USA build record-breaking 6-2 lead over Europe after opening day of Solheim Cup
Megan Khang celebrates as the United States took control on the opening day of the Solheim Cup against Europe (Matt York/AP).
Former American President Barack Obama turned cheerleader as the United States established a 6-2 Solheim Cup advantage over Europe – the largest first-day lead in the competition’s history.
Obama joined the galleries at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club as the Americans built on their opening 3-1 foursomes success by winning the fourballs session by the same score.
Cries of ‘USA USA’ rang out across the Virginia course as Nelly Korda and Megan Khang set the afternoon tone with a 6&4 victory over Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire.
Korda, who has yet to taste victory in the contest, had won in the morning alongside Allisen Corpuz, and there was no stopping the buoyant world number one as Europe’s English and Irish partnership were dismantled.
Nelly Korda celebrates a United States victory against Europe on the 14th hole at the Solheim Cup in Virginia (Matt York/AP).
There was some respite for Europe as Swedish pair Anna Nordqvist, in her ninth Solheim Cup, and Madelene Sagstrom thrashed Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson 6&5, but the US rammed home their superiority in the bottom two matches.
Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel beat Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark 3&2, while Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang enjoyed a comfortable 5&4 victory over Linn Grant and Charley Hull.
Europe recovered from a 4-0 foursomes deficit in Andalusia to win the Solheim Cup 12 months ago, and captain Suzann Pettersen told Sky Sports: “We were faced with quite a big challenge last year.
“We have done it before and we can do it again. It’s going to take a massive effort but I know we can do it.
“We gave a good effort but the Americans played great. I feel like they had all the putts rolling their way and I don’t feel like we’ve had any momentum.
“We have a massive job ahead of us [but] anything is possible….and there are so many points left to play for.”
US captain Stacy Lewis said: “It’s been a really good day. I saw a ton of good golf, and really things played out the way we were hoping.
“The way our team is right now, we know fourballs is not our forte. So I really put some focus on that.
“Also just the energy, it felt like at times in Spain last year, it got kind of flat. So I wanted to make sure I had the right people out here with the energy.
Anna Nordqvist put a rare European point on the board in the all-Swedish partnership with Madelene Sagstrom (Matt York/AP).
“Certainly saw it with Megan and Nelly as they were skipping out of that tunnel on the first tee.”
Korda and Khang danced to the opening tee, and Hall and Maguire had no answer to the stunning moves that the American pair made on the course.
When they surged to a five up lead after eight holes, a record fourball margin of victory at the Solheim Cup was in sight.
Although the European pair avoided that ignominy, Korda’s sumptuous approach to the 14th allowed her an eagle putt and the opportunity to finish in style.
Korda said: “I hit some solid putts in the morning but obviously then I saw the green speed and how they were breaking, so that was beneficial in the afternoon.”
Pedersen and Stark were Europe’s only winners before Nordqvist and Sagstrom put a blue point on the board in the afternoon after winning six holes in a row.
The Swedes were a combined nine under for 13 holes and their formidable double act came just days after Sagstrom had married LPGA Tour caddie Jack Clarke, who is carrying Nordqvist’s bag in Virginia.
Sagstrom said: “It’s just incredible watching him work with Anna over this past year. They work really well together.
“I couldn’t be any more happy to celebrate my honeymoon here with them.”
These were rare European smiles, however, as Coughlin and Schmelzel repeated their earlier foursome victory on the 16th green.
Lee and Zhang then underlined American dominance to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb to get back into contention.