Team Europe has a 1-point lead after the first day of the 2011 Solheim Cup, a topsy-turvy Day 1 on which Europe could have forged a larger lead if not for a couple American comebacks in the afternoon.
The score stands at 4.5 to 3.5. The teams split the morning foursomes, 2-2. Europe opened those matches strong, but needed an 8-foot birdie putt by Suzann Pettersen in the final match of the morning to square the session.
In the afternoon fourballs, Europe at one point led all four matches on the back nine. But Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel each made long putts to win the 16th and 17th holes, respectively, against Mel Reid/Laura Davies, and took that match, 1-up.
And controversial captain's pick Ryann O'Toole saved a half-point for Team USA in her partnership with Christina Kim, making five birdies in the match and a long birdie putt on the 17th to forge a halve against Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal.
But Europe still had the edge in the afternoon session, 2.5 to 1.5.
O'Toole certainly looked comfortable in her Solheim Cup debut, playing and putting well after missing the cut in all three LPGA events played in-between her selection to the team and Friday. But sometimes you're more nervous in the run-up to the thing than you are in the thing itself. Perhaps that's true with O'Toole. At any rate, it's a good sign for Team USA.
Good signs for Team Europe? Rookie Caroline Hedwall, who had struggled a bit herself after being selected to the team, looked great partnering Sophie Gustafson to a fourball victory. And Gustafson and Pettersen were each 2-0 on Friday. Plus Davies putted great on Friday.
As for worries? Cristie Kerr and Mel Reid both have wrist issues that bear watching. And Michelle Wie looked a little shaky the last couple holes of her match partnering Kerr. Wie/Kerr lost to Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist in the anchor match of the opening day. It was Wie's first lost in Solheim Cup play.
See our 2011 Solheim Cup page for the complete list of match scores, plus the Saturday morning pairings.
The score stands at 4.5 to 3.5. The teams split the morning foursomes, 2-2. Europe opened those matches strong, but needed an 8-foot birdie putt by Suzann Pettersen in the final match of the morning to square the session.
In the afternoon fourballs, Europe at one point led all four matches on the back nine. But Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel each made long putts to win the 16th and 17th holes, respectively, against Mel Reid/Laura Davies, and took that match, 1-up.
And controversial captain's pick Ryann O'Toole saved a half-point for Team USA in her partnership with Christina Kim, making five birdies in the match and a long birdie putt on the 17th to forge a halve against Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal.
But Europe still had the edge in the afternoon session, 2.5 to 1.5.
O'Toole certainly looked comfortable in her Solheim Cup debut, playing and putting well after missing the cut in all three LPGA events played in-between her selection to the team and Friday. But sometimes you're more nervous in the run-up to the thing than you are in the thing itself. Perhaps that's true with O'Toole. At any rate, it's a good sign for Team USA.
Good signs for Team Europe? Rookie Caroline Hedwall, who had struggled a bit herself after being selected to the team, looked great partnering Sophie Gustafson to a fourball victory. And Gustafson and Pettersen were each 2-0 on Friday. Plus Davies putted great on Friday.
As for worries? Cristie Kerr and Mel Reid both have wrist issues that bear watching. And Michelle Wie looked a little shaky the last couple holes of her match partnering Kerr. Wie/Kerr lost to Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist in the anchor match of the opening day. It was Wie's first lost in Solheim Cup play.
See our 2011 Solheim Cup page for the complete list of match scores, plus the Saturday morning pairings.
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