America’s golfers followed last week’s successful defence of the amateur Walker Cup with a brilliant display to keep hold of the Solheim Cup at Halmstad in Sweden today.

Two great escapes and a moment of huge relief today kept alive Europe’s hopes of winning back the Solheim Cup in Sweden.

Two great escapes and a moment of huge relief today kept alive Europe’s hopes of winning back the Solheim Cup in Sweden.

For the first time since 1998 the United States lead Europe after the first day of the Solheim Cup – but not by anything like the margin they had hoped for at Halmstad in Sweden.

Holders America had the chance to pull well clear of Europe on the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Halmstad in Sweden.

Nine years after they first played together against the Americans, Scot Catriona Matthew will again partner Annika Sorenstam when the Solheim Cup starts in Sweden tomorrow.

Annika Sorenstam admitted today that, for the good of Europe’s Solheim Cup team, it might be best if she takes a rest during this weekend’s match against the Americans in her home country.

Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen, Catriona Matthew and Sophie Gustafson have made the European Solheim Cup team as the top four Europeans on the Rolex World Rankings not already qualified from the European points’ standings.

Minea Blomqvist’s stellar back nine performance gave her the lead at the Scandinavian TPC after the opening round.

The 2007 European Solheim Cup team will be announced after the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe in August.

World number one Annika Sorenstam looks set to become the first winner of the Dubai Masters after she increased her lead to seven shots with one round left at the Emirates Golf Club.

England’s Karen Stupples had a mixed bag of numbers but they added up to a 71 which put her just three shots behind joint leaders Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa at the halfway stage of the Scandinavian TPC.

HERE IS a prediction for 2006 — you will not see Jean Van de Velde, or any other man, compete in the Women’s British Open.

Liselotte Neumann birdied the 18th hole to complete a four-under-par 68 and top a leaderboard dominated by Swedes at the Scandinavian TPC near Malmo.

Paul Casey has fired his caddie at the start of Ryder Cup week – and admitted today it was a decision he probably should have taken earlier.

ENGLAND’S Laura Davies and Scot Mhairi McKay will be the only British players in Europe’s Solheim Cup team to face the United States at Interlachen in Minnesota from September 20-22 after they were named as wildcards today by captain Dale Reid.

The finest women golfers in the world have arrived at Sunningdale for the Evian Tour’s first Major championship, the £1m Weetabix Women’s British Open.