USA 10 Europe 6
The problem with miracles is they do not happen all that often, so all those Europe fans who are feverishly spotting the similarities between the Solheim Cup of 2024 with the Ryder Cup of 2012 are still likely to be disappointed on Sunday.
But that does not mean it is impossible that history will repeat itself and at least by winning the last two fourballs Saturday afternoon they reduced the deficit to 10-6 – yes, the same scoreline going into final day as it was at “The Miracle of Medinah” 12 years ago – and gave themselves a chance.
Suzann Pettersen’s team were courageous “drawing” the second day 4-4 – 2-2 in the foursomes and fourballs – and will further spur themselves on by telling each other that Medinah was not a one-off. In 1999, Ben Crenshaw’s Americans enacted the resurrection at Brookline in 1999 and in Germany in 2015, Juli Inkster’s heroines performed the same feat of escapology for the Solheim’s great comeback.
Therefore there is little wonder that Pettersen is not waving the white flag. Anything but.
Team USA have watched their opponents lift this trophy three times in succession and will have nerves on which to prey as they try to get over the line for the first time in seven years. And do not forget that just like last year, 14-14 would see Europe retain the cup. Eight points from the 12 singles is just about feasible.
However, three of the Americans have played three and won three – the wonderful Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang and the brilliant rookie Lauren Coughlin. One or more of these must surely be downed and that is hard to envisage as the trio are fresh.
But if the blue-and-gold brigade are looking for any extra motivation they need only rewind the video and watch the histrionics of the two US caddies who celebrated on Saturday afternoon as if this showdown was already over when removing their shirts and going barechested after Alison Lee holed out from the fairway.
Another bizarre sight was Nelly Korda being benched for the afternoon. One of the Solheim’s most mystifying anomalies is that Korda has been on three US teams and has yet to be on the winning side. Yet nobody can blame the world No 1.
The 26-year-old came into this match having won 71/2 points from 12 games and this week, she has been magnificent Fair enough, Stacy Lewis, the US captain, remained true to her word by ensuring each of her golfers had at least one session off, but it must have been very tempting to rip up this plan when it came to Korda.
Not only has her play returned to levels of earlier in the year – when she won six titles from seven events – but she has never looked so full of energy and effervescence.
Normally an introspective individual, Korda was even cracking jokes after her and Allisen Corpuz’s morning victory on the last hole against Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda.
When asked what has inspired her to be so animated here, she replied: “My alter-ego, Norry.” Korda was announced as “Norry” instead of “Nelly” on the first tee and she delighted in the subsequent ribbing. “It’s been such a fun week,” she said. Although not so much for the visitors.
A morning that promised so much for Europe ultimately only produced parity. They seemed almost certain to take the foursomes 3-1, until Korda and Corpuz recovered from two down at the turn. Their fightback did involve one of the luckiest shots you might ever witness from Corpuz – her topped three-wood on the par five 14th somehow coming to rest within 15 feet of the pin – but Korda did not deserve anything else than another win.
If there is an Ian Poulter in Pettersen’s ranks, then it is Charley Hull. The Englishwoman won both her matches on Saturday and was inspired down the stretch as she and her best friend, Georgia Hall, saw off Corpuz and Lilia Vu on the 18th in the fourballs.
With Ciganda and Pedersen defeating Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing 2&1, it meant Europe won the last two matches from being 10-4 to the bad. That is exactly what Poulter and Co did in Chicago. Omens can mislead, but not as much as they can excite.
Europe win crucial fourballs points to trail 10-6 after day two – as it happened
11:45 PM BST
Results of fourballs
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11:43 PM BST
Team USA captain Stacy Lewis speaking to Sky
“Our pairings and foursomes were set up for that stretch from 9-13, you get into a good rhythm and that’s what it was set up for. It worked out
“Most of them weren’t around for the Germany comeback, we’re going to try and get this thing done and get as many points as we can early. We are almost there.”
11:39 PM BST
European captain Suzann Pettersen speaking to Sky
“We have given ourselves a chance, and as long as their is hope we will go out there. The afternoon session was a pretty fair outcome, some of these girls are playing phenomenal.
“10-6 is absolutely doable. We’ll see if we can digest what happened, recharge, wake up tomorrow fresh and any given day these girls can take each other down. Charley [Hull] is a rockstar, she’s playing so good.”
11:35 PM BST
European vice-captain Mel Reid speaking to Sky
“Those last two matches were pivotal, we feel like we’ve not had any momentum. The Americans have been holing puts and out-playing us, so those last two putts were needed and it’s a big deficit to do but it’s happened for the Ryder Cup boys and in Germany for…
