US IN CONTROL AGAINST EUROPE AT SOLHEIM CUP

THE United States took a commanding five-point lead into this morning’s Solheim Cup singles matches after another dominant fourball display in the match play showdown with Europe on Saturday. The United States won three of four fourball matches – and five of eight points on offer on the day – to stretch their lead to 10 1/2 to 5 1/2 going into today’s 12 singles matches. After being whitewashed in Friday’s fourball matches, the Europeans couldn’t gain any ground with a split of Saturday morning’s four foursomes matches at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa. And the Americans, trying to retain the title they won in Germany in 2015, went on to win three afternoon matches to extend their lead. Veteran Cristie Kerr set a US Solheim Cup record with her 19th career point when she teamed with Lexi Thompson for a 5 & 3 fourball victory over England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Germany’s Caroline Masson. A strong display from England’s Mel Reid and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda also proved fruitless as Americans Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang emerged with a 2 up triumph. European captain Annika Sorenstam said she could only congratulate the Americans on “some amazing golf”. “We had 35 birdies and one eagle and lost three matches,” she said. “It’s easy to just kind of throw in your towel but they didn’t. They kept fighting back and fighting back, getting it to 1 down. So very, very proud of them. But you know it just wasn’t enough. It’s just sometimes you just get beaten by good golf. And that happened today. So they were on fire. All I can think of is I hope that fire is contagious and that we’re on fire tomorrow.” to reach 16-under 194 at the US PGA Tour event at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. “Got to keep producing chances,” said Stenson, who is ranked ninth in the world. “What I’ve done so far is working pretty well and I’m playing the course the way I think it’s best for me. I hope it’s the same (mindset Sunday).” Americans Kevin Na (65), second round co-leader Webb Simpson (68) and Ollie Schniederjans (66) were tied for second just one shot back at 15-under 195. Johnson Wagner shot a 5-under 65 and was tied for fifth, two strokes adrift of Stenson. Showing why he is the highest-ranked player in the tournament, Sweden’s Stenson finished the way he started his round, with string of four birdies over six holes. He had back-to-back birdies on the second and third hole and No. 5 and No. 6. Sandwiched in between was a bogey on the par-four fourth. If Stenson holds on today it will be his first title since claiming his first major win at the 2016 British Open at Royal Troon. He tied for 11th at this year’s Open.