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Anna Nordqvist has thrown Lottie Woad straight into the heart of the Solheim Cup alongside Charley Hull, with World No.1 Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz waiting in a heavyweight opening foursomes at Bernardus.

The 2026 Solheim Cup will begin with four of the biggest names in the women’s game going head-to-head after Anna Nordqvist paired Charley Hull with rookie Lottie Woad against Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz in Friday morning’s opening foursomes.

It is a compelling first match and a fascinating statement from both captains. Hull, playing in her eighth Solheim Cup, gets the partner she has been hoping for, while Woad’s first experience of the competition will come in the most high-profile position possible. Across the tee, Angela Stanford has opted for one of the USA’s most trusted combinations to lead the defending champions out.

Hull’s enthusiasm for partnering Woad has been no secret. Asked how much convincing the Englishwoman had needed to do, Nordqvist said the attraction was mutual.

“Obviously, her and Lottie, they’ve got to play quite a bit on tour this year, so I think they were both very excited to be paired with each other.”

Nordqvist also described Hull as “buzzing” since arriving at Bernardus on Monday, adding that the Solheim Cup has increasingly brought out the best in her as her career has progressed. Now one of Europe’s two most experienced players alongside Carlota Ciganda, Hull will be charged with helping Woad negotiate one of the most intimidating first assignments a Solheim Cup rookie could be handed.

Korda and Corpuz trusted to set the tone

There was considerably less mystery surrounding the first American pairing. Korda and Corpuz have an established Solheim Cup history and Stanford admitted their selection at the top of the order was one most people would have anticipated.

“I feel like if I didn’t put those two out, I would be questioned,” she joked. “I feel like the whole world knew that they were coming.”

The presence of the World No.1 inevitably draws much of the attention, but Stanford was particularly keen to underline Corpuz’s importance.

“Don’t sleep on Allisen,” she said. “I’ve called her the backbone of our team. She’s pretty tough.”

Stanford believes the two complement each other particularly well and said their previous record and rapport had “earned the right” to go out first.

The result is a first match that neither captain attempted to play down. Nordqvist described the opening tee as “the place to be in the golfing world tomorrow”, while Stanford believes pitching four of the world’s leading players into alternate-shot match play from the outset demonstrates exactly what makes the Solheim Cup different.

Familiarity at the heart of Europe’s choices

Beyond the headline pairing, there is a clear thread running through Nordqvist’s foursomes selections. Where possible, Europe has leaned on relationships and familiarity.

Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier take on Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin in the second match, a European combination that has already been tested this season. Nordqvist revealed that the pair had wanted to play together in the LPGA team event and enjoyed the experience.

“They really liked the pairing and they’re good friends, so I didn’t see why not to pick them,” she explained.

The final European pairing follows similar logic. Maja Stark and Linn Grant, who face Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho, have a friendship and playing relationship stretching back through their amateur careers. For Nordqvist, putting the two Swedes back together was a combination that “felt really natural”.

Between those matches, Leona Maguire partners Esther Henseleit against Andrea Lee and US rookie Lindy Duncan. Maguire’s considerable Solheim Cup experience gives Europe a proven match-play competitor in the third contest, while Henseleit returns for her second appearance after making her debut in Virginia two years ago.

Data helps shape the American foursomes

If familiarity is particularly evident in Europe’s selections, Stanford has also revealed the extent to which data is informing the American approach to foursomes.

The format was once an area of weakness for the USA, but Stanford believes the greater use of statistics, which began around the 2023 contest in Spain, has helped change that.

“I love numbers,” she said. “I think numbers don’t lie to you.”

The process is not entirely statistical. Stanford and her team arrived at Bernardus with a good idea of the combinations they wanted, then watched how the players fitted the course and listened to their feedback before confirming the pairings. Chemistry and personality remain important alongside what the numbers suggest.

That approach is particularly evident in the decision to pair Andrea Lee with Duncan for the rookie’s first Solheim Cup match. Stanford sees Lee as a steadying presence and described her as the best driver of the ball on Tour, while the players also match up strongly statistically.

For Duncan, it provides an experienced partner with the temperament Stanford wants alongside a debutant.

Friday morning foursomes

• Match 1: Allisen Corpuz/Nelly Korda (USA) v Charley Hull/Lottie Woad (Europe)
• Match 2: Alison Lee/Lauren Coughlin (USA) v Nanna Koerstz Madsen/Celine Boutier (Europe)
• Match 3: Andrea Lee/Lindy Duncan (USA) v Esther Henseleit/Leona Maguire (Europe)
• Match 4: Rose Zhang/Jennifer Kupcho (USA) v Maja Stark/Linn Grant (Europe)

There is plenty to unpick across all four matches, from the established Stark-Grant partnership to Stanford’s decision to give Duncan an immediate start.

Hull has the partner she wanted, Woad has been entrusted with a huge role on debut and Stanford has responded with the pairing she believes has earned the right to lead the USA.

“Being on the first tee at 7:40 is going to be the place to be in the golfing world tomorrow,” said Nordqvist.

On paper at least, it’s difficult to disagree.

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