Solheim Cup 2019: Day 1 Recap
Sep 14th 2019
Day one of the 2019 Solheim Cup started with Europe getting the best of the USA in the morning matches, 2 ½ to 1 ½. In danger of going down two points after day one, the USA rallied late in the final two matches to trail by 4 ½ to 3 ½ heading into Saturday’s action.
Match 1: Morgan Pressel/Marina Alex (USA) versus Carlota Ciganda/Bronte Law (EUR)
Pressel started the Solheim Cup with the opening tee shot, but it was Europe who got out to a two-up lead after the first four holes.After draining a 20-foot putt on the fifth, team USA cut into the deficit and gained momentum winning the next two holes to take the lead. However, Pressel failed to convert form short range on the eighth, squaring the match. This back and forth match went to the last all square after a Ciganda birdie on the 17th. Neither team converted on the last hole, ending the match in tie. (USA ½,EUR ½)
Match 2: Lexi Thompson/Brittany Altomare (USA) versus Bronte Hall/Celine Boutier (EUR)
After playing the first few holes even, precision iron play by Hall and made putts by Boutier gave Europe a two-up lead. Although he made a nice putt at the ninth to save par, the putter failed Thompson for most of the day. Making a run winning two holes late, the USA failed to reach the last hole after a long missed birdie attempt. Eupore wins this one 2-and-1. (EUR 1 ½, USA ½)
Match 3: Jessica Korda/Nelly Korda (USA) versus Caroline Masson/Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR)
In the best match of the morning session for the USA, the Korda series teamed up to become the first sisters to ever do so in the Solheim Cup. Coming out on fire and poor play by Europe lead to a four-up lead for USA through five.Masson and Jessica Korda both birdied the sixth and the tenth holes, but USA dominated much of the match, going up six on the 11th hole. The Korda sisters cruised from there, winning 6-and-4. (EUR 1 ½, USA 1 ½)
Match 4: Georgia Hull/Azahara Munoz (EUR) versus Annie Park/Megan Khang (USA)
In much of a lackluster match for both teams, miscues by Europe on the sixth and eighth kept USA in the match. The first birdie for Europe in this match came on the 13th and USA recorded only their second of the match on the following hole. Needing a relatively short par putt on the 17th to extend the match, Park failed to do so. Europe won the match 2-and-1.(EUR 2 ½, USA 1 ½)
Match 5: Suzann Pettersen/Anne Van Dam (EUR) versus Danielle Kang/Lizette Salas (USA)
Team Europe got the first lead in the match after Pettersen rolled a birdie at the fourth.There were few highlights on the side of USA in this one.Van Dam recorded three birdies over four holes to closer out the front nine.Having an opportunity to Cextend the match on the 16th, both Kang and Salas missed birdie tries and the match was conceded, 4-and-2 for Europe.(EUR 3 ½, USA 1 ½)
Match 6: Angel Yin/Ally McDonald (USA) versus Caroline Hedwall/Anna Nordqvist (EUR)
McDonald replaced Stacy Lewis late by captain Juli Inkster and teamed with Yin to produce one of the most lopsided victories in Solheim Cup history. Dominating from the start, the duo made seven birdies. McDonald, who rolled in three of those birdies, iced the match with a routing two-putt par on the 13th hole. USA rolled, 7-and 5. (EUR 3 ½, USA 2 ½)
Match 7: Carlota Ciganda/Bronte Law (EUR) versus Lexi Thompson/Jessica Korda (USA)
One of the most intense matches of the day featured six lead changes. A routine par by Thompson put USA up by one.Law was on fire with three birdies over the course of six holes mid-round, with Korda cashing in on an eagle at the ninth.After the 14th, it appeared the USA was headed for a point, but Europe regained the lead with three consecutive wins. Thompson showed why she is ranked third in the world, making a clutch birdie to halve the match. (EUR 4, USA 3)
Match 8: Charley Hull/Azhara Munoz (EUR) versus Nelly Korda/Brittany Altomare (USA)
A quick start by Korda propelled USA to a lead, however Munoz found her rhythm and recorded three birdies over the first nine to put Europe up by two.Hull put Europe up by a seemingly insurmountable four with six to play. Altomare led a tremendous comeback with birdies on the 13th and 16th. She finished it off with perhaps a momentum changing long putt to halve the match. (EUR 4 ½, USA 3 ½)
Learn about the 2019 Solheim Cup US Team