Natalie Gulbis (AFP)
The United States led Europe 4.5 to 3.5 after the opening day's play in the Solheim Cup here on Friday.
The Americans grabbed a one-point lead 2.5 to 1.5 after the morning foursomes with defeats for leader Annika Sorenstam and Catriona Matthew to Sherri Steinhauer and Laura Diaz 4 and 2 and for Laura Davies and Becky Brewerton who went down 2 and 1 to Juli Inkster and Paula Creamer.
The only European win came from Gwladys Nocera and Maria Hjorth who saw off Natalie Gulbis and Morgan Pressel 3 and 2.
It looked ominous too for the Europeans in the afternoon foursomes, played in driving rain and wind, as at one point the Americans led in all four ties.
A tremendous comeback though from two down after six holes by Iben Tinning and Matthew against the strong US pairing of Brittany Linicome and Pat Hurst helped the hosts to a share of the points.
Former world No.1 Sorenstam looked set for her second loss of the day until she and Hjorth grabbed a half at the final hole against Angela Stanford and Stact Prammanasudh.
A wonder recovery from a wayward tee-shot by Davies at the 16th helped her and Trish Johnson to salvage another half against Creamer and Pressel.
US team captain Betsy King said she was delighted with the lead, but insisted that there was a long way to go.
"I don't know if it means that much," she said.
"I just think it's going to be close the whole way .. so you just have to go out and make every shot count."
European counterpart Helen Alfredsson said she had been encouraged by the performance of her pairings and was still confident for the weekend.
"I think we played really well," the Swede said.
"We didn't really get much out of it. We had a lot of very, very good putts that did not drop. Having played myself, obviously I know that the way they are putting it's hard to believe that that could last for two more days.
"When we looked like we were going to win and they made the putts and walked off with the win of the hole, which sometimes can be very tough, but I would hope that and feel that we have the momentum because they cannot fight any harder and get so little out of it."
© 2007 AFP/sid
