EUROPE MAKES A COMEBACK IN THE AFTERNOON FOURBALLS

There was a European renaissance in the afternoon fourball matches with the U.S. Team leading by two at the end of the first day of the 2023 Solheim Cup.

After being up 4-0 from the morning foursomes, Europe had plenty of work to do in the afternoon, but they got to work.

In the end, Team Europe secured victory in two of the matches with the other two being halved for the U.S. to lead by 5-3.  

Rose Zhang/Megan Khang tied with Gemma Dryburgh/Madelene Sagström

The United States held the lead from the jump, going 1-up after the first hole. It stayed a 1-up USA advantage through three before Madelene Sagström birdied number four deadlocking the match for another hole.

Then, Rose Zhang birdied number five just to find the match tied once again after another European birdie on six. Megan Khang put the Americans back in the lead, where it stayed until being knotted up after 12.

The Europeans took their first lead of the match thanks to another Sagström birdie but quickly found themselves tied again after 15. Gemma Dryburgh looked to give Europe the edge again after holing out from the fairway on 16, but Zhang sunk a clutch birdie putt to keep the match dormy. A round of pars on 18 kept the score that way, securing a half point for each squad.

“Halves are huge. I think from past Solheims, you forget how important halves are,” said Khang when asked about how important the half-point was for the team.

“But, you know, obviously we’d love to get a full point, but Madelene and Gemma played really well and it was a fun match, honestly. Shots were exchanged, a couple tap-ins here and there from both teams, and again, both clutch putts from both, like, Gemma, Madelene, and everyone in the group.”

Leona Maguire/Georgia Hall def. Lexi Thompson/Lilia Vu 1 Up

After losing each of their foursomes matches this morning, Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire took the Solheim Cup stage again, this time paired together for fourball. The duo stayed even with Americans Lexi Thompson and Solheim Cup rookie Lilia Vu through the first three holes.

Hall birdied hole number four, giving Europe the 1-up lead for the next nine holes. On 14, Thompson drove the green on the short par 4 and sunk an eagle putt to knot the match. Not for long, though, as the Europeans once again reclaimed the lead and held it for numbers 15 and 16 before Vu birdied hole 17, tying it up just before the final hole.

Coming down to the wire, Maguire chipped in for an impressive birdie and…