U.S. team trails but has momentum
Two late half-points keep it close on Day 1
GLENEAGLES, Scotland — The Europeans have the lead. The Americans have the momentum.
An opening day of swinging fortunes in the Solheim Cup reached a crescendo in a tension-filled final hour at Gleneagles, with the final two matches of the fourballs going to the 18th hole and the U.S. team staring at a three-point deficit.
Two long birdie putts later, first from Lexi Thompson then from Brittany Altomare, the U.S. team escaped with two half-points and only trailed Europe 4½-3½.
As shadows lengthened across the PGA Centenary Course, it was the U.S. players and their flag-waving fans who were cheering the loudest.
“You keep gnawing a half-point here and a point there, and it adds up,” said U.S. captain Juli Inkster, who cut an animated figure beside the 18th green as Day 1 drew to a close.
“You look at all the golf today and we’re only a point down. So I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now.”
Jessica and Nelly Korda played central roles in both sessions on Friday, first teaming up as the first siblings to play together in the competition and winning, 6 and 4, in the morning foursomes. It was the only win for the U.S. team, which went into the fourballs trailing 2½-1½.
The sisters were split up by Inkster in the afternoon and placed in the final two matches, a decision that looked like backfiring as the Americans went to the 18th hole losing in both.
Thompson — playing alongside Jessica Korda — rolled in a 15-foot birdie from left to right to grab a half from a match against Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda in which neither side led more than 2 up.
Altomare — Nelly Korda’s partner — went even better, holing a birdie from 25 feet up the slope to complete a U.S. comeback from 4 down with six holes to play against Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz.
“Even though we’re ahead, we’re going to act like we’re behind,” said Law, a European rookie whose fist-pumps, glares and animated reactions have already drawn comparisons with “Mr. Ryder Cup” Ian Poulter. “And we’re going to go and get every point we can.”
Inkster praised the performance of the record six rookies in her team, with Nelly Korda and Altomare digging deep for that crucial half-point after Ally McDonald and Angel Yin delivered a record-tying 7and-5 win over Swedish pair Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall in the fourballs.
Europe’s three rookies didn’t do badly, either, with Law picking up two halfpoints, Celine Boutier earning a 2-and-1 win with Georgia Hall in the foursomes and Anne van Dam excelling in a 4-and-2 win with veteran Suzann Pettersen in the fourballs.
“Playing alongside the new superstar of Europe was a pleasure today,” Pettersen, 38, said of Van Dam, who won four holes for the team on the front nine as she high-fived spectators and cupped her ear after making putts. “Hopefully some of my calmness rubbed off on her today.”
The Americans, who lead the overall series, 10-5, are looking for a third consecutive win in the biggest team event in women’s golf but a first in three attempts in Scotland after losses in 1992 and 2000.