Certainly, the Americans had let momentum shift. Sophie Gustafson and Pettersen were also 1 down going to No. 18, where Gustafson drove into the left rough. Pettersen, partially blocked by trees, played a hook well right of the green, rode the right-to-left wind and nestled the shot 8 feet from the hole, from where Gustafson completed the birdie to halve the match. The four halves -- all comebacks -- in the span of five matches over two days produced a pair of points without which Europe would be all but eliminated in this competition.
The U.S. team nearly repaid the deed when Kerr and Castrale railed from 5 down with six to play against Sorenstam and Catriona Matthew with four birdies and took the match to the 18th green, but came up one birdie short of earning what would have been a devastating halve for a Europe team that has inflicted four painful draws on the Americans. In the other foursome match Saturday, Pat Hurst and Angela Stanford dispatched Tinning and Bettina Hauert, who was playing her first match for captain Helen Alfredsson, 4 and 2.
Still, for all its heroics and all its resolve, Europe needs to finish those four-ball matches strong Sunday morning. While it is not impossible for the home team to come from behind and win in singles -- the crowds here are huge (33,200 on Saturday) and are truly a 13th player for Europe -- the Americans are expected by nearly everyone to win the majority of the singles points.
If the scores of the suspended matches hold up, Europe would lead 9 to 7 going into singles. If Europe wins two, loses one and halves one the score would be tied at 8. Unless there is a complete collapse by Europe in the four suspended matches the stage should be set for a competitive Sunday showdown.
Both teams have had a plethora of heroes. Matthew and Hjorth have each won two points for Europe while Creamer has captured a pair for the Americans. Sorenstam and Nocera have a point and a half for Europe while six players -- Kerr, Diaz, Steinhauer, Hurst, Inkster and Stanford -- have that many for the Americans. And that, more than anything, probably demonstrates why it would be wise for Europe to take a lead into singles. The U.S. team is very deep.
It could be that the worse break the home team got was having darkness fall while they were playing so well in four-ball Saturday. While the suspension may have interrupted momentum, that massive 13th player -- the large, adoring, mostly Swedish gallery -- will likely get Europe back fired up. This should be a highly entertaining finish.
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