Americans Need Huge Sunday in Singles to Win Solheim Cup


After scoring two and a half points in the morning foursomes to get within a point of the Europeans through three sessions at the Solheim Cup, the Americans were swept in the afternoon's four-ball and now face a seemingly insurmountable five-point deficit entering Sunday's 12 singles matches at Colorado Golf Club near Denver.

As the defending champions, the Europeans, with a 10½ to 5½ lead, only need three and a half points Sunday to retain the Cup they won two years ago at Killeen Castle in Ireland. The Americans need nine points to win.

"Obviously, it was a very disappointing afternoon," U.S. captain Meg Mallon said. "We have our work cut out for us (Sunday). It can be done. It's daunting right now, but it can be done.

"Today was a magical day for the Europeans. For us, it was one of those days where the putts didn't drop. It was literally shocking to see us lose all four matches in the afternoon."

Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Charley Hull, who at 17 is the youngest player in Solheim Cup history, beat Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson 2-up in the first match to get the ball rolling for the Europeans.

Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda then squeaked by Gerina Piller and Angela Stanford 1-up, followed by Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson's 2-and-1 victory over Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda.

In Saturday's final match, Beatriz Recari and Karine Icher edged two of the American's grittiest competitors, Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel, 1-up after Icher made a birdie putt from off the green on the 18th hole to cap a remarkable day for the visitors.

"I couldn't imagine it was going to look like this coming into the singles," said an astonished Europe captain Liselotte Neumann. "We're going to celebrate a little bit here, but then obviously starting up (Sunday) we'll have to go back and just really focus in on the matches. Stranger things have happened."

In 12 Solheim Cups, the Europeans have never won on American soil. The Americans lead the overall series 8-4.

For all the scores, visit http://www.solheimcupeurope.com/live/live_scoring_2013.php.