America with chance to pull clear in Solheim Cup

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

In cold, wet and windy weather – most people thought that would favour the home side – the United States followed a 2 1/2-1 1/2 win in the foursomes by going ahead in all four afternoon fourballs.

Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies, the top two points scorers in the cup’s history, were in danger of suffering two defeats.

After Sorenstam and Scot Catriona Matthew lost four and two to Laura Diaz and Sherri Steinhauer the former world number one was paired with fellow Swede Maria Hjorth, but they were two down after eight to Angela Stanford and debutant Stacy Prammanasudh, who chipped in at the seventh.

Davies and debutant Becky Brewerton, the first Welsh player to appear in the event, went down two and one to Juli Inkster and Paula Creamer and then Davies and Trish Johnson reached the eighth tee one down to Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

Europe’s only morning win came from Hjorth and France’s Gwladys Nocera – they beat Natalie Gulbis and 19-year-old Pressel three and two – but Nocera and Sophie Gustafson were one down after seven to Nicole Castrale and Cristie Kerr.

Meanwhile, Matthew and Dane Iben Tinning started for home one down to Pat Hurst and Brittany Lincicome.

Surprisingly, Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, Europe’s only current major champion, was left out of the second session, a decision made before she and Gustafson had come from behind to halve the first game of the day against Kerr and Hurst.

European captain Helen Alfredsson also chose not to play either Bettina Hauert or her wild card pick Linda Wessberg in either session, whereas opposite number Betsy King got all her 12 players into action.