Solheim Cup 2024: Dame Laura Davies on Charley Hull thrashing Nelly Korda, USA’s win and Europe’s next captain
Charley Hull won three points from five matches at the 2024 Solheim Cup, including victory over Nelly Korda in the Sunday singles; Hull was Europe’s top scorer in their 15.5-12.5 defeat against Team USA, who lifted the trophy for the first time since 2017
Dame Laura Davies believes a major breakthrough for Charley Hull “has to happen” after her impressive Solheim Cup performance and dominant victory over world No 1 Nelly Korda.
The Englishwoman partnered rookie Esther Henseleit to a final-hole victory in the Saturday foursomes and also teamed up with close friend Georgia Hall that day to win her fourballs match, reducing Europe’s deficit to 10-6 heading into the Sunday singles.
Hull demolished Korda 6&4 in the top match to give Suzann Pettersen’s side a dream start to the final day, where Europe threatened a historic victory before Team USA held on for a 15.5-12.5 win and first Solheim Cup success since 2017.
The world No 12 finished as Europe’s top scorer with three points from five matches and Davies, who served as vice-captain, was impressed with Hull’s display, believing she has the game to challenge for major success in the years ahead.
“I can’t believe she’s not already [a major champion], as she’s so talented,” Davies told Sky Sports News. “It’s not easy to win major championships, we all know that, but that’s what we’d hope for her because she’s that good.
“She just needs to win more tournaments and get herself into contention more. I know she’s up there a fair bit and she has lots of close calls in majors, the US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open last year, but you feel it has to happen at some point.
“She has been superb this week. She turned up, she has been great fun and has been keeping us all entertained, but then she produced on the course as well – you can’t ask for more as a team-mate than that.
“We knew Nelly was going as No 1 and we had no qualms about putting Charley out first. You can’t intimidate Nelly as world No 1, but we thought she was the one who could put a little bit of pressure on she didn’t want.
“Charley did that. Her shot making was superb and the way she finished off her match at the 14th was just magnificent.”
Davies: Europe scared USA!
Europe lost both sessions on the opening day and remained four behind heading into the Sunday singles, where they won five and halved three of their matches but fell narrowly short in their bid to retain the trophy for a fourth consecutive time.
