Team USA dominated the Europeans on day one of the 19th Solheim Cup! The home crowd went crazy when the day ended and their favorite stars did not disappoint them and took the 6-2 lead after Friday’s foursomes and fourballs ended. Although all of Team USA’s teammates played exceptionally, it was Nelly Korda who came out to be the hero on day one, even though the fans had a hard day. The 26-year-old became the first American to win two matches in one day of the Solheim Cup and that too by keeping 3 holes to play.

Indeed, Korda is coming in hot with her excellent form at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and will probably be the biggest threat to Team Europe. So, to throw off the 14-time LPGA Tour a little, captain Suzann Pettersen has decided to play a small mind game with Korda on the second day. The day two foursomes pairings are out and the Korda & Allisen Corpuz duo would be opening day again versus Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciagnda.

Remember when Ciganda and the LPGA star faced each other last year in Finca Cortesin? The Spanish pro came out on top in Sunday Singles to clinch the last point for the Europeans to retain the cup. Another thing to note is that Korda is a fast-paced golfer, whereas, Ciganda has slow-paced gameplay. Time and again the Bradenton native had opined her frustration against the slow play in events. After playing the US Women’s Open, Kord told No Laying Up, “Honestly, I despise slow play. It drives me up a freaking wall. I just can’t stand it.” Hence, NBC Sports commentator Kay Cockerill posted on X that it was probably a game of Pettersen to distract Korda from her solid game.

So, facing Ciganda might become a challenge for Korda. However, as the 3-time major winner has been on great form this season, it would not be wrong to assume that the slow play backfire on Team Europe. Because Ciganda’s partner Pedersen is not a slow player either, instead of Korda the slow play may affect Pedersen and just bring down the European’s chances of winning any point.

Notably, Ciganda’s slow play and Korda’s opinion against it were once the talk of the town, as the former was caught in a huge controversy and the latter responded with what she thought was right.

What was Nelly Korda’s response to Ciganda’s disqualification?

Last year at the Evian Amundi Championship, Carlota Ciganda, and the LPGA Tour were a great tussle. On her last hole of the second round in 2023, Ciganda was given a two-stroke penalty by the LPGA Tour’s Pace of Play Policy. The Spanish pro denied the stroke and appealed for it. When the official did not agree, Ciganda did not either, and thus, she was disqualified from the event.

Talking about her disqualification because of slow play, Korda then expressed that although she liked Ciganda and they had different gameplays, the rules had to be implemented. She said, “I would say at the end of the day the rules of golf are the rules of golf, and it’s good that it’s being enforced.”

Korda weighed in on her statement on why the fast pace was better for the game and highlighted how 6+ hours around bored the fans and that it’s tough to watch. As the two face each other again at the Solheim Cup, it will be exciting to see if Ciganda’s slow play will come on top of Korda’s fast pace or if the 14-time LPGA Tour will not let anything stop her from getting the one point.