A U.S. staff keen to finish a seven-year Solheim Cup title drought, loved a dream begin on the opening day on Friday in Virginia, taking a 6-2 lead over Europe behind the sensational play of Nelly Korda, Megan Khang, Rose Zhang and others.
The U.S. received three of their 4 foursome matches within the morning to take a 3-1 lead and stretched the benefit to 6-2 within the afternoon four-ball session for the biggest lead ever recorded after the primary day of the staff occasion.
“It has been a extremely good day,” stated U.S. captain Stacy Lewis.
“Issues performed out the best way we have been hoping. I’m actually proud of the pairings I used to be in a position to put out and the gamers produced some nice photographs, some nice scores, and bought us a ton of factors.”
READ | Woods undergoes profitable again surgical procedure in Florida
World primary Korda got here skipping out of the tunnel to the primary tee and by no means put a foot mistaken all day.
Alongside accomplice Allisen Corpuz, the duo notched a 3&2 victory over Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull within the opening foursome match of the day to seize the early momentum for the house aspect.
Korda and Khang then proceeded to crushed Georgia Corridor and Leona Maguire 6&4 within the opening four-ball match of the afternoon due to some blistering drives by Korda because the pair feasted on the course’s par-fives.
“When you have got a teammate who’s so pure off the tee you by no means have to fret, you simply need to ship it,” stated Korda, who teed off first for the pair on each gap.
“That was the motto, I used to be going to go first and ship it and if I despatched it within the mistaken course, I knew I had a extremely good accomplice who would go subsequent,” she stated with fun.
“Nelly doesn’t miss it typically,” Khang famous.
Korda pumped her fist after guiding an eagle putt into the opening on 14 to seal the 6&4 win and put the U.S. up 4-1.
Europe scored an vital level when Solheim Cup veteran Anna Nordqvist’s birdie on 13 delivered a 6&5 match win for her and accomplice Madelene Sagstrom over Individuals Lexi Thompson and Alison Lee to chop the U.S. result in 4-2.
However that may be the final spotlight of the day for the guests.
Zhang and Andrea Lee overcame a sluggish begin however performed final six holes at eight-under par for a convincing 5&4 win over Europe’s Linn Grant and Charley Hull.
The American rookie duo of Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel each regarded snug on the most important stage in girls’s staff golf, Coughlin nailing a protracted birdie putt to beat Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark 3&2 for the 6-2 in a single day lead.
The U.S. is trying to win the Solheim Cup for the primary time since 2017. Europe retained the trophy for a 3rd consecutive time final 12 months after they clawed their method again from an early deficit for a 14-14 tie in Spain.
Workforce Europe face a steep climb of their bid for an unprecedented four-peat however returning Captain Suzann Pettersen stated her aspect would hold the religion.
“We’ve performed it earlier than, we are able to do it once more,” Pettersen stated.
“It’s going to take an enormous effort however I do know we are able to do it.
“Right now’s play is historical past now. The Individuals performed nice and we’ve got an enormous job forward of us however something is feasible.”
The event resumes on Saturday and concludes Sunday on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Membership in Gainesville, Virginia.