Solheim Cup: Europe and USA tied heading into singles
Suzann Pettersen of Norway celebrates a winning putt on the 8th green during Saturday afternoon fourballs. Credit: Mark Runnacles/LET
Europe and the USA will have it all to play for when the singles get underway at the 16th Solheim Cup over the PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles.
The Americans beat the European 2.5 - 1.5 a tense second fourball series which means that after two days of intense competition the teams go into the 12 singles tied 8-8.
That gives a slight advantage to the USA who need just six points to retain the trophy having won the last match at Des Moines in Iowa two years ago.
But it is a better position than the Europeans could have hoped for midway through the second afternoon when, for a while at least, they had been staring a 4-0 whitewash.
The European team went into the session with a narrow 6.5 -5.5 lead after halving the morning foursomes 2-2 but that advantage disappeared when in the top match in the afternoon America’s Brittany Altomare and Annie Park beat Suzann Pettersen and Anne Van Dam by one hole.
The European pair had recorded a 4&2 victory over Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas in the opening fourballs but 24 hours later they were never ahead against the US rookies before losing when Altomare holed from four feet for par on the last.
The players had been buffeted by wind gusting up to 48 miles an hour throughout the afternoon and they also had to contend with driving rain long before in the second match on the course Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson halved their match against Lexi Thompson and Marina Alex.
Thompson and Masson both had a good chance to win the match with a birdie but first Thompson and then Masson missed their opportunities to ensure the two teams were tied at seven points apiece.
Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier had been four down after seven holes in their match against Ally McDonald and Angel Yin but they went on to mount a brave fightback which saw them move ahead for the first time in the match with a par on the 17th before securing a point for the home team when the Americans conceded the last.
That result gave Europe an 8-7 lead in the match but it lasted little more than a couple of minutes before Danielle Kang holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th to give her and partner Lizette Salas a 2&1 win over Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz.
It leaves the match on a knife edge heading into the singles with the home team needing six and a half points to claim the trophy for the first time since 2013. The last time the two teams were tied heading into the singles was at Killeen Castle in Ireland in 2011 and on that occasion Europe ran out 15-13 winners when they won series 7-5.
“We’re probably a bit chippier tonight,” said European Captain Catriona Matthew after watching her team withstand the early afternoon onslaught. “At one point this afternoon, it looked as if we could go down 4-0 or 3-1, so to get in at 2 ½ - 1 ½ is good for us.
The fightback from Georgia (Hall) and Celine was great. Caroline (Masson) is devastated she missed the putt on 18 but to be honest we’re really pleased to be where we are.
“I think it’s going to be pretty tight again tomorrow. It’s going to come down to one long putt, a chip-in, something like that. I think it will be a small thing that changes it one way or another.
“I rate them (our chances) pretty good.”
US captain Juli Inkster, who admitted to wearing three hats in order to protect herself from the cold, said: “I’m ecstatic at where we are right now.
“We sat out the Kordas and had two rookies Brittany (Altomare) and Annie (Park)and they showed me something today. It was tough out there for those girls but they stayed strong.
“Hopefully the weather will be a little better tomorrow and we can see some really good golf from the Euros and the USA. We want a good battle for the cup. That’s what these girls do.”
The battle commences at 11.40 when Spain’s Carlota Ciganda goes head to head against Danielle Kang. Next up for Europe is Caroline Hedwall who faces Nelly Korda while former Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall faces Lexi Thompson in the third match at 12.04.
The other nine matches feature Celine Boutier v Annie Park, Azahara Munoz v Angel Yin, Charley Hull v Megan Khang, Anne Van Dam v Lizette Salas, Caroline Masson v Jessica Korda, Jodi Ewart Shadoff v Brittany Altomare, Suzann Pettersen v Marina Alex, Bronte Law v Ally McDonald and Anna Nordqvist v Morgan Pressel.
Solheim Cup
FRIDAY FOURSOMES
Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex (USA) halved with Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law (Europe)
Georgia Hall and Céline Boutier (Europe) bt Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare (USA) 2&1
Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda (USA) bt Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Europe) 6&4
Charley Hull and Azahara Muñoz (Europe) bt Megan Khang and Annie Park (USA) 2&1
EUROPE 2 ½ USA 1 ½
FRIDAY FOURBALL
Suzann Pettersen and Anne Van Dam (Europe) bt Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas (USA) 4&2
Ally McDonald and Angel Yin (USA) bt Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall (Europe) 7&5
Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law (Europe) halved with Jessica Korda and Lexi Thompson (USA)
Charley Hull and Azahara Muñoz (Europe) halved with Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare (USA)
EUROPE 2 USA 2
OVERALL EUROPE 4 ½ USA 3 ½
SATURDAY FOURSOMES
Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex (USA) bt Anna Nordqvist and Anne Van Dam (Europe) 2&1
Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier (Europe) bt Lizette Salas and Ally McDonald (USA) 3&2
Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz (EUR) bt Danielle Kang and Megan Khang (USA) 4&3
Jessica Korda and Nelly Korda (USA) bt Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law (EUR) 6&5
EUROPE 2 USA 2
OVERALL EUROPE 6 ½ USA 5 ½
SATURDAY FOURBALL
Brittany Altomare and Annie Park bt Suzann Pettersen and Anne Van Dam 1 up
Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson halved with Lexi Thompson and Marina Alex
Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier bt Ally McDonald and Angel Yin 2 up
Lizette Salas and Danielle Kang bt Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz 2 up
USA 2 ½ EUROPE 1 ½
OVERALL EUROPE 8 USA 8
SUNDAY SINGLES PAIRINGS (USA first)
11:40 Danielle Kang versus Carlota Ciganda
11:52 Nelly Korda versus Caroline Hedwall
12:04 Lexi Thompson versus Georgia Hall
12:16 Annie Park versus Celine Boutier
12:28 Angel Yin versus Azahara Munoz
12:40 Megan Khang versus Charley Hull
12:52 Lizette Salas versus Anne Van Dam
13:04 Jessica Korda versus Caroline Masson
13:16 Brittany Altomare versus Jodi Ewart Shadoff
13:28 Marina Alex versus Suzann Pettersen
13:40 Ally McDonald versus Bronte Law
13:52 Morgan Pressel versus Anna Nordqvist
