On September 13, 2024, at the picturesque Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, the Solheim Cup kicked off with what turned out to be one of the most exhilarating starts in the tournament's history. Team USA, led by captain Stacy Lewis, showcased stellar performances, capturing the largest lead after the first day of action with scores totaling 6-2 against the reigning champions, Team Europe.
The day began energetically with the morning foursomes, where Team USA claimed three victories out of four matches. Notably, Nelly Korda, the world’s number one golfer, shined brightly, not just once but through both of her matches. Korda, alongside teammate Allisen Corpuz, emerged victorious early on, which set the tone for the Americans. The atmosphere was electric, filled with passionate home fans, cheering every impressive shot by the US team.
While Team USA dominated, Europe managed to lock down one win during this session, as rookies Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel bested Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark, leaving the morning score at 3-1 for Team USA.
Team USA’s effort flowed seamlessly from the morning foursomes to the afternoon’s four-ball matches, where they continued to shine, extending their lead significantly. Korda was again at the forefront, teaming up with Megan Khang to deliver what would be remembered as one of the day’s highlights: dominating their match with Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire, finishing with a score of 6&4. The dynamic duo's synergy on the course led them to victory with Korda making three birdies within just four holes, leading to back-to-back birds from Khang.
"Honestly, we've been asking for this pairing for quite some time, and as soon as we got it, we were pumped," Khang expressed excitedly after their match. Korda added to the celebrations, finishing the match with style by sinking an eagle putt at the par-five 14th hole.
Meanwhile, the only positive note for Team Europe came through Madelene Sagstrom and Anna Nordqvist, who outplayed Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee, winning their match decisively with 6&5. European captain Suzann Pettersen acknowledged the uphill battle her team faced, emphasizing, "We have quite the challenge on our hands this year. We’ve done it before; we can do it again. It’s going to take significant effort, but it’s still possible."
The day marked not only the USA’s lead but also signified the largest advantage after the first day since the Solheim Cup's inaugural event back in 1990. Team USA now only needed to gather 8.5 points over the two remaining days to reclaim the Cup for the first time since 2017—a feat they hope to accomplish fervently.
On the course, exciting moments were abundant. One of the most playful highlights occurred during the afternoon when Khang and Lee's caddies partook in celebratory antics, literally stripping down to their bare essentials after Lee's sensational hole-out for eagle from the second fairway. The crowd’s exuberance reached new heights, matching the energy seen during the storied moments at other golfing events such as the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open.
Both teams came prepared with their finest strategies and pairings, with Lewis appearing highly pleased with her team’s performance. "It has been a really good day. I saw fantastic golf being played, and things worked out as we had anticipated. Super happy with the pairings and the stellar shots our players produced," noted Lewis.
But with each victory, the European side was quick to note how they could improve, with Pettersen stating, "Today’s matches are history now. All I can say is we gave it our best effort. The Americans played phenomenally, consistently getting the putts to roll their way. We need to regroup and strategize for tomorrow."
With the stage set for the following days, the Solheim Cup had already delivered unforgettable moments on its first day. What remained now was the thrilling anticipation of how Team Europe would rise to the challenge—will they pull off the comeback of the century? The golfing world was about to find out as the competition rolled on, promising even more thrilling encounters between these two powerhouse teams.
