Celine Boutier misses a chance to birdie the second with her putt, but Rose Zhang makes no mistake as she sinks an ice-cool birdie.

The Americans go one up in the second group out.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport in Virginia

As you might expect there is a lot of red, white and blue all over the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for this event.

Frannie, Judy, Wendy, Fran, Debbie, Kitty and Sandra have made the journey up from Wyndemere Country Club in Naples, Florida, which is over 1,000 miles away and the best part of a day's drive, or a two-hour flight.

They're taking in the Solheim Cup and playing courses around Washington DC aspart of one big golf trip and say they are "keeping their fingers crossed" for a home victory.

As you might have guessed by the autographs they have collected, Lexi Thompson, who is also from Florida is one of their big favourites.

We're level again in the top match as Nelly Korda just taps in a three-footer - the kind of putt your veteran matchplayers would suggest you give early on to avoid giving your opponent the feel of knocking winning putts in, before making them putt them on the back nine.

Anyway, it's a win for the USA and the match is all square.

Our final group is at the first and US rookie Sarah Schmelzel looks totally relaxed as she bounces onto the tee box.

Dancing, unlike our good friend Peter who is clearly keeping his arms down during the final strains of YMCA.

The music dies, Carlota Ciganda steps up but it's a bit wayward and partner Linn Grant will find it out in the rough.

Lilia Vu only won one of her matches last year but she finds the fairway. Everyone is away!

The crowd are decidedly more sedate towards the green at the second hole. Folded arms and studious looks.

Albane Valenzuela hits a crisp approach shot to give Europe a chance at birdie for Celine Boutier. However, Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin are also nicely placed.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport in Virginia

Europe captain Suzann Pettersen is leading the crowd in dancing to YMCA while we wait for this final group to appear.

She is desperately trying to get Laura Davies involved. Laura, arms folded, is smiling but having none of this. Great scenes (although I’m definitely with Laura here!)

We're underway in match three with both teams just about on the green in regulation. Watch out for Emily Pedersen here who is a fiery matchplayer and even though she's the lowest-ranked player in the tournament she will not play like it.

Neither of these two Americans have the best Solheim Cup record either, with Jennifer Kupcho winning two of his seven matches and Ally Ewing just three of 12.

Celine Boutier sinks a tricky putt to make par before she and Albane Valenzuela hold their breath as Lauren Coughlin eyes a birdie.

Coughlin strikes it nicely, but the ball just kisses the rim of the cup and misses.

All square.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport in Virginia

I’ve been to plenty of major golf events and getting into the stand on the first tee is the holy grail.

But even with two groups gone, it’s still far from full, which a source has told me is “a real shame” and there are “lessons to learn” before the next Solheim Cup in the Netherlands in 2026.

I’m hearing there have been issues getting fans into the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. It’s an exclusive club and fans, volunteers and media are all reliant on buses to get here…

The music from the first tee is blaring out across the course, telling middle-aged golf fans to "get down to these sick beats".

Quite.

Celine Boutier has found the bunker at the first with her approach shot to the green while Rose Zhang has hit a nice iron on to the green.

Charley Hull rolls in a birdie putt on the second green having been left just six feet by Esther Henseleit's delicious approach shot that took a bounce before zipping back with spin.

The German rookie has started brilliantly.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport in Virginia

Charley Hull played off the second tee and immediately sprinted off to the toilets about 50 yards behind her without watching Nelly Korda play.

When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go.

With a huge early putt incoming probably a wise decision.

Celine Boutier and Albane Valenzuela both manage nervous smiles as they acknowledge the crowd after their introductions.

American counterparts Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin, it has to be said, look a lot more relaxed on home turf.

Valenzuela tees off on her first Solheim Cup appearance and finds the rough while Coughlin plants one straight down the fairway.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport in Virginia

While all the American colours dominating the course, Glenn and Jan from Essex plus Jenny and Jan from Formby Ladies Golf Club are striking a different tone and are firmly behind the European team.

They are handily staying close by in Manassas and hoping to see Europe lift the trophy for a record fourth consecutive time.

Fair play for Esther Henseleit, who has hit the first tee shot of the Solheim Cup, then faced a knee-knocking chip from the fringe of the first green, two of the most nerve-wracking shots you could ever have to play.

She knocks it stone dead though, which is good enough for a half after Allisen Corpuz fails to convert a birdie putt from 15 feet. All square after one.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport in Virginia

There's no mistaking who Denise, Kalila and Aaron are rooting for. They've tackled a six-hour drive from North Carolina to give the hosts their backing and are particularly looking forward to seeing world number two Lilia Vu and Rose Zhang.

"We're just not sure how it's going to go," says Aaron.

"Europe has a good team with the likes of Celine Boutier and Maja Stark and Charley Hull, who is the John Daly of the LPGA Tour."

And I'd not even told him that, the world number 12 had stopped off and grabbed a light for a cigarette on her walk through Thursday's practice round.

Next out for Europe is Celine Boutier and Albane Valenzuela.

Veteran Frenchwoman Boutier is the highest ranked European player and she's been partnered with debutante Albane Valenzuela.

Valenzuela has an interesting heritage. She was actually born in New York to a Mexican father and French mother and became a Swiss citizen at 14.

No divided loyalties here, though.

Charley Hull's first swing in the Solheim Cup is a decent one, but just a but too much juice on the ball as it tumbles off the back of the green. Nelly Korda manages to get her ball to stop just a bit closer, on the dancefloor, from the fairway bunker.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport in Virginia

Big crowds followed the groups for Thursday's final practice rounds and players from Europe's team were pretty much stopping off on the walk from green to tee on every hole to sign autographs and oblige those keen on selfies with their favourite star.

The galleries following the hosts were something else mind with Lexi Thompson, who is playing in her seventh and final Solheim Cup, devoting a good four or five minutes between each hole engaging with fans and world number one Nelly Korda one of the star attractions.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport in Virginia

It’s been warm and sunny all week here… but as day dawns in Virginia, it reveals a grey and overcast sky.

There’s a slight chill in the air, although barely a breath of wind.