Sports · 13 September, 2026 · 2 min read
Carlota Ciganda Holes Late Putts as Europe and United States Tie 4-4 at Solheim Cup
Ciganda sank a 12-foot putt to tie the day-one match, keeping it 4-4. López and Ciganda earned Europe a half-point in Friday fourballs.
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7 of 8 outlets skipped it: europe’s opening-session pairings were repeated afternoon and aligned with Nordqvist’s choice.
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Europe and US tied 4-4
The 20th Solheim Cup, held at Bernardus Golf course in the Netherlands, ended its opening day with Europe and the United States tied 4-4 after Carlota Ciganda’s late heroics.
Ciganda, the 36-year-old Spaniard and oldest player on show this weekend, roared after holing a 15-foot putt to earn Europe what had seemed an unlikely half point in the final fourball match of the day.
The tie set the stage for Saturday with Europe and the US level at 4-4, after the Americans had seemed to assume control of the biggest team competition in women’s golf.
Diario de Noticias de Navarra said the day featured four foursome matches ending 2-2 and four fourball matches with the margin even, including a draw in the match where the two Spaniards present—Ciganda and Julia López—played as a pair.
ESPN described the same moment as Ciganda standing over a 12-foot putt on No. 18 to tie the match against the Americans.
Ciganda’s quotes, Nordqvist’s praise
Ciganda said, "We fought hard and we got half a point, which is important," as she looked to carry momentum into Saturday’s morning and afternoon sessions.
The BBC also quoted Ciganda saying, "I love this week. I just love playing for the team, for my team-mates," after Europe’s half point.
Diario de Noticias de Navarra reported that Ciganda and Julia López reached a 2-up lead over Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin but finished sharing the point on the game of the last hole that closed the day.
Infobae said the Spaniards got to be two up after hole 10 against world No. 1 Nelly Korda and Coughlin, before Ciganda delivered an eagle at the 16th to level the match and saved another clutch putt at the 18th to secure the half point.
Infobae added that Anna Nordqvist celebrated the moment, saying, "Carlota adores the Solheim Cup above all else."
What comes next on Saturday
The format for the Solheim Cup was set with four foursomes matches in the morning and four fourballs in the afternoon on Friday, and the Diario de Noticias de Navarra preview said Saturday repeats the same format with eight matches. Infobae reported that Ciganda and López will also not play in Saturday morning’s foursomes, even as the teams remain tied 4-4 after Friday. Diario de Noticias de Navarra said the United States is the reigning champion, so Europe needs to finish ahead of the scoreboard to reclaim the title.
The BBC said the decision to send out Charley Hull and Lottie Woad first in both the morning foursomes and the afternoon fourballs did not deliver the impetus Anna Nordqvist would have hoped for. Infobae described the afternoon fourballs as a setting where the two Spaniards entered the fray in the last match, with the result preventing the United States from going ahead to rest.