Going into the singles matches, Europe needed 6½ points to reclaim the Cup, while the USA needed 6. Europe produced an outstanding 7–5 singles victory, winning the Solheim Cup 15–13.
Team Europe and Team USA are tied at 8-8 heading into the final day of the Solheim Cup at Bernadus Golf in the Netherlands. Day two produced a great turnaround in the atternoon atter europe won the foursomes in the morning 3-1 to gain a 7-5 lead.
In the morning Maja Stark and Linn Grant beat Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz 3&2. This was the Americans’ first defeat after winning five Solheim Cup matches together. Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud beat Andrea Lee and Auston Kim 4&3. This was a superb performance from Europe’s two rookies. They become the first rookie partnership to win two matches at a single Solheim Cup. Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit beat Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang 1 up. This went all the way to the 18th with Henseleit producing crucial, ate magic helping Europe take the morning session 3-1. Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin from the United States beat Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 6&5. The result equalled the record for the biggest defeat in a Solheim Cup Foursomes match.
n the afternoon session the opening fourball match Maja Stark and Linn Grant beat Lauren Coughlin and Megan Khang 2&1. The Swedes were the standout partnership of Day Two and are now 3-0 for the week. Before this match, Khang had won six consecutive Solheim Cup matches, while Coughlin has been unbeaten in her seven career appearances. The result gave Europe 8-5 lead.
Then began the Team USA comeback. Rose Zhang and Auston Kim beat Nastasia Nadaud and Leona Maguire 3&2. Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee then beat Lottie Woad and Charley Hull 1 up after the Europeans were unable to convert opportunities late in the match. Despite being amongst Europe’s top players, they have only won half a point from four matches together.
This brought the result to 8-7 with one match left out on the course.
In the match of Carlotta Ciganda and Celine Boutier v Jennifer Kupcho and Lindy Duncan, Europe were 1 up with two holes to play. But on the 17th green Jennifer Kupcho holed a 90 foot putt to win the hole to bring the natch all square. On the 18th green Jennifer Kupcho holed another crucia O foot putt to win the hole and the match 1 up. That meant that Team US won the session 3-1.
On the Team USA bus leaving Bernardus Golf Captain Angela Stanford handed round celbratory beers. Team Europe waited until Sunday before they drank theirs.
Solheim Cup Fourballs matches just begun with a vibrant, super charged first tee crowd supporting. The score after this morning’s Foursomes is Europe 2-United States 2. Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz were on sparkling form creating a new record of unbeaten 5 foursomes matches together winning 4&3 this morning beating Charley Hull and Lottie
Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin defeated Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier 3&2in rainy, windy conditions.
Swedish duo Maya Stark and Linn Grant brought in Team Europe’s first point defeating Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho 3&2. Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit won a clutch match 2 up against Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan.
Course is playing long in the wet and windy conditions with the back nine a
European Captain Anna Nordqvist said “it’s a solid start, We’re really excited and right on track”. She didn’t really expand on why she had rested the two winning teams in the afternoon though.
Enjoyable matches, though the music blaring from the first tee warming the supporters up for the afternoon matches must have been distracting for the final group still out on the course hearing it.
Here are the pairings for the afternoon Fourball matches. Times BST+1
1.05 Charley Hull and Lottie Woad (Europe) v
Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin (USA)
1.20 Celine Boutier and Nanna Koerst Madsen (Europe) v
Megan Khang and Alison Lee
1.35 Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud (Europe) v
Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim (Kim)
1.50 Carlotta Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez (Europe) v
Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin (USA)
for the first time in Solheim Cup history both sessions are tied with the result after day 1 Team Europe 4, Team USA 4.
A dramatic finish on the 18th green saw Europe’s Carlotta Ciganda sink a crucial putt after Americans Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin both left theirs short. It had looked bleak for Europe after Ciganda sent her approach far left and teammate Julia Lopez Ramirez’s bunker shot struck the lip and stayed in. The unexpected half-point gave Europe a psychological edge heading into Saturday’s foursomes.
In the opening match Charley Hull and Lottie Woad tied Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin. Twice the Europeans were 3 up in this match but both times the Americans won back to back holes to get to 1 down. On the 17th hole Noh’s birdie drew team USA to all square. On the 18th green Lottie Woad seemed distracted by the music blaring from the fan village and her birdie putt slid by the left edge, Noh’s 12 foot putt veered off to the left. It would be good to see Charley play with a different partner tomorrow, perhaps her friend Esther Heseleit.
Megan Khang and Alison Lee had a big 5 and 3 win over Celine Boutier and an out of sorts Nanna Koerst Madsen. Lee made eagle to win the 10th, then the Americans had birdies on 11,13,14 for a dominant win.
Mimi Rhodes and Natasia Nadaud defeated Americans Allisen Corpuz and Auston Kim 2 and 1. The European rookie pairing took the lead on the 10th and never again trailed. Naudaud won the 12th with birdie and Rhodes had another on 13. Mimi Rhodes said “it was just a lot of fun out there, the chemistry was unreal and it felt really comfortable”.
Ciganda said of her match “it was really tough against Nely and Lauren but we fought hard and at least we got half a point which I think is really important”.
The music blaring from the fan village distracting players is not acceptable.It’s the Solheim Cup, not defunct LIV.
LIV Golf announced a proposed restructuring agreement that could transfer majority ownership of the league to its players. The filing, showed that several of LIV’s biggest names—including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith—are owed millions of dollars. LIV also hopes the proceedings will extend U.S. bankruptcy protections to its international assets.
Under the proposed restructuring, London-based private-equity firm BC Partners would finance an attempted return in 2027 through what LIV described as a “recapitalization transaction.” The plan requires court approval.
Questions remain about the nature of the firm’s commitment, including whether the financing is structured as a loan, dependent upon additional investors or contingent upon a number of players remaining with the league.
“This process gives us the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin the next chapter of LIV Golf—one built around the fans, an innovative, player-first ownership model, and a part of the global golf ecosystem,” LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said in a press release. “We are excited about what lies ahead and yet, there is still much to accomplish in the months ahead. We believe deeply in LIV Golf’s future, the opportunity in front of us, and the people who will help us realize it. We are grateful to our players, the incredible team at LIV Golf, our Board, BC Partners, and our partners all over the world standing tall with us, and we thank them for their belief in our next chapter.”
The restructuring would likely release LIV players from their existing contracts, allowing them to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Golf Digest reported earlier this year that agents representing several LIV players had contacted the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to explore possible paths back.
The bankruptcy filing had been expected for months after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its financial support from the five-year-old league. It comes a little more than a week after LIV terminated most of its remaining staff. LIV concluded its 2026 season in Indianapolis in late August, one week earlier than scheduled after canceling its planned finale in Michigan. The shortened finish followed months of questions about the league’s finances and future.
PIF has agreed to provide nearly $50 million in debtor-in-possession financing, which would allow LIV to continue operating during the proceedings. BC Partners and other prospective investors are expected to provide financing once the league emerges from Chapter 11.
PIF announced in April that it would stop funding LIV as part of a broader shift toward domestic projects and away from global investments that had failed to produce sufficient returns. The economic effects of the regional war with Iran also placed greater pressure on the sovereign wealth fund’s holdings. The sportswashing experiment cost an estimated $5 billion to $8 billion from its 2021 launch through this year. Yasir Al-Rumayyan—PIF’s governor, LIV’s architect and the chairman of its board—resigned after the funding was withdrawn.
LIV’s financial troubles have extended beyond its players. Several contractors say they have not been paid for their work, while the league also faces a lawsuit from the Premier Golf League alleging breach of confidence and conspiracy by unlawful means.
And here it is. The historic announcement from BBC Sport.
LIV Golf has filed for bankruptcy protection as it attempts to restructure after Saudi Arabia withdrew its multibillion dollar funding – a move that means all its players are free to leave.
A Chapter 11 petition, which LIV says is to “preserve the company’s business”, was filed in the United States on Tuesday.
The breakaway league says it has found a new investor in BC Partners, following the decision in April by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to pull its funding.
LIV Golf intends to commence its new majority player-owned league early next year and it is understood the Chapter 11 process allows it to start talking to players about their participation in LIV’s future.
BBC Sport understands there is no obligation on players to sign on to LIV 2.0, regardless of whether they had previously signed multi-year contracts with LIV Golf.
Sources have said contracts under the previous iteration of LIV Golf will finish because of this court filing, with amounts owed to players and other creditors addressed through the court process.
However, it remains unclear when players would then be able to enter discussions with other tours.
The Miracle at Medinah, the Duel in the Sun and now the Legend of Lahinch. What happened at the weekend in the Walker Cup is right up there in history with the most thrilling, epic, hard fought wins in all the sport.
Who would have thought? It was an almost ridiculous win that had those of us who love golf spellbound as the entire result came down to the final putt on the 18th green. A tricky four foot putt holed quickly by Josh Hill, the 93rd best amateur in the world.
Having lost all four Sunday foursomes, the Great Britain and Ireland team went into the team room at lunch needing inspiration. The mood changed when the music blared out, not just any song but Wonderwall, England’s anthem of the World Cup summer. “Maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me, and after all you’re my wonderwall”.
Stuart Grehan said that was it, “F… it. We’re beating those American boys” possibly not least after American Preston Stout shouted to his team, “we’re dream crushing now”. Grehan, the Irish reinstated amateur, relished overcoming a deficit to beat Stout 2&1 in the opening match.
With thousands of spectators following each match along each fairway the atmosphere was excitable, loud and joyous, more like a Ryder Cup match. Professional Ian Poulter was watching his son Luke dispatch Ethan Fang 3&1. “Magical” he described it. As a nod to his dad’s European Ryder Cup nickname “The Postman” Luke Poulter was then dubbed “The Paper Boy”.
Jack Whaley, the US Amateur Champion from England gave William Jennings a drubbing 8&7, the largest winning margin in Walker Cup History.
The United States team only had two singles wins – Ryder Cowan and Josiah Gilbert, the last two men out, and two halved matches Niall Sheils Donegan and Kihei Akina, and Connor Grahan and Miles Russell.
GB&I’s Tyler Weaver also had a big win 4&3 against Jay Leng Jnr. Eliot Baker won 1 up against Stewart Hagestad, going down the 18th hole, he had to get something out of the match as did Josh Hill. It was all on a knife edge, but they both delivered, right down to Josh Hill’s 4 foot birdie putt.
It was the biggest comeback in the history of the Walker Cup, on a par with the 2012 Medinah Ryder Cup – that was a 4 point deficit but there were 12 singles – this Walker Cup was a 3 point deficit but with 10 singles.
The joyous scenes on the 18th green – even the officials in blazers were huggling and emotional – led to an almighty party in a Lahinch pub where, to their credit, the American Captain Nathan Smith and several of his team showed good sportsmanship came and joined the drinking and singing.
It’s been interesting to hear the American media’s impressions, whingey some of them were. “Can’t believe it, the US blew it. We expect to win the singles”. “Everything aligned for them – it never ever happens to the US in these team competitions”. Apparently the American broadcast had a funeral tone “they’re running out of time”.
Although the American dominance in the Walker Cup is undeniable 42 wins to 10 for Great Britain and Ireland, this is a good result for the future of the competition. The Americans already have their Walker Cup venues pencilled in up to 2052. In terms of pure competitive drama it’s the best ending of a team golf competition ever. From our side of the Atlantic it was great, compelling television.
Do changes need to be made?
I tend to agree that a three day format might be better – even for young golfers 36 holes a day is hard work mentally and physically. I’d like to see fourballs included as in the Ryder Cup as it’s a more aggressive format. There’s too much emphasis on the singles in the Walker Cup – 18 singles points and 8 team play shots.
In time, maybe the format could move from GB&I to include Europe. But look at the rankings in this match – the average world amateur ranking of the United States team was 8.3, the GB&I team average is 40. And still the Americans were outplayed – they did not collapse, they didn’t blow it, they got outplayed.
Stuart Greehan made a great contribution to the GB&I team but his place on the team raises the question about reinstated amateurs. He played as a professional for six years but only won $40,000 at it. However, there have been a lot of former American former professionals who have come back to play Walker Cup golf. Perhaps this should finish. The purity of this amateur team event is distinctive. We all love professional golf, but this is different.
And many of the players this week are now off to the professional ranks. However their careers work out, they will have already experienced something out of this world.
For the rest of their lives -they’ll always have Lahinch.
Brian Rolapp (left with Tiger), the new PGA Tour CEO designate met with players at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit last week.
Previously the NFL’s Chief Media and Business Officer, he got a positive reception from the players one of whom described hom as “an outsider trying to figure things out, but a switched on guy”.
It seems that players were informed that the situation with LIV is still at a stalemate, a year on from the shock decision to merge the two tours.
Talks with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia remain at a standstill with he PGA Tour not wanting to take on the team concept.
“Hello World” moments when a huge takent becomes a winner on the PGA Tour for the first time.
20-year old Aldrich got his first win at the Mortgage Rocket Classic after battling with his putter to grind out the victory.
South African born but growing up in Perth Australia, he turned professional at 18 after winning the Amateur Championship. He was the youngest winner on the Korn Ferry Tour and on the PGA Tour he leads in driving distance at 338.5 yards average and in strokes gained off the tee. A win after an up and down year where he missed nine cuts but also came second in Mexico.
The next big player in the new generation has arrived.
Pitching doesn’t come naturally to many golfers because you are playing with a less than full swing. You also need to have a feel for distance, how far to hit the ball – and feel is an intuitive and inexact part of golf.
Many golfers only practice their full swing and neglect short game practice. Not practicing the pitch shot from 50 metres in means that it will be very difficult to execute this shot confidently on the golf course. A full swing is easier to master as it is a repetitive action for each club to make the ball go the maximum distance. But with a pitch shot you are not hitting the ball the maximum distance, So you must shorten the swing but still hit the ball firmly.
To pitch well you need to set up correctly and make a firm swing that accelerates the clubhead through the ball. You have to think in terms of a less than full backswing. One common error with this shot is taking the club too far back and decelerating through impact, which cases mis hits,
You need to play the pitch shot with as little spin as possible because spin makes it harder to control the ball. Pitching the ball with control and finesse over a hazard and near to the pin is a very satisfying skill.
Addressing the ball
Take a narrow stance, closer to the ball and open with your left foot behind the right. Open up 20 degrees so your left side is out of the way through the shot. Move your body weight onto the left foot and centre the weight forward onto the balls of the feet. Knees are flexed and the back bent over so the arms hang loosely from the upper body over the ball. The arms then can move freely without touching the upper body during the shot.
Remember not to stand too tall, you need to have the upper body hanging over the ball. For consistent pitch shots you want good balance and good timing. Keep the knees bent. Move the weight back from the toes onto the balls of the feet. With flexed knees you can transfer the weight properly during the swing.
Firm wrist action
The best short game players use very little hand and wrist action. Try to overuse your hands and imagine them tied together on the club. Start the takeaway with your hands and arms as a unit moving together. Only when the right elbow starts to bend will the wrists hinge.
Try to keep the grip on the club light. It will help you with feel. Only firm enough to prevent the club from slipping in your hands. You will need a good body weight transfer to keep your wrists firm and prevent you from overusing the hands.
Proper weight transfer
Ideally, the lower body will move in time with the arms and hands. The lower body must move to keep the path of the club consistent through impact. Your hips and knees must be used in the swing.
The weight, which starts on the left foot, transfers onto the right foot and back to the left foot during the swing in a rocking motion. The hit of the ball happens during the transfer of weight from the right foot to the left foot. Keep the clubface square through impact. The hips and elbows return to their original position as you hit through the ball, synchronising the motion of arms and lower body.
Accelerate the clubhead
The pitch shot is a crisp hit – make sure that you accelerate the club through the impact zone. To do this make sure the swing is of equal length – swing the club back the same length as you swing it through. Clubhead speed comes from a proper weight transfer. It’s an underhanded motion with the right hand and arm through the impact zone. It’s the same movement as when you throw a ball underhand.
Keep the right elbow tucked in
Keep the right elbow close to your body during the downswing. On the backswing because you are turning your shoulders the elbow will swing free but on the downswing the right elbow brushes across the hip coming into the ball. Visualise the shot as part of your pre shot routine see the spot where you want the ball to land on the green. You can walk up and survey your landing area on the green before you play your shot.
Practising pitching
Pitch to different targets at different distances, starting with the shortest shot and ending with the longest. Vary the trajectory of the ball flight – try using a sand wedge and then work through the different wedges. Practice from poor lies to see how the ball flies out of the rough, so that when you’re out on the golf course you’ll be prepared for a variety of situations. Try playing different shots with your 9-iron and play a variety of different pitches with the same club. Try pitching over bunkers and over water hazards to increase your repertoire of shot making skills which will help lower your score.
It’s now a year since Ludvig Aberg turned pro and in that year he has won over $10,000,000 in prize money, winning on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. He’s played an important part in a winning Ryder Cup team, had top 10s in majors and reached number 3 in the world. Rory McIlroy calls him an “unbelievable ball striker”.
Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, he stands close to the ball to maintain his height. His grip has a very strong left hand to control the clubface and the weak left hand controls the loft of the club.
His stance has his armpits over the balls of his feet in a relaxed position. He starts the takeaway with a hip sway to the right moving the weight back early in the swing. This stops him moving too much ahead of the ball.
The wide arc of the club stays outside the line of the swing for a long time and the clubface stays closed. He keeps his hands high at the top of the swing. Not a big hip turn but a 90 degree shoulder turn. This restricted lower body turn generates power and speed.
He starts the downswing with a hip shift driving through with the left leg generating speed into the ball. His right arm extends with a huge roll of the wrists releasing power from the body into the clubhead. Huge body extension into the follow through.
He hits the ball high and far and then slows to a well balanced finish.
What’s in his bag?
DRIVER:Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X shaft
FAIRWAY WOODS:TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X; (21 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 9 X
IRONS:Titleist T100 (4-PW), with KBS Tour 130 X shafts
golfweloveit 