The 2026 Solheim Cup is under way at Bernardus, and if you're one of those people who thinks golf is just a nice walk ruined, you're in for a treat. The opening foursomes match saw Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz take on Charley Hull and Lottie Woad, with the Americans making a statement early. Corpuz split the fairway with the opening shot, while Woad, making her Solheim Cup debut, sent a slightly nervous drive into the semi-rough on the 364-yard par-four 1st. But it was Woad who had the last laugh, rolling in a putt to win the hole and announce herself on the big stage. Europe wasting no time at all!

Korda and Corpuz have a perfect record in Solheim foursomes: played four, won four. They're not hanging about, as Korda eased the first approach shot of the week over the flag to 20 feet. Hull quickly followed, landing her iron pin high, a similar distance to the right of the flag. A couple of half-decent birdie chances there. Meanwhile, the strains of Club Tropicana by Wham! rippled out as Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin arrived for match two. A disclaimer: drinks at Bernardus are not free. Fun and sunshine a definite possibility, though.

In match two, Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier joined Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin on the 1st tee. Lee split the fairway with her opening drive, but Boutier hooked nervously into thick heather down the left. Trouble there. Koertz Madsen might not even have much of a swing, the ball sitting down, near a tree.

For the uninitiated, the Solheim Cup is a matchplay event. Each match is worth a point. There are 28 points available over the three days, so the first team to get to 14.5 points will win the Cup. Should the scores be tied at 14 points apiece, the USA will retain the trophy as current holders.

Match-play explained: In stroke-play, like the Evian or the British Open, whoever takes the fewest shots over all four rounds wins. All shots count. So if Nelly Korda shoots 63-63-63-63 and Charley Hull shoots 87-87-87-87, Nelly takes 252 strokes and beats Charley by 96. (Good luck betting on that exact outcome.) In match play, each player or team wins a hole for every hole they better their opponents. If Nelly takes five shots at the 1st but Charley needs only three, Charley goes 1up. If Charley wins the next hole too, she's 2up. If they halve the 3rd, Charley remains 2up. It doesn't matter if Nelly took 13 shots on the 2nd; what happens on each hole stays on each hole. No knock-on effect.

So if Hull wins the first nine holes, she's 9up with nine to play. Nelly can only tie at best; Hull can't lose. This is dormie. If Nelly wins the next nine, the game ends all square, and each team gets half a point. But if Charley wins the 10th, she's 10up with eight to play. She's won 10&8. If the 10th is halved, Charley is 9up with eight to play. She's won 9&8. Similarly Nelly can be said to have lost 9&8. Europe would add a point.

There are three types of match: foursomes (teams of two use one ball, alternate shots); fourballs (teams of two play a ball each, take the best score); and singles (when it gets wild and everyone starts shallow breathing and chest clutching). The schedule: Today: four morning foursomes; four afternoon fourballs. Tomorrow: four morning foursomes; four afternoon fourballs. Sunday: 12 singles matches.

The Solheim Cup has delivered recently: Bronte Law leading Europe to victory at Gleneagles; the Leona Maguire Show; Maja Stark's chant; Lilia Vu's birdie-birdie finish to reclaim the cup for America. Any repeat of any of the above … yes please!

This year's tournament is off to a flyer, with Europe's two biggest draws facing the world number one and a former US Open champion in the opening foursomes. This promises to be epic. It's early, so make yourself a strong cup of tea and strap in, because … it's on!

6.40am (BST): Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda v Charley Hull and Lottie Woad

6.52am: Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin v Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier

7.04am: Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan v Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire

7.26am: Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho v Maja Stark and Linn Grant