It looked promising for Europe when the ladies' golf classic team competition began at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, on Friday.
At the same time as the Swedish-Danish pair Maja Stark and Emily Pedersen went on a roll in their match against Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho – four strokes ahead after five holes – it was completely even in the other three foursome matches.
Fell apart
Then the European team fell apart.
The three tight matches all ended with American victories, 3/2, after the home players started playing great golf almost simultaneously. Swedish Linn Grant, paired with Carlota Ciganda, was one of those who got zero points there.
Even Stark and Pedersen were about to collapse, they only had a one-stroke lead going into the 18th hole, but could still secure the first European point.
Before the best-ball matches, European captain Suzann Pettersen sent out the two remaining Swedish players into action.
Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagström did not disappoint. The close friends – Sagström's husband Jack Clarke is caddie for Nordqvist – played brilliantly and did not give Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson a chance. With five holes left and a six-stroke lead, it was already over.
She (Pettersen) thought we would form a strong team. And we really showed that, says Sagström in Viaplay's broadcast.
Unfortunately, it was only a small light in the darkness for Europe's part.
Because after Friday, there is a large American lead, 6–2.
Does not give up
Maja Stark and Emily Pedersen did not have the same flow as earlier in the day and lost to Lauren Coughlin/Sarah Schmelzel. Linn Grant simultaneously suffered her second straight loss when she, paired with Charley Hull, clearly lost to Andrea Lee/Rose Zhang.
And so USA's Nelly Korda showed once again why she is the world's number one. The American played as if in a trance and together with Megan Khang, the victory against Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire was secured with four holes left to play.
Also on Saturday, it's foursome and best-ball that apply, four matches each, before the Solheim Cup concludes with 12 singles on Sunday.
Anna Nordqvist does not give up.
I believe in this team. We have a good plan for the weekend. USA has gotten a very good start, but there's a lot of golf left, says Nordqvist.
Lasse Mannheimer/TT
Facts: Friday's results
TT
Foursome:
Esther Henseleit/Charley Hull–Nelly Korda/Allisen Corpuz – USA won 3/2.
Céline Boutier/Albane Valenzuela–Rose Zhang/Lauren Coughlin – USA won 3/2.
Emily Pedersen/Maja Stark–Ally Ewing/Jennifer Kupcho – Europe won 2/0.
Linn Grant/Carlota Ciganda–Lilia Vu/Sarah Schmelzel – USA won 3/2.
Best-ball:
Georgia Hall/Leona Maguire–Nelly Korda/Megan Khang – USA won 6/4.
Anna Nordqvist/Madelene Sagström–Alison Lee/Lexi Thompson – Europe won 6/5.
Emily Pedersen/Maja Stark–Lauren Coughlin/Sarah Schmelzel – USA won 3/2.
Linn Grant/Charley Hull–Andrea Lee/Rose Zhang – USA won 5/4.
Score: 6–2 to USA.
