Kupcho's Late Birdies Pull Solheim Cup Level at 8-8
By Staff Writer
3 min read
Key takeaways
- The Solheim Cup is tied 8-8 after Saturday's session at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, setting up a winner-take-all Sunday singles.
- Jennifer Kupcho and Lindy Duncan won two down with two to play, beating Celine Boutier and Carlota Ciganda 1 up.
- The Americans won three of Saturday afternoon's four fourball matches after Europe had taken the morning foursomes.
- Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, Europe's top-ranked pairing, have managed just a half point across all four of their matches together.
- Team USA needs 6 points on Sunday to retain the Cup; Europe needs 6 1/2 to win it back.
Jennifer Kupcho birdied the final two holes to complete a two-hole comeback in Saturday afternoon fourballs, lifting the Americans to a 3-1 session win and squaring the 2026 Solheim Cup at 8-8 entering Sunday singles at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
How did Kupcho's match turn around?
Paired with Lindy Duncan and 2 down with two holes to play against Celine Boutier and Carlota Ciganda, Kupcho drained a birdie putt at the par-3 16th to cut the deficit, then holed a lengthy birdie look on 17 after Boutier's short putt for the match slid by. On 18, with Duncan and Ciganda both missing birdie tries, Kupcho poured in another to steal the point, 1 up.
"That absolutely turned our tide," American captain Angela Stanford said of the finish.
The Americans needed the jolt. Europe had opened Saturday morning by winning foursomes 3-1 to build a five-point lead, and Sweden's Maja Stark and Linn Grant kept the pressure on in the afternoon, holing out for eagle on the first hole of fourballs to beat Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz. Stark and Grant remain unbeaten through three matches this week, the only European pairing to do so.
What went wrong for Hull and Woad?
Europe's highest-ranked pairing, world No. 7 Lottie Woad and No. 8 Charley Hull, played all four Friday and Saturday matches together -- the first duo in Solheim Cup history to do so -- and have just a half point to show for it after falling 1 up to Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee on Saturday afternoon. Noh made six birdies over the first nine holes to build the winning margin.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, 43 pairings have played all four matches together prior to singles in Solheim Cup history; Hull and Woad are the only ones to finish with less than a full point.
Woad and Hull are the only pairing in Solheim Cup history to play all four matches together and win less than a full point.
Who else stood out on Saturday?
Lauren Coughlin extended her Solheim Cup record to 5-0-2 before her first career loss arrived in Saturday fourballs, a 2-and-1 defeat alongside Megan Khang. Coughlin's overall winning percentage of 86.7% is the highest in event history among players with at least five starts, per Elias Sports Bureau. She will become the first American to play all five matches at a single Solheim Cup in 15 years when she tees off Sunday against Leona Maguire, who improved to 10-3-1 for her career in Saturday foursomes.
| Player(s) | Record entering Sunday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Maja Stark & Linn Grant | 3-0-0 (together) | Unbeaten European pairing |
| Charley Hull & Lottie Woad | 0-3-1, half point | Fewest points by a pairing playing all four matches |
| Lauren Coughlin | 5-0-2 career | Highest career winning percentage (86.7%) among 5+ start players |
| Leona Maguire | 10-3-1 career | Fastest player to 10 career Solheim Cup wins |
What are the Sunday singles matchups?
Twelve singles matches will decide the Cup on Sunday. Confirmed pairings include Nelly Korda against rookie Mimi Rhodes, Carlota Ciganda against Kupcho, and Lauren Coughlin against Leona Maguire. Golf Channel's coverage begins at 5 a.m. ET.
Frequently asked questions
What is the score entering Solheim Cup singles Sunday?
The 2026 Solheim Cup is tied 8-8 after Saturday's foursomes and fourball sessions at Bernardus Golf.
How many points does each team need to win?
Team USA, the defending champion, needs 6 points from the 12 Sunday singles matches to retain the Cup. Europe needs 6 1/2 to win it back.
Where is the 2026 Solheim Cup being played?
The matches are being contested at Bernardus Golf in Cromvoirt, Netherlands.
What time do Sunday singles start and how can I watch?
Golf Channel's live coverage of Sunday singles begins at 5 a.m. ET.
Who are the marquee Sunday singles matchups?
Confirmed matches include Nelly Korda vs. Mimi Rhodes, Carlota Ciganda vs. Jennifer Kupcho, and Lauren Coughlin vs. Leona Maguire.
- Solheim Cup
- Jennifer Kupcho
- Charley Hull
- Lottie Woad
- Lauren Coughlin
- Maja Stark
- Linn Grant
- Leona Maguire
- Bernardus Golf
- Team USA
