Opening Solheim pairings set to be announced

The pairings for Friday's opening Solheim Cup matches will be announced around 22:10 BST on Thursday.

Europe and the United States will play a mix of foursome, fourball and singles matches over three days in Virginia, with 28 points up for grabs.

As holders, Europe need 14 points to retain the trophy for a record fourth time, while the US need 14½ to regain the title they last won in 2017.

The 19th edition of the Solheim Cup is being held at the 6,741-yard Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, on the shores of Lake Manassas, about an hour west of Washington DC.

It opened for play in 1991 and, given its proximity to the American capital, has played host to many US presidents, with Barack Obama still a member of the club.

Each side has 12 players and will select eight to contest Friday's four opening foursomes - alternate shot - matches with the first getting under way at 12:05 BST (07:05 local time).

The pairings for Friday's fourballs, where players play their own ball with the best score counting, will be announced towards the end of the foursomes session.

Saturday will feature four more foursomes matches, followed by four fourballs, with all 24 players contesting 12 singles matches on Sunday.

The United States swept the opening session 4-0 at Finca Cortesin last year but Europe fought back to earn a 14-14 draw.

The US lead the series 10-7 with that one tied match. Europe have only won twice on US soil, but two of them have come in the past three contests, in 2013 and 2021.