It is finally time for your morning to start with Solheim Cup’s first session! The two captains, Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen have revealed the pairings for the Friday Foursomes at the opening ceremony at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Team USA will have the three highest-ranked golfers in the world, Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, and Roze Zhang, open the day with two rookies, Lauren Coughlin, and Sarah Schmelzel, alongside Ally Ewing, Jennifer Kupcho, and Allisen Corpuz.

On Europe’s side, Charley Hull, Celine Boutier, and last year’s hero, Carlota Ciganda, will be on the course with their rookies Esther Henseleit and Albane Valenzuela, with Emily Pedersen, Maja Stark, and Linn Grant completing the morning roster. Although the European side looks strong, surprisingly, Leona Maguire did not make it into the foursome pairings. It will be the first time since her debut in 2021 that Maguire will miss a morning session.

In 2021, the Irish golfer earned four and a half points for Europe, which catapulted them to a 15-13 victory against the Americans. This included a foursome win against the powerhouse duo Nelly Korda and Jessica Korda in Toledo with Mel Reid. Even in the 2023 Solheim Cup in Finca Cortesin, Maguire won three points for Team Europe to retain the cup. Yet, having a coveted portfolio in the Solheim Cup did not grant her a pairing in the Friday Foursomes.

Seeing Maguire being snubbed for the first time in the past two editions, many in the golf world expressed their shock at Pettersen’s decision and hinted that it might prove to be a wrong judgment against Team USA.

The golf world is astonished as Leona Maguire misses Friday Foursomes

In the past 10 sessions of the 2021 and 2023 Solheim Cup, Leona Maguire played in all of them, giving the European side a total of 7.5 points through her incredible performances. The 29-year-old has broken many records, including being the first Irish woman to play in the Solheim Cup and winning seven out of ten matches. So, her absence from the first session was a bit unusual for this fan, who said, “Kinda surprised that Leona Maguire was left off the first session tomorrow, but a big ballpark like RTJ works against her pretty harshly.”

Another golf enthusiast shared a similar sentiment about Suzann Pettersen snubbing Maguire for the Friday Foursomes. Since she has defeated Nelly Korda before, it would have made sense to have her face the world No. 1 again. Hence, they commented, “Notably, Suzann Pettersen keeping Leona Maguire on the bench in the opening session, in her two Solheim Cups, Maguire has played all 10 possible sessions Despite this course being an easy walk, wonder if she’s thinking about possible fatigue.”

So what was the European captain thinking? Pettersen said in the press, “To sit Leona in a foursome, it’s a little bit of a tough call but at the same time you have to go with your gut.” And the gut said no Maguire, at least for Friday’s morning session. Remember, the Europeans were 4-0 last year after the Friday Foursomes ended, even with the Irish pro, so this year, they might overpower Team USA. But some fans disagree with Pettersen on benching Maguire. Disappointed by the picks, they tweeted, “Leona is not playing in Friday foursomes..wow what a shockshell surely use that as motivation, expect a big week from her.”  

The 2024 season has not been one of the best for Maguire. She has played in twenty events on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, but she finished in the top 10 only three times, including a victory at the 54-hole Aramco Team Series – London. Furthermore, the 29-year-old pro missed the cut in four of five majors and finished T37 at the AIG Women’s Open. Conclusively, Maguire is not in her best form, and that’s likely one of the reasons why Pettersen might have dropped her from the morning session. But still, the fans could not understand the decision, as one noted, “No Maguire to start the morning is WILD,” while another commented, “No Maguire? Strange move.”

Will history repeat itself, and will Team Europe head out of the Friday Foursomes with a 0-4 score? Or will Pettersen’s picks work better for them this time? It remains to be seen.