ANDALUCIA, Spain — Few foursomes partners have looked as strong this week as Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz, who once again triumphed in foursomes, this time trouncing Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier with a 5&3 victory on Saturday morning at the Solheim Cup. The major champions took the lead on the first hole and never trailed, capturing their second consecutive foursomes point for the U.S. team after taking down Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist on Friday.
Korda and Corpuz carded two birdies on the opening two holes to move two ahead early, but Hall and Boutier grabbed a birdie on the par-5 4th to get back to 1 down. A pair of American pars on 6 and 7 put Korda and Corpuz 3 up with 10 holes to play, and the U.S. landed another punch on 11, making birdie to take a 4-up lead to the 12th tee, striking again on 13 to go 5 up as time began to run out for the Euros. Hall made a big birdie putt on 14 to extend the match, but Korda answered, burying her birdie putt on 15 to hand the Americans their fifth foursomes point of the Solheim Cup.
“Allisen and I just played well the past two days,” said Korda. “I think we just bonded really well on the golf course. We didn't make too many mistakes, especially today, and we rolled in a lot of putts. (Allisen has been) super clutch. We all said in the team room, we see now how she won the U.S. (Women’s) Open. She made some really clutch putts and she's been a lot of fun to be alongside the past two days.”
Corpuz has also enjoyed the dynamic duo’s partnership, especially considering they have similar vibes on the golf course. “Nelly is really calm, which is kind of what I need. I play pretty low energy,” said the rookie, who has gone undefeated in team play. “Obviously she has the experience as well. So just knowing that having someone like her by my side has helped me a lot to get comfortable.”
Korda is teeing it up this afternoon alongside Ally Ewing, and Corpuz will sit on the sidelines during the second fourball session. The Solheim Cup veteran will have played three matches by day’s end, something that would be tiring even for the most physically fit of players around a mountainous Finca Cortesin. But Korda is incredibly mentally tough and will work to earn a victory and a much-needed point on Saturday afternoon, no matter how her body is feeling.
“Anytime you get to rest, it's pretty important. This is a very hilly golf course,” said Korda, who has helped earn two points so far for the Americans. “But Allisen played yesterday, and she absolutely killed it today, so you just have to take it day by day. No matter how you're feeling, you got to put that aside. You're playing not just for yourself, but something way bigger, so no matter how tired or empty you feel, you just have to grind it out.”
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