GB&I have arrived in Los Angeles the 44th Curtis Cup gets under way at Bel-Air Country Club, with Catriona Matthew’s side looking to become the first Great Britain and Ireland team to win on US soil since 1994.
Great Britain and Ireland arrive as holders after a memorable 10½–9½ victory at Sunningdale in 2024 — their first win since 2016. The challenge this week is altogether different.
Matthew has acknowledged that GB&I go in as underdogs on paper, but was quick to point out that they carried the same tag at Sunningdale. “In terms of the amateur rankings, we will be the underdogs, but we also were at Sunningdale,” she said. “It’s going to be a challenge but in match play anyone can beat anyone.”
The all-time series record stands heavily in America’s favour, with the USA holding 31 wins to GB&I’s nine, with three ties. A win this week would be a landmark result
The GB&I squad
Beth Coulter and Patience Rhodes return to the side after playing key roles in the Sunningdale victory, while Sophia Fullbrook comes in having won three times on the US college circuit with Florida State University this season.
The remaining places go to Lily Hurst, Isla McDonald-O’Brien, Charlotte Naughton, Nellie Ong, and Davina Xanh. Hurst was the 2024 English Women’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Champion, while McDonald-O’Brien reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women’s Amateur Championship.
Naughton recorded a record victory at the Junior Orange Bowl in January, and Ong has previous team experience, having been part of the GB&I side that won the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe in 2025. Xanh won her first collegiate title in March at the Ping ASU Invitational.
GB&I squad: Beth Coulter – Sophia Fullbrook – Lily Hurst – Isla McDonald-O’Brien – Charlotte Naughton – Nellie Ong – Patience Rhodes – Davina Xanh Captain: Catriona Matthew OBE
The USA squad
World number one amateur Kiara Romero headlines the American side, fresh from a top-10 finish at the US Women’s Open. University of Southern California junior Jasmine Koo and Asterisk Talley both went 2-1-1 at Sunningdale, with Koo also claiming low amateur honours at this year’s Chevron Championship. Talley was the 2024 US Women’s Open low amateur.
The five USA newcomers are Kary Hollenbaugh, Farah O’Keefe, Kiara Romero, Avery Weed and Kelly Xu. Romero, an Oregon senior, received the 2025 Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s leading amateur. O’Keefe of the University of Texas has four collegiate wins in 2026, while Hollenbaugh is a two-time All-American from Ohio State with four wins in 2025.
USA squad: Anna Davis – Kary Hollenbaugh – Jasmine Koo – Farah O’Keefe – Kiara Romero – Asterisk Talley – Avery Weed – Kelly Xu Captain: Meghan Stasi
Format
The match runs across three days. Friday and Saturday each begin with three morning fourball matches followed by three afternoon foursomes. Sunday concludes with eight singles matches to determine the winner. Each match is worth one point; a half point is awarded for a halved match
How to watch
