Solheim Cup: Having stared into the abyss, Europe showed they are not just here to make up the numbers after an exhilarating morning's play at the Solheim Cup.
The challengers levelled the match on six points apiece and go into the afternoon foursomes with renewed vigour.
At one stage such a scoreline seemed fanciful at best, downright impossible at worst. Michelle Wie and Christina Kim scored an emphatic 5 & 4 in the top match, with Wie playing some inspired golf.
The 19-year-old rolled in four birdies in just six holes, from the seventh to 11th holes, in the contest with Helen Alfredsson and Tania Elosegui. The Europeans had led by two in the early stages but were unable to live with Wie’s play, the youngster peppering flags and sinking putts with icy precision.
Elsewhere on the course, the Americans were in the ascendancy and Europe, desperate to get more blue on the board ahead of tomorrow’s singles matches, were struggling simply to stay alive.
But how the worm turned. Catriona Matthew and Diana Luna went to the 17th tee trailing by two but the Scot, with grim determination, chipped in from the fringe on the penultimate hole and Irish Open winner Luna salvaged a half with a nerveless putt on the last.
It was a hugely satisfying result for Matthew, winner of the Women’s British Open.
“We were kind of down most of the day and just found it at the last two holes really,” she said afterwards. “We knew if we could get to 17 and 18 you can make birdies and you’ve got a chance.”
Suzann Pettersen was on the wrong end of two defeats yesterday but finally got the right result today as Anna Nordqvist closed out the match on the 18th green.
“This was a great match again,” enthused Petterson. “It was very close. I mean it was one up, level, one up to them . . . we’re going to take this with us and bring it out to this afternoon.”
The morning’s final fourball also went to the wire with Maria Hjorth extending her unbeaten record, this time taking the tally to 2.5 points with the help of Gwladys Nocera.
With the pace of play again pedestrian – some wags have started referring to it as the Slowheim Cup – the afternoon foursomes have again been hugely delayed.
Just two matches are out on the course as we approach 4pm local time (11pm Irish), with Sophie Gustafson and Janice Moodie holding a two hole lead after eight.
Saturday fourballs – latest scores (Europe first)
Helen Alfredsson & Tania Elosegui lost to Christina Kim & Michelle Wie 5 & 4
Catriona Matthew & Diana Luna halved with Angela Stanford & Brittany Lang
Suzann Pettersen & Anna Nordqvist beat Nicole Castrale & Cristie Kerr 2 up
Gwladys Nocera & Maria Hjorth beat Kristy McPherson & Brittany Lincicome 1 hole
Foursomes latest
Janice Moodie & Sophie Gustafson l2 up thru 8 v Paula Creamer & Juli Inkster
Helen Alfredsson & Suzann Pettersen A/S thru 1 v Kristy McPherson & Morgan Pressel
Becky Brewerton & Gwladys Nocera v Natalie Gulbis & Christina Kim
Anna Nordqvist & Maria Hjorth v Cristie Kerr Michelle Wie
