Packed crowds gather at Gleneagles for the opening day of the Solheim Cup 2019. Image credit: Getty Images

Europe edged a thrilling opening day of The 2019 Solheim Cup which ended 4½-3½ after a tense afternoon fourballs session at Gleneagles on Friday.

On a day which began with the biggest and loudest first tee ever seen at a Solheim Cup, Europe claimed the opening session 2½ points to 1½ and shared the spoils in the afternoon as the fourballs ended 2-2.

It could have been a larger margin were it not for Lexi Thompson holing a putt from 18 feet to win the 18^th with Jessica Korda and grab a half from Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law, and then Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare snatched an unlikely half against Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz.

Team Europe’s Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda take a 1/2 point in the afternoon fourball. Image credit Getty Images

The English-Spanish duo had been up since the fifth hole but their lead – they were four up after 14 holes – was eroded as they lost the last three holes.

Earlier in the afternoon, Ally McDonald and Angel Yin inflicted the heaviest ever Solheim Cup fourball defeat on Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall, a 7&5 drubbing to level the match.

Europe restored their advantage when wildcard pick Suzann Pettersen and rookie Anne Van Dam delivered a 4&2 win over Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas. In doing so, Pettersen equalled Laura Davies’ record for Team Europe of nine fourball wins.

But the momentum was undoubtedly in favour of the Americans, who at one stage looked likely to lose three of the four afternoon matches.

USA Captain Juli Inkster said: “No one really ever talks about the half point. I have to say those two half points at the end were huge. For two rookies to be four down with five holes left and to come back and tie, you can’t teach that. It’s just in your belly. I’m just so impressed with them.

Thompson and Korda high five for Team USA on day one of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Image credit Getty Images

“We’ve just got to keep the Europeans in our rearview mirror, so we can see them. You don’t want to get too far down. It was looking like we could be two and a half points down, but you keep gnawing a half a point here and there and it adds up. You look at all the golf today and we’re only a point down, so I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now.”

Catriona Matthew, the European Captain, said: “I’d be lying if I said it was what we were looking for. But I think you have to take the positives and we’re leading. We’re a point up. If we’re leading at the end of each day, that would be great.

“I think everyone’s a little disappointed, but Charley had a great putt on the last, it was just a little firm. Brittany holed up and made a great birdie. It’s not as if we lost it with bad play; the others birdied it. We’re pleased with going in with a one-point lead.”

In the morning session, having been sent off down the first fairway of the PGA Centenary Course by a deafening crowd, Ciganda and Law, in the first group, finished all square with Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex. Ciganda holed a brilliant putt for a two on the par three 17^th and then finished off an excellent up-and-down on 18.

Just behind them in match two, Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier won 2&1 against Thompson and Altomare, but the Korda sisters – Jessica and Nelly – put some red on the board with a thumping 6&5 win over Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff.Ei

In the final match of the session, Hull and Munoz closed out a 2&1 victory over Megan Khang and Annie Park after a tense back nine.

Solheim Cup 2019 Day 2 – Saturday Foursomes. Image credit Getty Images

The post Solheim Cup Day 1: Europe 41/2 – 31/2 USA appeared first on Golf North.

Left to right: Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, AIG Women’s British Open champion Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, at Woburn Golf Club, last month. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE 2019 AIG Women’s British Open is set to welcome a star-studded field to Woburn next month, with every player from the current top 30 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings confirmed.

The AIG Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and this year will held on Woburn’s magnificent Marquess’ course from August 1-4.

Nine of the past 10 champions are confirmed to compete, including Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, who won when the championship was last at Woburn in 2016, Dorset’s defending champion Georgia Hall, and European Solheim Cup Captain Catriona Matthew, who celebrates the 10^th anniversary of her memorable victory at Royal Lytham and St Annes, this year.

In a truly global field, 129 players from 25 countries are already confirmed, with Pre-Qualifying and Final Qualifying still to take place later this month at Sandy Lodge Golf Club and Ashridge Golf Club, in Hetfordshire, respectively.

They will contest the newly-increased prize fund, announced last week as $4.5 million – some 40 per cent more than last year, which is part of The R&A’s commitment to growing the championship and supporting women’s golf.

Last year, Hall thrilled the home crowds and viewers around the world with her two-stroke victory.

Last year’s runner-up, Pornanong Phatlum, from Thailand, along with England favourites Charley Hull, Bronte Law, Melissa Reid and Charlotte Thomas, will be in the field, which includes an impressive list of past champions, notably In-Kyung Kim (2017), Stacy Lewis (2013), Mo Martin (2014) and Inbee Park (2015).

The Solheim Cup, taking place at Gleneagles in September, will provide an intriguing sub-plot to the event, with Team Europe confirmed a week after the champion is crowned at Woburn – Team USA’s final selections will be announced on August 26.

Four American players have already sealed their qualification with room to spare, and all of them – sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang – will be teeing up at Woburn with a little less pressure on their shoulders as they vie to add the final major of 2019 to their CV.

Major-winning prowess will be in strong supply at the Bedfordshire venue, with 48 titles won by 27 different players.

Of those, the most recent are Koreans Jin-young Ko and Jeong-eun Lee6 and Australian Hannah Green – this year’s winners – and all have confirmed their attendance at Woburn.

Forming part of the Duke of Bedford’s estate, Woburn is one of the UK’s premier golf facilities, boasting three world-class championship courses and has held many European Tour and Senior Tour events as well as Final Qualifying for The Open.

•The AIG Women’s British Open is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company, since 1984.

The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001. The championship is now owned by The R&A.

The post Top 30 confirmed for AIG Women’s British Open for Solheim Cup race climax appeared first on Golf North.

Ally McDonald. Image credit Gabe Roux

American Ally McDonald birdied the final hole to lead the first round of the ANA Inspiration, the season’s first major championship.

McDonald, the world no. 106 who is yet to win her first LPGA title, was tied with four other players on three under par, but moved clear of her rivals thanks to a fine finish at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California in the day’s final pairing.

Behind her is a group comprising her compatriot Lexi Thompson, the 2014 winner here, Korean duo Hyu Joo Kim and Jin Young Ko and Swedish rookie Linnea Strom.

“I’ve never found myself in this position so it’s easy get ahead of yourself”, said McDonald, who opened with two birdies and had four more consecutive gains from the seventh hole.

“I played the par 5s really well today, which is exciting. On a major championship golf course you have to take advantage of par-5s. I was a little disappointed with kind of how I handled all the emotion throughout the back nine, because I had a lot of control on the front but overall I’m really excited and I feel like my game is coming around like I want it to.”

Lexi Thompson. Image credit Gabe Roux

Thompson also birdied the par-five 18^th in her 69, hitting an approach over the water to a few inches.

“I made a lot of clutch putts on the back nine to save par,” said the 24-year-old. “It was a little bit of an up and down day. I hit some great shots and then hit some poor ones off the tee. I made some great putts, which is always a big confidence booster for me.

“So I’m very happy with the way I just stayed strong the whole day and came out with three under, and especially ending with two birdies.”

Defending champion Pernilla Lindberg had three birdies on the back nine to sign for a one over par 73, while English pair Charley Hull and Georgia Hall were level par and two over respectively.

Michelle Wie, playing for the first time since early February because of injury, was five over after eight holes but recovered with four consecutive birdies and signed for a 74.

“It was pretty tough,” said the 2014 Women’s US Open winner. “I knew that I just needed to get the rust out and get my confidence back up and see what the little white ball is doing again.”

The post McDonald Sets The Pace At ANA Inspiration appeared first on Golf North.