Europe had to settle for a slender 4 ½ - 3 ½ point lead after the opening day of the 16th Solheim Cup after a dramatic opening day at Gleneagles.
And in the final match, Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz were unable to convert a four-hole lead with six to play against Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare, who birdied five of the holes and saw Korda almost make a hole-in-one on the 17th.
After Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall suffered a record-equalling 7&5 loss to Ally McDonald and Angel Yin, Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law fought back from two down with four to play to take the lead up the 18th against Lexi Thompson and Jessica Korda, only for Thompson to make birdie and snatch half a point.
Suzann Pettersen, one of Captain Catriona Matthew’s wild card selections, produced the goods when it mattered as she partnered rookie Anne Van Dam to a 4&2 victory over Kang and Lizette Salas before a dramatic climax to the afternoon fourballs.
What. An. Opening. Day.
— The 2019 Solheim Cup (@2019solheimcup) September 13, 2019
Fans roaring to welcome the #SolheimCup2019 🙌
Drama aplenty on the course 🤩@SolheimCupEuro taking a morning advantage 🇪🇺@SolheimCupUSA fighting back in the afternoon to keep the gap at a point 🇺🇸
Tickets for tomorrow 👉 https://t.co/fUjB97ha0A pic.twitter.com/fNebMXgE2x
The first match between Ciganda and Law and Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex was halved to leave the contest finely poised ahead of the afternoon fourballs, with the four players on each side who sat out the morning session getting their first taste of the action.
In the morning foursomes, Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff were soundly beaten 6&4 by sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda before the home side fought back with victories from Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier and Hull and Munoz.
Van Dam added: "I was so relaxed. Standing on the first tee Suzann told me, 'Just enjoy this experience', and that's what I did. I saw so many of my family and friends, hit a good drive and good iron shot and I was just rolling after that."
"I mean, this girl I think is the best golfer I've ever seen on the women's side. And today she just was absolutely a rock star."
"I just want to say I have the best partner in the world," Pettersen said. "Today I felt a bit like Seve (Ballesteros), I was left and right and everywhere. But when you have a superstar partner like this who just bombs it, you just have to be very happy.
Pettersen, the two-time major winner, dovetailed superbly with the big-hitting Van Dam.
