Catfight In Colorado As Europe Storms To Big Solheim Lead!
/Slow play, another half hour ruling and general tension between the U.S and Europe all played out at the dramatic Colorado Golf Club led to another dramatic day at the Solheim Cup. Soak up the fun because I have two reminders for you: Liberty National and the Reset Cup starting Thursday.
Doug Ferguson held the dramatics for late in his game story on Europe taking a 5 point lead, focusing on the second rules situation of the week.
The Solheim Cup endured another black eye in officiating, this time on a different hole. A rules official allowed Ciganda to take an incorrect drop on the 15th hole after a 30-minute ruling on the opening day. On Friday, Recari and Kerr both went into the hazard on the 16th hole, and neither player could agree where it entered the hazard. After 31 minutes, they both took their drop. By then, the entire American team had gathered around the 18th green to watch the finish. It should have known the outcome.
And then there was the weird putt concession situation, recounted by Julie Williams:
At the seventh, a lack of experience created an uncomfortable situation over the concession of a putt. Hull already was in the hole with birdie and Thompson had a birdie putt to tie. Creamer, on the same line as Thompson, stepped over her par putt before Ewart Shadoff’s caddie called her off. He had been tipped off by European assistant captain Annika Sorenstam.
Assistant captains are not allowed to give advice, so the situation was presented to the U.S. Golf Association. It was not considered advice, so American captain Meg Mallon called it a moot point.
Beth Ann Baldry lays out a case that the afternoon loss by top American team Lewis and Creamer was the turning point in the matches. Instead of a 3 point deficit, the U.S. faces a 5 point deficit Sunday after their loss.
The American women have the same issue as the men when it comes to playing formats outside of singles, as Will Gray notes they have not lead going into the Sunday singles since 1998.
• The fact that the Europeans hold an edge heading into the competition's final day should not come as a surprise. This year marks the eighth consecutive Solheim Cup in which they have either led or have been tied after two days of matches, a streak that dates back to 2000. The last time the Americans held an edge going into Sunday was in 1998, when the U.S. held on for a 16-12 win after leading 10 1/2 to 5 1/2 through two days.
The Sunday singles matches:
12:40 p.m.: Anna Nordqvist (Europe) vs. Stacy Lewis (U.S.)
12:50 p.m.: Charley Hull (Europe) vs. Paula Creamer (U.S.)
1 p.m.: Azahara Munoz (Europe) vs. Brittany Lang (U.S.)
1:10 p.m.: Carlota Ciganda (Europe) vs. Morgan Pressel (U.S.)
1:20 p.m.: Caroline Hedwall (Europe) vs. Michelle Wie (U.S.)
1:30 p.m.: Catriona Matthew (Europe) vs. Gerina Piller (U.S.)
1:40 p.m.: Suzann Pettersen (Europe) vs. Lizette Salas (U.S.)
1:50 p.m.: Giulia Sergas (Europe) vs. Jessica Korda (U.S.)
2 p.m.: Caroline Masson (Europe) vs. Lexi Thompson (U.S.)
2:10 p.m.: Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Europe) vs. Brittany Lincicome (U.S.)
2:20 p.m.: Beatriz Recari (Europe) vs. Angela Stanford (U.S.)
2:30 p.m.: Karine Icher (Europe) vs. Cristie Kerr (U.S.)
