US gain early initiative in Solheim Cup

Holders America made the start they were hoping for in the Solheim Cup in Sweden today – and Europe’s players had only themselves to blame for a large part of it.

The 405-yard first hole at Halmstad was playing downwind and offered a friendly opener, but the first three European pairs in the foursomes all bogeyed it.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen hooked into the trees and when Swedish partner Sophie Gustafson missed a six-footer for par she conceded without opponents Pat Hurst and Cristie Kerr even having to putt. Hurst had hit their second shot to five feet.

Scot Catriona Matthew, partnering Annika Sorenstam, came up short in sand, but although Sorenstam only just got the ball out they escaped with a half when Sherri Steinhauer and Laura Diaz took three to get down from left of the green.

However, the Americans then birdied the long second and remained one-up after four.

Debutant Becky Brewerton, the first Welsh player to appear in the match, pushed her first shot into rough and Laura Davies then went left and missed a 10-foot par attempt after Juli Inkster and Paula Creamer had almost birdied.

Home fans sighed again when Swede Maria Hjorth hooked into the trees as well in the bottom game, but her brilliant pitch to a foot unexpectedly won her and France’s Gwladys Nocera the hole when Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis bogeyed from just short of the green.

When Matthew and Sorenstam lost the second to a birdie as well America led in three games. Hurst and Kerr, meanwhile, had gone two-up on the same hole before Pettersen and Gustafson birdied the next.

It was cold as well as windy – and rain was threatening too. That was thought to favour the home side, but the early indications were quite the opposite.