Solheim Cup whitewash for USA

According to USA Captain Julie Inkster, USA "suck at foursomes and four balls" so they have to rely on the singles for victory. Well, not this year...

Whitewash. Or perhaps, Redwash, is a better way to describe the Friday afternoon Fourballs at the Solheim Cup. Whilst the morning’s Foursomes left Europe with some hope, The USA showed us all why they are the favourites to lift the Solheim Cup. Ruthless, efficient and devastating probably best sums up the American performance this afternoon.

Birth of a superstar: Danielle Kang owned Solheim Friday 2017

Lizette Salas and Angel Yin decimated the European pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen with sheer ease. Their 6&5 victory over the Europeans was the second biggest victory in Solheim history. Whilst Salas and Yin will walk tall after this victory, it will be a massive confidence breaker for Ciganda and Pedersen. One rookie will feel the joy of the win whilst the other will be licking her wounds.

Another rookie, Danielle Kang, is stealing the show in Iowa. Kang was on fire, putting everything in sight. Alongside her partner, Michelle Wie, the American pairing swept Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Madelene Sagstrom to the side with a comfortable 3&1 victory.

Kang is proving to already be the star player on the USA team winning both her games on day one. Two wins from two, the ideal start for Danielle. With a major championship in the form of the Women’s PGA Championship already on her C.V, she can now add two Solheim Cup points on her debut. Kang is the player the Europeans will be keeping a close eye on.

Europe needed something as the USA were aiming for their first ever session whitewash. The self proclaimed “Killer B’s” of Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang were the next to strike. Lang was by far the more efficient of the two Brittanys as they eased past Caroline Masson and Florentyna Parker, 3&2.

Lexi's unorthodox new swing plane meant she had to sit out the afternoon four balls....

All eyes were now the final match. Could the pairing Georgia Hall and Charley Hull salvage a vital half point for Europe? The pair know each other well as both are based at Woburn. With Charley Hull’s wrist injury appearing to affect her, Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis piled on the pressure.

With only two holes to go, the American pairing were one hole up in the match. Both Piller and Lewis gave themselves the chance of easy birdies. Whilst Piller missed hers, Lewis made no mistake as the USA claimed their first session whitewash in in Solheim Cup

Jodie Ewart Shadoff and Madelene Sagstrom celebrate another triple...

The key issue for the European’s was clearly on the greens. The putting was woeful at best and they were a shadow of themselves compared to the play we saw in the morning fourballs. In total, the Europeans only won seven holes of golf in the afternoon. If Europe are to have any hope in mounting a comeback then this must change. Otherwise, we can expect another “Redwash” sometime soon.  

Whilst the American cheers roared across Des Moines, there will be plenty of work for Annika Sorenstam as she aims to galvanise her team.

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