History was made in Iowa on Friday afternoon, in exactly the manner Annika Sorenstam and her European Solheim Cup team had feared. For the first time, in a bruising fourball sequence for the visitors, the United States completed a session’s clean sweep of victories.
This took place in various forms, from hard-fought wins to outright canters but the outcome was undeniable. A 4-0 success for the US team meant Europe, who had led 2.5 to 1.5 after the morning foursomes, suddenly trailed by three. If the US were heavy favourites to retain the Solheim Cup before a ball was struck, one would struggle to be allowed a bet on them now. Throughout the fourballs, remarkably, no European pair led at any point in any match.
Angel Yin and Lizette Salas led the afternoon charge. They swatted aside Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6&5. Danielle Kang and Michelle Wie were only slightly less comfortable in dismissing Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Madelene Sagstrom 3&1. Florentina Parker and Caroline Masson were the next Europeans to fall victim to this American charge. The two Brittanys, Lang and Lincicome, prevailed 3&2. Charley Hull and Georgina Hall at least put up a stern fight against Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller – Hull chipped in at the 15th in a late display of matchplay mettle – but ultimately fell by 2&1.
Earlier Catriona Matthew’s foursome appearance rendered her the oldest European ever to take part in the Solheim Cup. The Scot proved once more that age - 47, to be precise - is just a number.
Matthew and Karine Icher were two down to Lewis and Piller after 12. An inspired Matthew surge, as prompted by a terrific five-wood approach into the 13th, triggered a European recovery which earlier looked inconceivable. Upon doffing caps for a single hole victory on the 18th green Matthew had become Europe’s third top points scorer ever, now with 20. She is now just five adrift of the outright record as held by Laura Davies.
“I was all set to be cheering the team on from the sidelines,” said Matthew, a late replacement for the injured Suzann Pettersen. “It was tough what happened to Suzann. No one likes to see that but I stepped in and had a good partner today.
“We were under-par, which is always good in foursomes. They played well on the front nine and we stayed with them before throwing in a couple of birdies. We were maybe a little fortunate at the last, but you’ve got to take your chances.
“I was super-nervous at the start but I always enjoy this event. It doesn’t matter how many of these you play in, you are always going to be nervous but I managed to get over that.”
Success for Icher and the effervescent Matthew came at the conclusion of a tense foursomes session. Both were duly and deservedly handed an afternoon of rest.
Melissa Reid and Hull looked like claiming a scrappy match against two of the US’s marquee names, Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr, from a position of two up with as many to play. Instead, the Americans recovered to steal a half point. Perhaps that was merited on the basis of opening acts alone; Thompson blasted a three-wood to within 9ft of the 306 yard 1st hole, with Kerr converting for an eagle two.
Hull, despite reappearing for the afternoon, remains troubled by a wrist problem. The 21-year-old can be seen wincing whenever playing from rough, meaning an element of rest on day two is inevitable. Slightly surprisingly, Reid was instead left out of the fourballs.
The foursomes win for America was delivered by Kang and Salas. They defeated Ciganda and Masson, 1up. Anna Nordqvist holed out from 30ft at the 16th, the key moment in a 3&1 win for her and Hall against Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, will compete in the upcoming FedEx playoff events after taking medical advice regarding an ongoing rib injury. McIlroy raised the possibility of taking the remainder of 2017 off upon conclusion of the US PGA Championship on Sunday due to ongoing spasms and pain upon completion of rounds.
McIlroy will, though, begin his bid to retain the FedEx Cup at the Northern Trust Open from Thursday. The Northern Irishman is expected to outline his plans for the rest of the year at that event, with his close friend Harry Diamond to continue with caddying duties through the FedEx series. McIlroy claimed the FedEx Cup and adjoined $10m bonus in Atlanta last September, which marks his last victory.
