Europe wins five points on day two to even the score headed into singles
Europe has seriously scratched the resistance of the United States with one day to go in the Solheim Cup, bringing the score to an eight-way tie that raises all kinds of expectations.
The European team is on course for what would be another milestone in the history of the Solheim Cup: its third consecutive triumph after those achieved in the 2019 and 2021 editions, a succession of successes never achieved so far.
On Saturday morning, the American push that had been so evident during the morning round on Friday was contained, which then took the form of an unassailable 0-4 lead that set all the alarm bells ringing.
Such an imbalance did not, however, discourage European captain Suzanne Pettersen from keeping three of the four pairings that lost their matches the previous day, limiting the changes needed to contain a possible new haemorrhage to the presence of Carlota Ciganda, alongside Denmark’s Emily Pedersen, in the first of the matches.
The intention was for both to act as the stiletto in what were thought to be vital clashes in the future of the tournament. The strategy proved to be half right in view of the partial result, a 2-2 draw, which served to maintain expectations for the afternoon’s Fourballs.
The best thing, however, what was beginning to take shape with increasing intensity, was the leading role of Ciganda, excellently teamed up with Emily Pedersen, who achieved a contagious victory that allowed them to act from that moment on as cheerleaders for their team-mates, as cheerleaders for the stands, that fundamental external role to turn the Solheim Cup into a real party and to give the European team an extra point of necessary motivation.
With 5-7 on the scoreboard, the afternoon session began, a vital moment to define expectations for the final round of twelve individual matches. The atmosphere was heating up, the ‘sorpaso’ was palpable in the air, a European initiative that, after a day and a half played, became a reality when Ciganda made a spectacular birdie on the 6th hole, also very well celebrated by her partner Linn Grant.
The action generated, for the first time since the start of the competition, the first European advantage in the overall score, 8.5 to 7.5 certified with a huge ovation from the stands.
There was still half a world to go before the end of the day, but everything was working perfectly. Charlie Hull and Leona Maguire swept Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing while the other three matches showed short but significant advantages, two of them in favour of Europe.
The good shots from the tee, and those approaching the green before completing with accurate putts, followed one after the other on the European side in the face of American bewilderment, which weathered as best it could the festival of play of its rival.
Birdie after birdie by Pedersen – up to 8 in a wonderful match -, birdie after birdie in Ciganda’s duel, where twenty-one were made between the four players, the confrontation between Europeans and Americans reached its highest levels of spectacle.
After two rounds of competition, both teams are in the hunt for glory. Sixteen matches in between, dozens and dozens of alternatives and portentous strokes later, everything is as it was at the start, a draw on the scoreboard, twelve individual matches on the horizon and Ciganda, as one of the undisputed leaders, proclaiming to the four winds, vamos, vamos girls!
SUNDAY SINGLES PAIRINGS (ALL TIMES LOCAL)
11:10 a.m. – Megan Khang vs. Linn Grant
11:22 a.m. – Rose Zhang vs. Leona Maguire
11:34 a.m. – Danielle Kang vs. Charley Hull
11:46 a.m. – Jennifer Kupcho vs. Anna Nordqvist
11:58 a.m. – Andrea Lee vs. Georgia Hall
12:10 p.m. – Cheyenne Knight vs. Gemma Dryburgh
12:22 p.m. – Angel Yin vs. Celine Boutier
12:34 p.m. – Ally Ewing vs. Caroline Hedwall
12:46 p.m. – Lilia Vu vs. Madelene Sagstrom
12:58 p.m. – Allisen Corpuz vs. Maja Stark
1:10 p.m. – Nelly Korda vs. Carlota Ciganda
1:22 p.m. – Lexi Thompson vs. Emily Pedersen
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