Nelly Korda, Allsen Corpuz pairing opens US Solheim Cup
Americans Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz will face European duo Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit in the opening match of the Solheim Cup on Friday in Virginia as the American team looks to end its title drought dating back to 2017.
World No. 1 Korda has seven wins in 12 matches at the women’s golf club major but has yet to be part of a winning team in her three starts.
Korda, who has won six LPGA tournaments this year including his second major, said the US is “not done” against a European team that tied for the title in Spain last year.
American captain Stacy Lewis said she chose Korda and Corpuz, who played together in Spain, to come out on top in the hope of getting the home team off to a good start.
“I wanted to send the experience first and who is better than the No. 1 player in the world,” Lewis said. “It was a very successful pairing last year. They are very comfortable together so I have a lot of confidence in them.”
Europe, led by returning captain Suzann Pettersen, will play an unprecedented Solheim Cup.
Pettersen said he chose to send two of his teammates — Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela — on the first day of the three-day tournament because “they have a lot of confidence, even though they are young.
“Playing away, I think it’s good to get everyone going, especially the players,” Pettersen said. “There is no point in them sitting down and waiting and wondering what it will be like. Let’s send them out and see for themselves.”
Switzerland’s Valenzuela and France’s Celine Boutier will face Americans Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin in the second round at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.
In the third match, Europeans Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark will face Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho of Europe, while Linn Grant and Carlota Ciganda of Europe will face Lilia Vu and Sarah Schmelzel of America in the final match of the day.
The competition begins on Friday with a morning session consisting of four four-ball matches, followed by an afternoon session of four four-ball matches.
That pattern repeats with the remaining players on Saturday before the event concludes on Sunday with 12 singles matches.
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