Golf

2024 Solheim Cup: Team USA’s Victory and How the Players Fared

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Sep 18, 2024 / 3843 Views

Evan Walker

The 2024 Solheim Cup at Virginia’s magnificent Robert Trent Jones Golf Club was witness to some unfinished business being completed by USA as they defeated Europe by a margin of 15.5 to 12.5 points on Sunday, September 15.

The hosts hadn’t won since 2017, and History favoured Europe as winners of the past three editions, and the visitors were on the cusp of an unprecedented fourth piece of crystalware and Golf History.

The three days of intense action threw up moments, crafted by the players, each one a world beater, on both sides. As in Sports, one side had to win, but we were left with memories from Gainesville that will linger for a long time. As the countdown for the 2026 edition commences, let’s check how the players fared in this biennial blue-riband event.

How the players fared at the 2024 Solheim Cup

1. Rose Zhang (USA)

Featuring in only her second edition, Rose Zhang became the eighth player in Solheim Cup History and only the third American to finish with a 4-0-0 record or better. She secured victories in the foursomes, fourball and singles to help Team USA take a 10-6 lead into the Sunday’s singles session. She again played her part on the final day, beating Carlota Ciganda 6&4 to claim her fourth point of the match.

2. Lauren Coughlin (USA)

Zhang was closely followed by Lauren Coughlin, her partner in the Friday morning foursomes. Following the victory, she teamed up in fourball with Sarah Schmelzel and defeated Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark 3&2.

Coughlin played alongside Lexi Thompson in the Saturday morning foursomes, and the two defeated Maja Stark and Georgia Hall 4&3. She tied her Sunday singles match with Maja Stark, bringing her tournament record to 3-0-1.

3. Charley Hull (Europe)

Charley Hull made it through all the sessions, and ended up with the most points for Team Europe. After losing the foursomes and fourball on Friday, she staged a fantastic recovery, scoring three points in every session thereafter. The Englishwoman saved the best for the last, defeating World No. 1 Nelly Korda 6&4 in the Sunday singles to give the Europeans a realistic chance of winning. She finished with a 3-2-0 record.

4. Megan Khang (USA)

Undefeated in all her matches, Megan Khang finished with a perfect 3-0-0 record, contributing crucial points to the US victory. In the last edition too, she had performed exceptionally well with a 3-0-1 record. Her consistent performance over two consecutive tournaments demonstrated her talent and resilience.

5. Allisen Corpuz (USA)

Allisen Corpuz showcased her skill with a touch of luck during one of foursome matches. On the par-5 14th, her fairway shot settled nicely on the fringe, and her partner Nelly Korda calmly drained the 25-foot eagle putt to give the Americans their first lead. Corpuz contributed significantly to the victory, finishing with a 3-1-0 record, including a convincing 4&3 victory over Anna Nordqvist.

6. Nelly Korda (USA)

The World No 1 showcased her prowess through her dominance in the Friday fourball with a resounding 6&4 victory over Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire. She sealed the deal with an eagle on the 14th —a shot that exemplified her power and precision. Winning 16 out of 30 holes in a single day, she set a record for the most holes won in a day since 2015. Korda’s record of 3-1-0 was more than just individual brilliance as it significantly bolstered USA’s overall advantage. 

7. Andrea Lee (USA)

Another key contributor, Andrea Lee faced tough competition from Esther Henseleit in Sunday’s singles. Trailing by two shots on the back nine, her crucial birdie on the par-3 16th tied the game and earned her side a crucial half point. She ended the week with a strong record of two wins and a tie.

8. Sarah Schmelzel (USA)

One of the American rookies in the field, Sarah Schmelzel made her mark on debut. On the opening day, she won in fourball and foursomes, which helped her team start the tournament on a strong note. Even though she lost in Saturday morning’s foursomes, she and partner Lilia Vu displayed outstanding teamwork. She finished the Solheim Cup with a respectable record of 2 wins and 2 losses.

9. Madelene Sagstrom (Europe)

Madelene Sagstrom started strong on Friday with a win against Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson, but lost in Saturday’s fourball. She then won her singles match against Sarah Schmelzel, and finished the tournament with 2 wins and a loss.

10. Lilia Vu (USA)

A key factor in the USA’s triumph was the performance of World No 2 Lilia Vu. With four matches remaining on Sunday, the United States led Europe 14-11. Albane Valenzuela led Vu 1 Up going into the final hole, but the American made birdie to halve the match and give the United States the 14 1/2 points needed to break the losing run. With 1.5 points, Vu’s record read 1-2-1.

11. Linn Grant (Europe)

Luckless and winless, Linn Grant’s week concluded with a 2&1 loss to Jennifer Kupcho in the singles. In fact, it was the final point the Americans gained, as they finished with 15.5 points.

12. Ally Ewing (USA)

Ally Ewing went winless as well for a 0-4-0 record. In fact, it is the first time in four appearances that she failed to lodge at least a point.

13. Jennifer Kupcho (USA)

This Solheim Cup was a mixed bag for Jennifer Kupcho. She lost both Friday and Saturday foursomes but made a fantastic comeback to win her Sunday singles against Linn Grant with a 2&1 score, and a 1-2-0 record for the week.

14. Lexi Thompson (USA)

The legendary American made her final Solheim Cup appearance this year. After winning Saturday morning’s foursomes for her lone point of the week, she took on Celine Boutier in Sunday’s singles. It was a hard battle, where she lost by a point. Her retirement marks the end of an era, but her impact on the game and seven Solheim Cup appearances won’t be forgotten in a hurry. Her record stands at 1-3-0.

15. Celine Boutier (Europe)

It was Celine Boutier’s fourth Solheim Cup, and she displayed her competitive spirit by notching two points to finish with a 2-2-0 record.

16. Georgia Hall (Europe)

Earning her spot as a wildcard, Georgia Hall played a crucial role in her team’s fightback through the week. She signed off against Alison Lee in Sunday’s singles, which she won convincingly 4&3. Her record reads 2-2-0.

17. Anna Nordqvist (Europe)

A stalwart for Team Europe over the years, Anna Nordqvist proved her worth again with two victories and two losses to finish behind Charley Hull on the points table.

18. Emily Pedersen (Europe)

A captain’s pick, Emily Pedersen featured in all five sessions, and was among the bright spots for Europe on Friday and Saturday. She finished the week with a 2-3-0 record.

19. Esther Henseleit (Europe)

The German had an average tournament. Partnering Charley Hull, Henseleit won Saturday’s foursomes. In the singles match, she and her opponent Andrea Lee captivated the audience with a back-and-forth battle that ended in a tie. At the end of the week, her tally read 1-1-1.

20. Maja Stark (Europe)

Another of the big names in the European line-up, Maja Stark would be disappointed with her 1.5 points and 1-2-1 record.

21. Leona Maguire (Europe)

Given her stellar record in previous editions, Leona Maguire featured in just two sessions, and the decision raised eyebrows. On Sunday, she beat Ally Ewing convincingly 4&3 for her lone point, and 1-1-0 record.

22.Carlota Ciganda (Europe)

A European Solheim Cup legend who helped Europe retain the Cup in 2023, Carlota Ciganda had a disappointing outing this time. Her Saturday fourball win with Pedersen was the lone bright spot in a 1-3-0 record.

23. Albane Valenzuela (Europe)

This year marked Albane Valenzuela’s Solheim Cup debut, and she left an impression in the brief appearance. In singles, she faced off against Lilia Vu in what was a tight contest. She came close to victory but eventually tied the match to give her team half a point.