The Solheim Cup
Venue: Sugar Grove Golf Club, Illinois Date: 21-23 August
Coverage: Reports on the BBC Sport website
 Creamer (left) and Kerr celebrate their Solheim Cup win in the fourballs |
The United States opened up a narrow lead over Europe on day one of the 2009 Solheim Cup in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The defending champions led 2½-1½ after the morning fourballs before sharing the afternoon foursomes to stay ahead. "I'm pleased to have a one-point lead," US captain Beth Daniel, who saw Paula Creamer win both her matches. "There were some tough matches, particularly in the morning when we were behind and we rallied on the back nine. That made a big difference." In the morning session, Creamer and Cristie Kerr beat Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson one up in the first match of the day. Norway's Pettersen and Sweden's Gustafson were one up after 14 holes against the two best players in America but lost the 16th to go one down and could not recover. Helen Alfredsson and Tania Elosegui defeated Americans Angela Stanford and Juli Inkster, also by one hole.  | 606: DEBATE |
Sweden's Alfredsson, captain in 2007, and Spain's Elosegui were one down after seven holes but led by one after the 9th and were two up after the 10th before hanging on for the win. Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome were never behind against Laura Davies and Becky Brewerton, thrashing the British duo 5&4. Going out last at Rich Harvest Farms, Morgan Pressel and 19-year-old Michelle Wie halved with Women's British Open champion Catriona Matthew, of Scotland, and Sweden's Maria Hjorth. Matthew and Hjorth led Pressel and debutant Wie by two holes after the 11th but were all square after 13 and one down going up the last before the Scot levelled the match on the final green. In the afternoon, Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis birdied the first two holes in the top foursomes match on the way to a commanding 4&2 win against Pettersen and Gustafson. Europe, who traditionally excel in the foursomes, hit back in the next two matches to draw level with on 3½ points. | We were playing really solid and just waiting for the putts to drop |
Hjorth and fellow Swede Anna Nordqvist, boosted by eagles at the second and 15th, produced sparkling golf to beat Kristy McPherson and Lincicome 3&2. "We were playing really solid and just waiting for the putts to drop," said Cup rookie Nordqvist, who chipped in from greenside rough to birdie the par-three 13th. Brewerton and Gwladys Nocera of France made a rousing birdie-birdie start en route to a 3&1 victory over Stanford and Nicole Castrale. In the bottom match, Creamer and Inkster beat Matthew and fellow Scot Janice Moodie 2&1, Creamer sealing the win by sinking a 20-foot par putt at the 17th. "I love playing with Juli," said world number four Creamer. "We have a great chemistry together on the golf course. We know each other." Victory made the 49-year-old Inkster the leading US points scorer of all time in the Solheim Cup with a career tally of 17½. The schedule will be repeated on Saturday, with the matches concluding with 12 singles matches on Sunday. The USA need 14 points to win their third straight Solheim Cup. Europe, who have never won on US soil, need 14½.
DAY ONE RESULTS USA 4½-3½ EUROPE Morning Fourballs (USA names first) Match 1: Paula Creamer & Cristie Kerr bt Suzann Pettersen & Sophie Gustafson 1up Match 2: Angela Stanford & Juli Inkster lost to Helen Alfredsson & Tania Elosegui 1down Match 3: Brittany Lang & Brittany Lincicome bt Laura Davies & Becky Brewerton 5 & 4 Match 4: Morgan Pressel & Michelle Wie halved with Catriona Matthew & Maria Hjorth USA 2½ Europe 1½ Afternoon Foursomes Match 5: Christina Kim & Natalie Gulbis bt Suzann Pettersen & Sophie Gustafson 4 & 2 Match 6: Angela Stanford & Nicole Castrale lost to Becky Brewerton & Gwladys Nocera 3 & 1 Match 7: Kristy McPherson & Brittany Lang lost to Maria Hjorth & Anna Nordqvist 3 & 2 Match 8: Paula Creamer & Juli Inkster bt Catriona Matthew & Janice Moodie 2 & 1 United States 2 Europe 2
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