The LPGA Edge

Europe took the Solheim Cup back, 15–13 at Bernardus, and Kent and Scottie — Scottie from a gate at Denver International Airport — go straight at why. Kent walks through how it happened: level after Saturday, Jennifer Kupcho flipping the last match of the session on the 17th and 18th, the Americans celebrating like the job was done, and Europe front-loading its Sunday order with Charley Hull, Esther Henseleit and Linn Grant so it never came down to the last group. From there: Megan Khang and Angel Yin sent out first and third in the form they were in, Kupcho's match-play record against the hype, why Europe keeps getting more out of the bottom of its roster than the Americans do, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes as the pairing Scottie admits he got wrong, whether Lottie Woad and Charley Hull should play every session together, and the flowers Kent earns for calling the Henseleit putt that changed Europe's roster. Then Team USA's decisions — Lauren Coughlin going five sessions, Yealimi Noh kept out of foursomes, Lilia Vu as an alternate — and the argument the two of them cannot settle: should Angel Yin have stepped aside, and could a captain even ask? After the break, the state of the two programs: why 2026 has to be the year Team USA decides how urgently it wants to win, who captains next, a roster whose top points earners are its oldest players, Europe's four players under 25, and a closing case for turning the International Crown into a Presidents Cup-style event. Plus Auston Kim's resting focused face, the Waffle House theory of team golf, and Scottie's 2028 Valhalla prediction.CHAPTERS0:00   Cold open — "how urgently they want to win"0:25   Welcome from Denver Airport — Europe wins the 20th Solheim Cup1:04   How it happened: the Kupcho charge, the beer on the bus, Europe's Sunday2:58   The singles orders — Europe front-loads its firepower4:43   "Sacrificial lambs": Megan Khang out first, Angel Yin third8:35   Jennifer Kupcho's match-play record vs. the hype11:07  Europe gets the bottom of its roster to outperform12:13  The US captaincy philosophy that limited its options15:33  Captains' choices, amplified — Europe's decisions under the microscope17:39  Nadaud and Rhodes: the pairing Scottie got wrong20:36  Lottie and Charley together every session — spread the talent?22:38  Europe's back channels, and Julia Lopez Ramirez's pick24:23  Flowers for Kent: the Esther Henseleit putt that changed the roster25:08  Team USA's decisions: Coughlin five sessions, Angel one, Lilia Vu as alternate25:57  Why wasn't Yealimi Noh in foursomes?27:25  "The US gets married to players"28:06  Should Angel Yin have stepped aside?31:57  "Two liabilities on this team" — the argument35:44  State of the programs: does the US want to win urgently enough?39:08  The Kobe "job's not finished" meme vs. the celebration video39:38  "What matters more than being a great teammate? Being a great golfer"40:14  Questions over Angela Stanford's captaincy42:32  Who captains next — Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie West, Lexi?44:13  Roster turnover: the top US points earners are the oldest players46:03  "Good old boys club" — how the US picks its teams46:38  Europe's youth movement: four players under 2548:48  "I'm not feeling good about the red, white and blue"50:18  The bigger picture: International Crown vs. a Presidents Cup format50:59  Auston Kim's "resting focused face"53:26  The Waffle House theory of women's team golf56:02  Final thoughts — Scottie's 2028 Valhalla prediction57:11  Sign-off

Days from the 20th Solheim Cup, Kent and Scottie do something the show has never done: tier all 24 players, S through F, one at a time. Nelly Korda, Lottie Woad and Charley Hull anchor the top — but the first real argument lands early, when Scottie puts Alison Lee in S tier on the strength of a climb from outside the world's top 300 to the top 60 in five months, and Kent counters with a 2-5 Solheim record. From there it's Rose Zhang, Esther Henseleit, Lauren Coughlin, Allisen Corpuz and Céline Boutier through A tier; Maja Stark as Europe's tipping-point player, plus Leona Maguire, Nastasia Nadaud, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Jennifer Kupcho, Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee through B; and a C tier that swallows a third of the field — Linn Grant, Lindy Duncan, Megan Khang, Carlota Ciganda, Julia Lopez Ramirez. The widest gap between them is Angel Yin: A tier for one, D tier for the other, and neither man moves. They finish on Mimi Rhodes' captain's pick, Lilia Vu turning up at Bernardus as an alternate — "an unserious decision" — where Anna Nordqvist would rank as a player, whether Europe pushed its changing of the guard one Solheim too early, and a final score prediction with the DraftKings line hanging over it.0:00   Cold open0:33   Welcome — the 20th Solheim Cup1:53   How the tiers work: S through F2:44   S tier3:58   Nelly Korda6:35   Lottie Woad9:11   Charley Hull vs Alison Lee — the first split16:38  A tier17:43  Rose Zhang20:57  Esther Henseleit22:49  Lauren Coughlin26:05  Allisen Corpuz28:53  Céline Boutier32:31  Angel Yin — the biggest disagreement on the board34:16  Auston Kim35:47  B tier37:20  Maja Stark, Europe's tipping point40:43  Leona Maguire43:56  Nastasia Nadaud46:20  Nanna Koerstz Madsen47:35  Jennifer Kupcho49:00  Yealimi Noh51:05  Andrea Lee53:47  C tier55:12  Linn Grant57:21  Lindy Duncan59:53  Megan Khang1:03:08 Carlota Ciganda1:05:54 Julia Lopez Ramirez1:07:35 D tier and F tier — Mimi Rhodes1:10:22 Angel Yin in D tier1:12:18 The full 24, tier by tier1:13:44 What surprised you most1:15:39 Lilia Vu on the ground as an alternate1:20:54 Where Anna Nordqvist would rank as a player1:23:29 Europe's changing of the guard1:31:01 Predictions — and the DraftKings line1:32:13 Sign-off

One week before the Solheim Cup, Alison Lee explains how a player who wasn't on Angela Stanford's radar in January played her way onto Team USA by June — after an emergency C-section, a first range session that ended in tears, and a driver that "looked like I hit a marshmallow." She goes back to the week she finished dead last in Dallas and nearly walked away, the swing coach who "brought me back from the dead," the Freddie Couples text thread that flipped a switch, and the broomstick putter she wishes she'd found three years earlier. Kent and Scottie get her on the points system she'd change, why she's never been on a losing U.S. team, what a 2015 rookie learned from Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer, the WTGL, Golf Saudi's money and what it means for the LET — and Caddy Corner, where the most underrated tour stop stumps her cold. Plus: what she hopes her son thinks when he watches her play, and the retirement plan that kicks in the moment she finally wins.0:00 Cold open — "I got dead last"0:37 Welcome — Solheim Cup week0:50 Alison Lee joins2:14 How she got onto Angela Stanford's radar5:41 The Golf Channel booth with Grant Boone8:36 The points system she'd change15:32 Never on a losing U.S. team17:26 A 2015 rookie, starstruck — now the veteran21:37 The last American mom at a Solheim was 201723:36 The marshmallow driver — coming back after Levi25:35 Winning overseas and what a team room needs30:21 How the LPGA has changed since 201533:17 A rookie class for the ages37:08 The lowest point — dead last in Dallas38:20 Chris Mason and the turnaround39:11 Perspective: UCLA, friends, and her mom41:57 The Freddie Couples text thread44:18 The broomstick49:21 WTGL — what year one has to do52:03 Golf Saudi, LIV and the LET55:24 Caddy Corner58:46 "I hope he thinks I'm a cool mom"60:19 Sign-off

Sean Melia of Bay State Golf spent the week on the ground at TPC Boston, and he cameback with the story of the FM Championship that the broadcast didn't tell: MeganKhang's father, who is also her coach, cheerfully absolving himself of anyresponsibility for his daughter's putting — while half-swinging a club on the rangeas she played. Kent and Scottie work through Ruoning Yin's sixth win and first inover 600 days, what TPC Boston is actually like as a fan and a photographer, andwhether a tournament with this much investment behind it deserves major status. Thenthe Solheim Cup, where both captains have already made calls worth questioning:Anna Nordqvist retiring mid-captaincy and taking herself out of a roster she'd walkonto, and Angela Stanford leaving the Angel Yin decision open far too long. Plus theWTGL rosters finally land — five teams, twenty-five players, and one very loudabsence.Chapters 0:00  Cold open — "I'm a great putter, I don't know why she can't make any putts"0:24  Ruoning Yin ends 600 winless days at the FM Championship1:23  Sean Melia of Bay State Golf joins from the ground2:08  What TPC Boston was actually like all week11:40 Playing half the public courses in Massachusetts14:49 The Athletic's story on players and the people who follow them19:06 Does the FM Championship deserve major status?20:25 The mystery of Megan Khang30:40 Both Solheim captains have already slipped32:05 Angela Stanford, Angel Yin, and a cutoff set too late43:21 The WTGL rosters land — and Nelly Korda says no54:37 Sean's plug and sign-off

One week before the Solheim Cup, Angel Yin sits down for her first podcast interview sincethe illness that knocked her out of the KPMG — and tells the whole story: theThursday-night ER visit between rounds ("I told him, I have to leave — it's amajor"), the weeks that blurred together, and the agreement with captain AngelaStanford that made Boston her test run. She breaks down why an 81-76 doesn't saywhat you think it says, the 5-3-1 Solheim record she credits to her partners, andwhy she refuses to look at Bernardus before she lands. Scottie brings the caddie'sanswer to the form question — believe — and Kent tries to get a pairing out of her(she's "secretive"). Plus: the diet ("I'm going to abolish 'restrictive'"), tworotisserie chickens a week, a PS5 from Costco, the story behind the HACI hat, anda Caddy Corner where Scottie rats out what she really shot at Norton. It ends theonly way it could: "This is your spot. You've earned this."Chapters0:00 Cold open0:31 Taco trucks first, golf second1:57 "You are going to the Solheim Cup"2:32 The ER visit between rounds at the KPMG5:34 "Very resolvable" — what recovery actually looked like10:08 One week of prep and a leap of faith12:58 The Friday call to her caddie14:35 "Everyone and their moms have an opinion"16:15 Three captains: Juli, Stacey, Angela17:39 "Golf is life" — never separated20:38 Not all 81s are created equal24:13 The caddie's answer to the form question27:40 Consistency — and the fortune-teller at the takeout counter29:27 Abolishing "restrictive": the two-rotisserie-chicken week33:37 The only thing that could stop her34:47 The SoCal gang goes to the Netherlands35:32 5-3-1: the partners behind the record36:51 Who's she playing with? "I'm secretive"38:50 Reading roars on the road40:25 Teamwork, unity — and Lady Luck41:39 Why she won't Google the course (ask JJ Spaun)43:15 The captain's ask: putt and chip44:13 Team Angel: Jesus, Carmen, and the group chat45:54 A PS5 from Costco: Borderlands, Spider-Man, GTA50:03 Caddy Corner: the HACI hat and what she shot at Norton53:54 Eight under through nine — and banned from ESPN's Top 1054:36 Who should be next?56:51 "This is your spot. You've earned this."

The U.S. Solheim Cup team is set. Captain Angela Stanford spent her three picks on Megan Khang, Rose Zhang and 35-year-old rookie Lindy Duncan — and Kent and Scottie have thoughts.The guys react to the full 12 headed to Bernardus Golf (Sept 11–13), argue over who the two alternates should be, name their X-factors, replay the "what if qualifying had ended at the AIG?" question, and put final scores on the record. Plus: Miyu Yamashita's record-tying 23-under rout in Canada.Hosted by Kent Paisley and Scottie "Worldwide" Leonard.Chapters:0:00 Cold Open0:21 A Nine-Shot Rout and Three Captain's Picks1:58 Why Khang, Zhang and Duncan8:28 Who Are Your Two Alternates?12:16 The X-Factor15:24 The AIG What-If18:39 The Megan Khang Question22:08 Top-Line Talent After Nelly27:03 Score Predictions

Six Americans are locked in, Angela Stanford has three captain's picks left, andthis is the week the arguing stops being hypothetical. Megan Khang, Rose Zhang,Lilia Vu, Lucy Li, Lindy Duncan and Jenny Bae are all live for three spots — andKent and Scottie do not agree on how to sort them. Worldwide also brings the view from inside the ropes in Portland,including what Rose Zhang's caddie told him on Sunday about her back. Plus:Jeeno Thitikul closes with a 64 to win the Standard Portland Classic — her thirdtitle of the season, the 10th of her career, and the eighth player ever to reachten before turning 24. Angel Yin still hasn't played in two months and nobody can reach her,which drags the two-alternate rule into the conversation. And Kiara Romerobecomes the second player ever to earn a card through LEAP, one year after LottieWoad — a pathway Kent calls long overdue, and the reason the best amateurs cannow finish school without gambling on Q-School.Chapters00:00  Cold open00:19  "Separation anxiety" — a week off, and Spain01:51  Jeeno's 64 in Portland, and the 10-win club before 2406:35  The Hall of Fame question — and an 88% answer08:55  Three more Americans punch their Solheim tickets15:44 The captain's-pick argument neither host wins21:34 Where is Angel Yin?24:03 The alternates nobody thinks about until they matter29:08 Kiara Romero, LEAP, and the card that skips Q-School33:18 Why college stars stall when they turn pro35:33 The loneliness nobody warns a 21-year-old about

Kent Paisley and Scottie "Worldwide" Leonard close the major season with their final draft of the year, splitting a 25-player pool ahead of the 50th AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Kent — carrying a 3-1 Majors Poker series lead and two days removed from the San Francisco half marathon — opens with Nelly Korda on her birthday week, noting that a win there hands her the LPGA's Grand Slam and a straight ticket to the Hall of Fame, then stacks Brooke Henderson, the world number two and Lydia Ko behind her. Scottie counters with Charley Hull, defending champion Miyu Yamashita and Alison Lee, and brings the view from inside the ropes: a forty-minute call with his player, who walked eighteen at Lytham that morning and put both a three iron and a four iron in the bag for a course playing fast and firm enough that almost nobody is hitting driver. He walks the holes that will decide it — the wind pushing right-to-left at 8, the blind tee shot at 16, the right-hand bunkers at 18 you cannot reach the green from — and puts the winning score at 13 under. In between, the two build competing top-five lists of the LPGA players who should launch YouTube channels, a segment Charley Hull's own Sweet Spot Golf launch sets up, landing on Megan Khang, Ariya Jutanugarn, Linn Grant, the Iwai twins and, at the top for both, Nelly and Lydia. They also map Team Europe's last open Solheim spot down to the two players still in range with one week to play, and Scottie names the four captain's picks he believes Anna Nordqvist would make if the team were set today. Kent's hot take lands last and has nothing to do with any of it: he does not want a golf course to start with a par three.0:00 — "Just eat at Chipotle. None of this stuff is that good"2:07 — Majors Poker: a 3–1 lead and 25 names2:54 — Lytham recon: a new three iron and a new four iron4:50 — Nelly Korda on her birthday week6:44 — "Charley launched her YouTube"9:37 — Brooke Henderson and the engagement boost14:22 — Jenny Shin won — and why Kent still passed16:12 — Who else should launch a YouTube channel?16:56 — Megan Khang, the first to ask how you're doing25:49 — Nelly with control of the edit28:13 — The Iwai twins and the Dallas Cowboys29:57 — "Drum roll please" — Lydia Ko at number one32:36 — One Solheim spot, 35 players who could take it37:57 — Fast, firm, and no drivers: Lytham hole by hole41:31 — Georgia Hall shot 17 under here42:53 — Kent's hot take: don't start me on a par three