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

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#Project19 hopeful Hannah Darling with Team Europe Solheim Cup Captain, Catriona Matthew

European Captain Catriona Matthew meets teen star Hannah Darling just ahead of six months to go milestone

Scotland, Friday 8^th March, 2019 – Two generations of female Scottish golfing talent came together to celebrate International Women’s Day just six months before the iconic Solheim Cup returns to the Home of Golf.

European Captain Catriona Matthew, who will lead her team at Gleneagles from 9-15^th September, spent an afternoon with promising young Scottish talent Hannah Darling, who hopes to join her golfing role model in Perthshire by qualifying for the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team.

Darling is one of the six players who self-started their own #Project19 initiative when they first learned of Scotland’s successful bid to host The 2019 Solheim Cup and PING Junior Solheim Cup.

The youngsters were at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in 2017 to get a taste of the event, and afterwards they set up a Whatsapp group to motivate each other to qualify for this year’s junior edition.

Hannah Darling in action at North Berwick, a jewel in the crown on Scotland’s Golf Coast in East Lothian.

Now, with just six months until another world-class sporting event heads to Gleneagles – its stunning PGA Centenary Course hosted The 2014 Ryder Cup – it is Darling who is favourite to achieve that goal after solid performances in the first two of 10 qualifying events this year.

“It’s pretty much all I’ve been working towards for the past three or four years,” said 16-year-old Darling, who last year won the inaugural R&A Girls’ U16 Open Championship and successfully defended her Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship title she won in 2017. “I can’t really put into words what it would mean. The memories I would make and the experience I would gain from it would be amazing. It would be a great way to start my career.”

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘balance’, and that is certainly something Darling is learning to master as she juggles her golfing ambitions with her studies.

“Balance is a great word and a great message, and it suits golf well,” she said. “This year is all about balance for me.

“In terms of the women’s game, it’s good to see much more publicity around it. Even since I was a bit younger, there’s a lot more on TV which is really good. It’s good to see it changing for the better as I’m growing up.”

Matthew said: “It’s difficult sometimes trying to balance work and being at home – it’s something every family has to adapt to.

“When I first turned pro you didn’t really see much women’s golf. Now there’s a lot more on television – and women’s sports in general. Girls see that and it encourages them to take up a sport, and if it can be golf then all the better.

“It’s good to see this year’s PING Junior Solheim Cup being played at the same venue, as that hasn’t always been the case. Hopefully Hannah makes the team.”

Tickets to see Matthew lead Europe in this world-class sporting event are on sale now, with options for practice days, Opening Ceremony Day (12 Sept) and match days (13-15 Sept).

For more information visit www.solheimcup2019.com

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