Laura leads from the front

avies breaks Solheim points record as Europe and US go into singles all square

ONE-SIDED contests are never much fun and American victories at the Solheim Cup have become a rather monotonous par for the course over recent years. In fact, Europe arrived for the 12th version at Killeen Castle in Ireland this week with just three wins, the last way back in 2003.

But, come tonight, hopes still remain that it could be Alison Nicholas’s team, including Ms Dependable in Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, that will be dancing an Irish jig in celebration of a worthy triumph.

With the 12 singles points to be scrapped out today, Europe and the USA are tied at eight-all. One point ahead overnight, the home side won yesterday’s foursomes 2∫-1∫ but the holders hit back to take the fourballs 3-1, though Laura Davies slipped another entry into the history books. Already the only player to compete in all dozen contests, the 47-year-old became the highest points scorer with a 4 and 3 win over Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang, her total of 24∫ points overtaking Annika Sorenstam. But the top match was the only European point. The most exciting contest featured Suzaann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall, who won the 15th and 16th with birdies to level against Morgan Pressel and Christie Kerr. But Pressel hit back with an eight foot birdie putt at the 17th and the visitors sneaked victory on the final green.

Playing with fellow Englishwoman Melissa Reid, one of the five European rookies, it was a classic Davies. She reeled off four birdies in a row from the third and with Reid throwing in an eagle three at the long 12th it was a stroll in sunshine. “To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing not to have the most points when I’ve played in every match,” said the ever-frank Davies. “So it’s great to have made it. It’s cleared the pressure and now I can relax a bit more without that extra edge in the singles.”

This is Matthew’s sixth Solheim Cup, and she is unbeaten in her three outings over the long and taxing Jack Nicklaus designed course within a few miles of Dublin. In the morning foursomes she teamed up with Spanish rookie, Azahara Munoz, and they claimed a vital half against Kerr and Paula Creamer. Never more than a hole between them – Europe were one up after six but one down after Kerr holed a devilish twister of a putt for an outrageous birdie at the 13th – Matthew and Munoz mounted the final tee needing to win the tricky par 4 to salvage something from a match that was played in great spirit. They did the needful thanks to a solid par that the Americans failed to match. Munoz was left with a four-and-a-half footer for the half and she confidently rolled it in. “Before I hit the putt I was thinking that I mustn’t let Catriona down,” said the 23-year-old. “Then I focused and hit it.”

Matthew, who had a well-earned rest in the afternoon fourballs, added: “You feel a tremendous amount of pressure and to get the half point and to win the series was so important.”

A nice touch came at the very first hole. With both balls around four feet or so from the cup, the referee was preparing to meticulously measure out the distances to decide who should putt first. But Matthew and Creamer saved him the bother, and with a smile and a nod they agreed to call it a half. It was not only a welcome show of sportsmanship but also a great way to keep things moving. A good lesson for all.

Europe’s full points in the foursomes came from four Swedes, with 22-year-old rookie Hedwall emerging as one of the real stars of the show as she continued a great double act with Sophie Gustafson.

They had won their Friday fourball 5 and 4 and the perfect follow up was a thumping 6 and 5 win over Stacy Lewis, a major winner at this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship, and Angela Stanford. Maria Hjorth, the Stirling University graduate, and Anna Nordqvist were also in total control against Juli Inkster, the oldest Solheim player at 51, and Brittany Lang. The Swedes won 3 and 2.

None of the Europeans have been asked to play in all five series but Creamer and Kerr will be the two ever-presents for the US. The USA need 14 points to retain the Cup, Europe require 14∫.