Solheim Cup: No place for two-time major winner Lilia Vu in USA's opening foursomes

Vu won her maiden major title in April's Chevron Championship and then claimed the AIG Women's Open in August, finishing six shots clear of Europe's Charley Hull.

However, the 25-year-old's name was absent when the pairings for Friday morning's foursomes session at Finca Cortesin were announced at the opening ceremony in Marbella.

"At least for me, I don't see anybody playing all five sessions," United States captain Stacy Lewis said when asked about leaving Vu out.

"So they all needed some rest at some point and just wanted to give her the morning to just kind of regroup and get herself together.

"She somewhat asked for it a little bit, somewhat didn't. It was kind of my idea. I mean, you're going to see her a lot, other than that first session. You don't win two majors and sit on the sideline for very long."

Former amateur star Rose Zhang, who won an LPGA Tour event in her first tournament as a professional, will also sit out the first session, with an out-of-form Lexi Thompson hitting the opening shot.

"I will tell you Lexi has looked unbelievable this week and that was part of the reason that she's in there," Lewis said.

"I think she's got the most experience on our team and I wanted her to go out there and have that first tee shot. I think she's earned it."

Thompson will partner Megan Khang against Swedish rookies Linn Grant and Maja Stark as the visitors look to avoid an unprecedented third straight defeat in the biennial contest.

"I don't see them as rookies. They've been asking for it, so here we go," Europe's captain Suzann Pettersen said.

"I feel like I've had these four pairings down on paper for quite a few months now. It was more like in what order do you play them."

Evian Championship winner Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall will renew their unbeaten partnership when they take on Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee, with Leona Maguire – who was unbeaten on her debut in 2021 – and Anna Nordqvist up against Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz.

The final match sees Hull and Emily Pedersen take on Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight.

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