After much anticipation, the 2017 Solheim Cup got underway today with the Europeans leading Team USA 2 ½ - 1 ½ after the morning foursomes.
The atmosphere on the first tee was electric as fans started filling up the grandstands surrounding the tee from as early as 6 a.m., despite the first match not being until 8.10 a.m.
Take a look at how the Friday morning foursomes played out on an exciting opening session.
Mel Reid & Charley Hull Halved Cristie Kerr & Lexi Thompson
After Lexi Thompson hit her drive on the first hole to six feet and Cristie Kerr rolled in the putt, you could have forgiven Mel Reid and Charley Hull for thinking it may not have been their day. However, in a match where only six holes were halved, the European’s battled back to lead 2up with two to play.
But Kerr and Thompson showed everyone why they are such a formidable partnership, as their par on 17 and an impressive birdie on 18 saw them level the opening foursomes match. It may feel like half a point dropped for the Europeans, but it will certainly feel like half a point gained for the Americans.
Danielle Kang & Lizette Salas def. Carlota Ciganda & Caroline Masson 1up
Despite being up since the first hole, and even reaching 2 up at the turn, Danielle Kang & Lizette Salas required a clutch putt on the final hole from rookie Kang to secure Team USA’s first win.
The match was level through 14 holes, however back-to-back bogies from the European’s saw Kang and Salas two up with two to play. However, Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson were not able to mimic the American pairing of Kerr and Thompson in the group ahead and win their final two holes.
Moment of the match? Kang whipping up the crowd on the first tee, who were still cheering while she played her shot.
Georgia Hall & Anna Nordqvist def. Paula Creamer & Austin Ernst 3&1
Team Europe’s Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist comfortably dispatched of Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst, 3&1. Many were surprised to see both rookies take on the challenge of the opening tee shot, but both coped with the pressure.
The first hole was the only hole where there wasn’t blue on the board in this match. After taking the advantage on the 2nd hole, Hall and Nordqvist never looked back with both players putting in solid performances on the greens to secure a point for their team.
Karine Icher & Catriona Matthew def. Stacy Lewis & Gerina Piller 1up
In what looked like an unlikely victory for Team Europe, Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew provided Europe’s second win in the morning foursomes. Despite Lewis and Piller being up for most of the match, Icher’s putter got hot on the back nine and was key to Europe’s success.
After winning holes 12 and 13, Icher and Matthew found themselves back at AS. A bogey from the American pairing on 16 saw them give the European’s the advantage and a par on the final hole was enough to see Europe lead 2.5-1.5 at the end of the opening morning foursomes.
Afternoon Four-Ball Pairings
- Madelene Sagstrom & Jodi Ewart Shadoff vs Michelle Wie & Danielle Kang
- Carlota Ciganda & Emily Pedersen vs Angel Yin & Lizette Salas
- Florentyna Parker & Caroline Masson vs Brittany Lang & Brittany Lincicome
- Charley Hull & Georgia Hall vs Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller
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