Solheim Cup: USA’s Historic Start Against Europe’s Win in Recent History
Solheim Cup: USA’s Historic Start Against Europe’s Win in Recent History.
The United States begins the Solheim Cup with a historic sweep, and Europe’s Emily Pedersen hits her second ace on Day 1.
The United States started out to a large lead early Friday morning and finished the day with a 5-3 edge.
On Friday morning, Stacy Lewis made the right play to start the Solheim Cup.
After resting both Lilia Vu and former Stanford standout Rose Zhang for the opening session at Finca Cortesin in southern Spain, the US team captain guided the Americans to a historic sweep.
The United States led Europe 5-3 at the end of the first day of the three-day event.
The United States team swept the first foursome alternate shot matches to take an early 4-0 lead over Europe, marking the first time in Solheim Cup history.
Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang defeated Maja Stark and Linn Grant after winning the opening three holes of their match. After only 14 holes, Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight defeated Charley Hull and Emily Pedersen.
Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz won by a single hole against Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist. Andrea Lea and Danielle Kang, who had their clubs stolen on their way to Spain earlier in the week, overcame Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall by a hole on No. 17 to complete the sweep.
Europe has won the last two Solheim Cups, and the 2021 event will be held at the Inverness Club in Ohio. Since the event’s inception in 1990, the Europeans have never won three consecutive Solheim Cups, whereas the Americans have done it twice, most recently from 2005 through 2009.
The United States last won 16.5-11.5 in 2017 in Des Moines, Iowa. Emily Pedersen hits the second ace in Solheim Cup history.
Though the Americans dominated the morning fourball best shot session, they were far from dominant in the afternoon fourball best shot session.
Hall and Maguire took an early lead with an eagle on the fourth hole, and they held on to beat Thompson and Vu to gain a point for the Europeans. Carlotta Ciganda and Grant won their match against Angel Yin and Ewing after only 16 holes.
Despite an early birdie on the first hole, Zhang and Khang needed to birdie the par-4 15th to square the match when Gemma Dryburgh and Madelene Sagstrom rallied on the back side to pull out of a two-shot hole. The group agreed to a tie, each receiving half a point.
Despite tying, it was Pedersen’s group that stole the show on Friday afternoon.
Pedersen’s hole-in-one, while playing alongside Stark, was only the second in Solheim Cup history. She hit her tee shot on the slope and rolled it back and in on the 178-yard par-3 12th. On the tee box, there was a great celebration.
The only other player to hit an ace at the Solheim Cup is Nordqvist. She did this in 2013. Pedersen is competing for Europe in her third Solheim Cup. Denmark’s 27-year-old has a 3-6-1 record.
The ace also leveled Pedersen’s match against Corpuz and Jennifer Kupcho. Pederson and Stark birdied the 16th to retain the tie and take one final half point for the day. The US finished the opening day with a two-point advantage.
Saturday’s action will resume with further foursome and fourball matches before the final day of 12 singles matches on Sunday.
