The 2026 Solheim Cup couldn’t have started much tighter.
Europe and the United States finished Friday tied 4-4 at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, and the final point of the day came in dramatic fashion when Carlota Ciganda buried a pressure-packed par putt on the 18th hole to halve her match with rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez against Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin.
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Ciganda’s finish felt bigger than half a point.
Both European players were in trouble on the closing hole, while Korda and Coughlin appeared to have the advantage walking toward the green.
But after the Americans failed to convert birdie chances, Ciganda stepped up and drained the putt Europe needed to keep the competition level.
The finish capped a historic opening day. For the first time in Solheim Cup history, the teams split both the morning foursomes and afternoon fourballs sessions.
The United States made its biggest statement early.
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Korda and Allisen Corpuz beat Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, 4 and 3, extending their partnership record to 5-0-0and becoming the first pairing in Solheim Cup history to win five consecutive matches together.
The Americans also got a huge day from Alison Lee, who went 2-0. She first partnered with Coughlin for a 3-and-2 foursomes win over Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier, then teamed with Megan Khang for a dominant 5-and-3 fourball victory over the same European duo.
Khang’s win stretched her unbeaten Solheim Cup streak to nine consecutive matches.
Europe responded with depth.
Rookies Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud delivered one of Friday’s biggest points by beating Corpuz and Auston Kim, 2 and 1.
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Hull and Woad also salvaged a half-point in the afternoon despite surrendering a late lead to Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin.
That set up Ciganda’s closing moment.
The eight-time Solheim Cup veteran has built a reputation for thriving under match-play pressure, and Friday added another chapter. Her par save ensured Europe wouldn’t head into Saturday chasing the Americans.
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After two sessions and eight matches, neither side has created separation.
The scoreboard says 4-4. And after one wild day in the Netherlands, that feels about right.
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