DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — All 12 singles matches are in play on the final day of the Solheim Cup — and blue is filling the scoreboards across Bernardus Golf.
The Europeans made a fast start Sunday in their bid to reach 14 1/2 points and regain the crystal trophy, with Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit and Linn Grant — out in the first three matches — getting to the back nine with big leads in wet conditions.
Nelly Korda was 3 up on European rookie Mimi Rhodes after nine holes of the fourth match, but the world No. 1 wasn't getting much help from her U.S. teammates. Only one other American was leading — Lauren Coughlin in Match 9 against Leona Maguire.
Team Europe has played stronger on the shorter front nine this week, however, so there was still plenty of hope for the Americans.
There has barely been any separation between Europe and the United States this week, meaning something has to give on Sunday.
Tied at 4-4 after Day 1, the teams were locked at 8-8 ahead of the start of singles play, with heavy rain greeting the arrival of players and fans on Day 3 and umbrellas lining the fairways as the early groups went out.
The rain had relented by the time Rose Zhang and Celine Boutier teed off in the final pairing out at 1:22 p.m. local time (7:22 a.m. EDT), with players finally able to remove their wet gear.
At stake is the trophy that has been on show on the boisterous first tee all week and in the possession of the Americans since 2024.
They need 14 points to retain it. Both teams require 14 1/2 for an outright win.
Hull, who contributed just a half-point for Team Europe from four matches in a misfiring combination with Lottie Woad over the first two days, won the first hole of the lead singles match against Megan Khang and extended her lead to 2 up with a birdie at No. 10.
The singles has been tight in recent years
It is the seventh time that the Solheim Cup has been tied after two days. The home team has a record of 5-0-1 on the six previous occasions.
In the past five editions of the event, the singles session has been tied three times and Europe has won 6 1/2-5 1/2 the other two times.
Whoever wins, it's a day that rarely fails to deliver.
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