Europe finish first day 5-3 ahead

Laura Davies, Annika Sorenstam and Suzann Pettersen, three legends of past contests, emerged from the first day of the Solheim Cup with unblemished records as a vibrant Europe battled to a 5-3 lead after the opening day at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana.

Aiming to win for a first time on US soil, the defending champions staged a stunning comeback to win the morning foursomes 3-1 and hung on to the lead by sharing the afternoon fourballs 2-all.

It is only the second time in the nine matches that Europe has led after the first day, and it could prove to be a good omen. The other occasion was by 5.5-2.5 at Loch Lomond five years ago when the home team romped to a famous victory.

Davies is the only player to compete in all nine Solheim matches, and she was an awesome six under par for the 15 holes that she and Pettersen needed to beat Juli Inkster and the game's new 19-year-old superstar Paula Creamer by 4 and 3.

Sorenstam, who had joined Pettersen in the greatest comeback of the foursomes, then partnered the ever reliable Catriona Matthew to a 2 and 1 win over Pat Hurst and Wendy Ward.

In the first match after lunch, Rosie Jones stirred up the "Go USA" chants by winning three of the first four holes with birdies and joined Meg Mallon in a comfortable 3 and 2 win over Maria Hjorth and the four months pregnant, Iben Tinning.

And Cristie Kerr and rookie Natalie Gulbis bounced back from a foursomes defeat to beat Sophie Gustafson and European newcomer Karen Stupples by 2 and 1.

The morning scenario was a real kick in the stomach for the American team who had held at least a two hole lead with five holes to play in three of the matches but failed to win one of them.

The biggest turnaround came in the final match, with Sorenstam and Pettersen coming from four down with six to play to win on the final green.

Sorenstam started the comeback by lipping out for a hole in one at the short 13th. The easy tap-in for a two was the first of a five hole winning streak, four of them with birdies.

Pettersen, out with injury for much of the season, played her part by holing from 12-feet for birdies at the 16th and 17th as she repaid Catrin Nilsmark's faith in giving her one of the five Captain's wild card selections.

Europe fight back to lead 3-1 after Friday morning foursomes

(Crooked Stick GC, Carmel . Ind. – September 9, 2005) -- Europe hauled back the Americans with a sensational fight back and led 3-1 after the opening series of foursomes in the Solheim Cup at Crooked in Carmel, Indiana, today.

Aiming for a first win on US soil, the defending champions looked set for a morning setback when they trailed in three of the four matches entering the final stretch.

But, amazingly, the series ended with the home side not managing one full point.

Europe 's lead pair of Catriona Matthew and Carin Koch set the tone in the first match. Two down with four to play against teenage sensation Paula Creamer and the experienced Beth Daniel, they won the 15th and 17th to sneak half a point.

Trish Johnson and Sophie Gustafson were three down with four to play against Pat Hurst and rookie Christine Kim, but then won three holes in a row - the 15th and 17th to birdies - and only salvaged a half point with a par at the last. 

But the biggest comeback of all came in the final match. World No.1 Annika Sorenstam and Suzann Pettersen were four down after 12 holes to Michele Redman and the five months pregnant Laura Diaz.

But Sorenstam then produced the form that has made her such a dominant player in the women's game when she lipped out for a hole in one at the 13th.

The easy tap-in set up a run of five winning holes four with birdies for an unlikely one hole victory.

The powerful pairing of Laura Davies and Maria Hjorth put the first point on the board for Europe with a relatively comfortable 2 and 1 win over the American No.1 Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis.

Pettersen proved she was well worth her Captain's pick after spending eight months out of the game with a back injury, as she made big putts for birdie at the 16th and 17th.

The win raised memories of Barsebäck in Sweden two years ago when Pettersen and Sorenstam produced a fighting win over Diaz and Kelly Robbins in the Saturday four balls.

That victory put Europe three points ahead going into the final day - and provided the perfect burst of confidence to pave the way for a European victory.

"We got off to a terrible start and both Suzann and I were really struggling," said Sorenstam. "But we had an incredible finish and it was so much fun."

The score line maintained Europe 's traditional strength in the foursome format. It is the fourth set of matches in a row that Europe has led after the opening series.

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