DUNSANY, Ireland -- At one point deep into the back nine of Friday morning's foursomes session, it appeared as if Europe would go into afternoon four-ball matches leading the United States 3-1 in the Solheim Cup. But when Suzann Pettersen rolled in a birdie putt on No. 18 to give her and partner Sophie Gustafson a 1-up win over Juli Inkster and Brittany Lang, it felt fortunate that Europe managed to eke out a 2-2 tie.
Karen Stupples and Melissa Reid were 2 up against Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome with four holes to play, but lost three of them despite the fact the Americans made only one birdie in that stretch. The Europeans, in fact, shot 41 on the back nine -- and a newspaper 41 at that with a couple of generous concessions -- as the Yanks took Nos. 17 and 18 with pars to win 1 up.
In the other matches, Cristie Kerr, who played near flawless golf, and Michelle Wie, who made several keys putts, won Nos. 16 and 17 as they defeated Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist 2 and 1. Catriona Matthew and Solheim Cup rookie Azahara Munoz never trailed as they handled Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford 3 and 2.
The four-ball matches were to be Morgan Pressel and Creamer vs. Laura Davies-Reid; Christina Kim and Ryann O'Toole vs. Matthew-Sandra Gal; Vicky Hurst and Lincicome vs. Gustafson and Caroline Hedwall; Kerr-Wie vs. Pettersen-Nordqvist.
(Related: Ron Sirak picks Europe to win. John Huggan takes the U.S.)
U.S. Captain Rosie Jones stayed true to her promise to play all 12 of her players on the first day. The only player on either side not to see action Friday was Christal Boeljon of The Netherlands.
-- Ron Sirak
(Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images)
