By: Max Bechtoldt
Coming into the day, I saw 10 as the magic number for the Americans to get to on Saturday. Well, that is exactly where they got. The Europeans and Americans split the second day 4-4, bringing the Sunday starting score to 10-6.
Matches:
Alison Lee & Megan Khang 4&3 over Anna Nordqvist & Madelene Sagström
Andrea Lee & Rose Zhang 6&4 over Linn Grant & Celine Boutier
Carlota Ciganda & Emily Pedersen 2&1 over Ally Ewing & Lexi Thompson
Georgia Hall & Charley Hull 2 UP over Lilia Vu and Allisen Corpuz
Quick Takeaways:
- Alison Lee with one of the moments of the Solheim Cup, when she hit in from the fairway for eagle on the second hole. After hitting in her and Megan Khang’s caddies both took their shirts off in celebration.
- I was questioning Lewis’s decision to not put Khang and Korda back out today, but the pairing of her with Lee was brilliant. Now, Alison Lee has a lot of momentum going into Sunday.
- Who would’ve seen Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang being one of the best pairings for team USA? They have dismantled their opponents both days, and it hasn’t just been one of them, they have both contributed.
- Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen are the epitome of Solheim Cup experience. They grinded out a classic win over Ewing and Thompson.
- It seems like every time Ciganda stands over a putt, it is inevitably going to fall, she stumbled with the flat stick a few times on the back nine, but her confidence and swagger is unmatched.
- The final match of the day is the best we’ve seen so far this week, a lot of great drama to force it all the way to hole 18, a lot of twists and turns. Georgia Hall finally found some form.
- Have to still question Suzann Pettersen’s decision to sit Leona Maguire for the third session. Though the course may not suit her, she has still been Europe’s best performer over the last two times out.
- USA has five undefeated players this week, Nelly Korda, Lauren Coughlin, Megan Khang, Rose Zhang and Andrea Lee.
- Ally Ewing is now 3-11-1 in the Solheim Cup in her career and has lost six consecutive matches. While she is a great team room contributor and leader, you have to think she will have a hard time getting future captain’s selections.
- The United States has a commanding lead, but a comeback is not impossible. In 2015, the Americans came back from this same deficit.
