However, Nordqvist’s decision to persist with Hull and Woad will surely be placed under further scrutiny given the way events unfolded.
The pair, Europe’s highest ranked players, had asked to play together this week.
But after they were summarily thrashed by Alison Lee and Coughlin in the foursomes – a Solheim Cup record equalling 6&5 defeat – the experiment of pairing the world number seven and eight together looked to have run its course.
Yet when Hull and Woad emerged together again to face Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee, to almost universal surprise, Europe’s captain defended her decision.
“I don’t think people understand – these are the best players in the world,” said a defiant Nordqvist.
“Lottie, herself, made six birdies in the afternoon [yesterday]. They are playing solid.”
Unfortunately solid was not enough to prevail in the fourballs, particularly with Noh delivering a performance that included five birdies and an eagle on the front nine.
A Woad birdie on the 17th sent the match down the last with the English pair needing to win the hole to salvage half a point.
But for the second day running, Hull found water off the tee to immediately put pressure on Woad, and Noh and Lee held on for the win.
Woad also pointed out that their opponents in Friday’s fourball and Saturday’s foursomes matches just played better golf.
“In the fourball, we were 10, 11 under, and it was a great match,” said the European rookie.
“And then I don’t think anyone would have beaten who we played on Saturday morning. They were seven under through 14, so credit to them.
“Everyone’s played amazing when we’ve played them. So, yeah, it’s just matchplay, isn’t it? You can play bad and win and play well and lose.”
And the day ended with a huge momentum swing for the US.
Jennifer Kupcho holed a monster 91-foot putt on the 17th and followed it by dispatching another lengthy putt on the final hole to steal an unlikely point from the grasp of Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier who had been one up with four to play.
Just as Ciganda pilfered a half point in Friday’s final match to give Europe the impetus coming into Saturday, so Kupcho’s point will do likewise for the US, who need to reach 14 points on Sunday to retain the trophy.
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