USA take slim Solheim advantage

As the strains of ‘U-S-A, U-S-A’ rang out across Rich Harvest Farms today, the home side staked an early claim on the latest edition of the Solheim Cup. A 2.5 to 1.5 lead is by no means decisive, but Beth Daniel was entitled to feel the more satisfied of the two captains as a day that had threatened to get away from her team was turned on its head.

And with the afternoon foursomes delayed for over an hour due to the tortuously slow pace of play – the final match took almost six hours to be completed, no John Paramour here to speed things up – the Americans were looking to press home their advantage.

In the build up to this contest, few if any pundits gave the Europeans any realistic chance of regaining the Solheim trophy. A bullish American media predicted the US would wipe the floor with their unheralded opponents, the local fans spoke excitedly of a turkey shoot.

Making such bold predictions is a risky business, they have a tendency of coming back to haunt you. And for a time it appeared there would be a considerable amount of humble pie being passed around.

The LPGA proudly proclaim that ‘These Girls Rock”. But for much of the morning their girls were rocking.

The legions of home fans, already in foul humour after enduring lengthy tailbacks as some 30,000 made their way to this quiet corner of Illinois, had little to cheer about.

Under slate grey skies, the visitors appeared determined to shake off the plucky underdogs tag and avoid another lopsided defeat. Blue was the colour splashed across the leaderboard and as the four matches approached the stretch Europe were up in three.

But the Solheim Cup is all about momentum, and in the space of a few short minutes the tide turned against the Europeans.

When Paula Creamer, who had struggled with Cristie Kerr to hang on to the coattails of Suzann Petterson and Sophie Gustaffson, drained a monster putt to level the match the Americans swiftly birdied the next to seize control.

At the other end of the order, Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressell came from two behind to lead by one in just three holes as the Americans, sensing blood in the water, grabbed the contest by the scruff of the neck.

This was billed as the event where Wie would come of age and the 19-year-old, the youngest player in the field, did her utmost to live up to that expectation.

Having been in the limelight for so long, it is easy to forget Wie is still a teenager. A big hitter and even bigger draw, she has yet to claim a professional title but is a supremely gifted player capable of making things happen.

Much had been made of Daniel’s decision to pair her with Pressell, rumours of bad blood between the pair in the past leading to raised eyebrows.

But, having had to deal with less than flattering and barbed comments from her contemporaries over the years, the Hawaiian prodigy now appears to have gained acceptance.

It was interesting to note how warmly Wie was received at the gala dinner on Wednesday evening, not just by the guests but by the other members of her team.

Whereas she had previously been seen as aloof and something of a loner, Wie was now trading high fives, swapping jokes and looked completely at ease in her surroundings.

And she carried that ease with her onto the course yesterday. Striding purposefully to the first tee, Wie didn’t seem to have a care in the world and she played with a joyous freedom.

Wie’s performance was by no means flawless and a wild drive at the last would hand the European’s a precious half point. Nevertheless, as debuts go, this was one to savour.

“You know, that was the most fun I’ve ever had playing golf,” Wie enthused afterwards. “It was just unbelievable. The crowds, the cheers, the pressure, everything about it was nothing like I’ve ever experienced before.

“I was so, so pumped up. I’m still shaking now it was so much fun.”

Wie was unexpectedly rested for the afternoon foursomes and while she desperately wanted to play, the older and wiser player was not about to make any waves.

“That’s up to Beth (Daniel),” she added. “I’m just gonna go out there and root for the team.”

Perhaps the most surprising result from the opening morning was how easily the vastly experienced pairing of Laura Davies and Becky Brewerton were dispatched by the two Brittanys, Lang and Lincicome.

Davies, making a record 11th Solheim Cup appearance, gave the sort of nervy display one would expect from a rookie and made just one birdie en route to a 5 & 4 reverse.

Europe’s solitary full point was gleaned from Helen Alfredsson and Spanish rookie Tania Elosegui, the pair seeing off the challenge of Angela Stanford & Juli Inkster.

Davies joined the likes of Wie, Kerr and Pressell on the sidelines when the foursomes finally got underway and, as the matches rounded the turn the Americans were on course to keep their slender advantage.

Nicholas’s decision to keep faith with the partnership of Petterson and Gustafson seemed to have backfire, and they trail Natalie Gublis and the colourful Christina Kim by two with five to play.

Brewerton, playing alongside Gwladys Nocera, set about making amends for her defeat earlier in the day while Maria Hjorth was well placed to add to her half point tally.

Matthew and Janice Moodie were not faring so well, however, and trailed the tried and tested pairing of Creamer and Inskter by two after nine holes.

Fourballs results (USA first)

Paula Creamer & Cristie Kerr beat Suzann Pettersen & Sophie Gustafson 1 hole

Angela Stanford & Juli Inkster lost to Tania Elosegui & Helen Alfredsson 1 hole

Brittany Lang & Brittany Lincicome beat Laura Davies & Becky Brewerton 5 & 4

Morgan Pressel & Michelle Wie vs Catriona Matthew & Maria Hjorth

Foursomes Latest (USA first)

Christina Kim & Natalie Gulbis 2 up thru 13 v Sophie Gustafson & Suzann Pettersen

Angela Stanford & Nicole Castrale 2 down thru 11 v Becky Brewerton & Gwladys Nocera

Kristy McPherson & Brittany Lincicome 1 down thru 10 v Maria Hjorth & Anna Nordqvist

Paula Creamer & Juli Inkster 2 up thru nine v Catriona Matthew & Janice Moodie