How about that - rookie Esther Henseleit has the honour of getting the 2024 Solheim Cup underway. That's the biggest shot she's ever hit in her life, but she somehow manages to hold it together and fire a drive away down the fairway.

Allisen Korpuz goes first for the Americans and finds the fairway bunker.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport in Virginia

A confident stride out on to the first tee by Charley Hull, who is singing along to Eye of the Tiger and then gets a video of the crowds and a selfie.

Expect to see that on socials shortly!

Aptly 'Eye Of The Tiger' is blaring out as Nelly Korda walks onto the first tee - as the world number one has been laser focused all week.

Korda says Team USA have "unfinished business" from that epic tie last year, and having played three, lost three in her Solheim Cup career, you just know she's desperate for a win.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport in Virginia

Former US President Barack Obama was at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club earlier this week to wish Stacy Lewis' team the best of luck in the Solheim Cup against Europe.

Obama was very much on familiar ground as almost every US President since George H. W. Bush has played at the course previously.

"He knew all of our names and he congratulated all of us on all of our success as well," world number one Nelly Korda told reporters.

The LPGA posted a photo on social media, external showing a smiling Obama surrounded by the US team who also visited the Pentagon earlier this week.

"Honestly, it was just super cool to have a past president kind of show up to team dinner," said Megan Khang, who like Korda is making her fourth Solheim Cup appearance this week

"It's pretty incredible he took time out of his day to come meet all of us. I know he plays out of here, so just the appreciation for the time he gave up to come see us is incredible."

Image source, Getty Images

Here's what we've got coming up over the next three days, and it's all starting now....

The captains have handed us an incredible start, with world number one Nelly Korda leading out the Americans going up against Europe's superstar Charley Hull.

Korda and Allisen Korpuz won two out of two in this format in Spain last year, so it's a tough start for rookie Esther Henseleit.

The German won the Olympic silver medal in Paris though so has top-level credentials - and we know all about Hull, who is playing in her seventh Solheim Cup and has already said she loves playing against the crowd as the away side.

Expect fireworks here...

Image source, BBC Sport

The Americans are red (and white) hot favourites to win this for the first time since 2017 but let's not look that far ahead...

Thumbs up for Europe to lead after this morning's foursomes. Thumbs down for a US lead...

If you think it's going to be 2-2... well, we just don't have an option for that so get patriotic and give it a thumbs up!

There are two rookies on each team and all four of them are going out in the first session this morning.

That's an interesting tactic with this being the more difficult foursomes and not fourballs, which usually gives players a bit more freedom to play their own game with their own ball.

But it's a baptism of fire in Virginia for our Solheim Cup debutants.

Image source, Getty Images

Carlota Ciganda has probably haunted Team USA captain Stacy Lewis for 12 months.

This, after all, was moments after the closing putt that clinched a thrilling 14-14 draw last year and ensured Team Europe retained the Solheim Cup.

Ciganda is out in the final pairing this morning, teaming up with Sweden's Linn Grant against Lilia Vu and US rookie Sarah Schmelzel.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport in Virginia

Image source, BBC Sport

The music is pumping, and there’s a healthy smattering of European fans in the stands.

Ash from England is here all week on a “bucket list” trip down from New York and with her friend Christina from Sweden and a whole host of European bananas, of course.

Right, here's what's on the menu as play gets under way in the 2024 Solheim Cup.

Charley Hull/Esther Henseleit will hit the first tee shot for Europe as four mouth-watering contests begin.

It's foursomes to start with this morning, which is the harder alternate shot format with just one golf ball used by each pairing - meaning there's not much room for error.

No pressure....

Image source, BBC Sport

Team USA take it in terms of world ranking, but this is team matchplay golf, and that's almost a different sport.

Europe also have the edge in Solheim Cup experience, with their team combining for 31 appearances while the USA have just 22.

The USA also only have two players in their side who know what it's like to win this thing - with a lot of them knowing nothing else but coming up empty handed.

Image source, Getty Images

No team has ever walked away with the Solheim Cup four times in a row - so Europe can break new ground if they can achieve that this week.

The USA have won three in a row twice before in the 18 editions of the Solheim Cup, and last year's tie gave Europe their first ever hat-trick as they retained the trophy.

Overall the USA still lead 10-7 with one tie but the gap is closing with the Americans not tasting victory since back in 2017...

Image source, Getty Images

Fancy some fireworks for your Friday?

From Annika Sorenstam's chip in 2000 being disallowed to USA's Allison Lee in tears after picking up her ball in 2015, not to mention Nelly Korda's contentious eagle in 2021, this competition is no stranger to controversy.

Our golf correspondent Iain Carter has laid down the history in his column this week.

And we'll bring you every beat as these two teams go head to head once again.

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome golf fans to the 2024 Solheim Cup!

Team USA and Europe lock horns again just 12 months after that epic 14-14 tie in Spain last year - with similar teams and the same captains, but will it be the same result?

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia looks in immaculate condition and we've got two evenly matched teams containing some of the best golfers on the planet.

There's always excitement in these team golf events, always highs and lows, twists and turns and swings of momentum from almost every swing of a golf club.

So keep it right here with us for the next three days of matchplay madness at the Solheim Cup.