with each other."
Friday morning foursomes match line-up
The second match of the opening session at 6:52am BST features Team Europe stalwart Celine Boutier of France and returning Danish golfer Nanna Koerstz Madsen against American duo Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin. Lee is the only player involved from the American team that secured Team USA's previous victory on European soil in Germany 11 years ago.
At 7:04am BST, Germany's Esther Henseleit and Ireland's Leona Maguire take on Andrea Lee and rookie Lindy Duncan for Team USA. Henseleit previously partnered Hull in foursomes play during her Solheim Cup debut appearance in 2024.
The final morning match at 7:16am BST sees Swedish duo Maja Stark and Linn Grant face America's Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho. Stark and Grant were also paired together in foursomes during their Solheim Cup debut in 2023.
Team USA captain Angela Stanford stated that Korda and Corpuz had earned the right to go out first due to their undefeated record. "They have a nice rapport about them, so I felt like they earned the right to go out first," Stanford said. "I feel like if I didn't put those two out, I would be questioned! The whole world knew they were coming." Stanford also praised European captain Nordqvist as world class during the opening ceremony.
Players benched for the opening session
Team Europe will leave four players on the sidelines for the Friday morning session. Debutants Mimi Rhodes, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez sit out the opening matches alongside experienced Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, who is appearing in her eighth consecutive Solheim Cup.
Team USA have benched debutant Auston Kim, Megan Khang, Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin for the morning session. Yin, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, was confirmed as available to feature later in the event after suffering a fitness issue that limited her to completing just one 72-hole tournament since May.
American golfer Lilia Vu is serving as Team USA's alternate player at Bernardus Golf. Being designated as the team alternate allows Vu to attend her best friend's wedding this weekend.
A captain's agreement between Nordqvist and Stanford mandates that every player on both 12-woman rosters must play at least once across the first two days of competition. Team Europe are determined to secure a fast start after Team USA swept the opening session of the 14-14 tie in 2023 and built a 3-1 lead on their way to a 15.5 to 12.5 victory in 2024. Prior to 2023, Team USA had failed to lead after the first morning in six straight Solheim Cups.
Solheim Cup format and live TV schedule
Foursomes matches involve two golfers from Team Europe taking on a pair from Team USA, with team members alternating shots while playing a single ball. Each match is worth one point toward the overall team score. Team USA require 14 points to retain the Solheim Cup trophy as defending champions, while Team Europe need 14.5 points to secure an outright victory.
Sky Sports Golf will broadcast at least 12 hours of live coverage on each of the first two days. Broadcasts get under way at 6:00am BST on Friday and Saturday morning ahead of the opening foursomes match teeing off at 6:40am BST, which corresponds to 7:40am local time in the Netherlands.
The afternoon fourball matches are scheduled to begin at 12:05pm BST (1:05pm local time) on both Friday and Saturday, with coverage continuing until the final putt is holed. On Sunday, singles coverage starts at 9:00am BST prior to the first tee shot at 10:10am BST.
