Leona Maguire and Emily Pederson lead Team Europe's fightback at Solheim Cup
Team Europe fought back in the afternoon session on the first day of the 2023 Solheim Cup but still face an uphill battle against Team USA.
Suzann Pettersen's Team Europe fought back from a 4-0 drubbing in the first session of the 2023 Solheim Cup to trail Team USA by two points going into the second day of the contest.
The Europeans are said to have their strongest ever team but were swept aside by Stacy Lewis' side in the Friday morning foursomes.
Charley Hull was benched by the 42-year-old skipper for the afternoon session after visibly struggling with a neck injury.
Momentum began to swing in Europe's direction and by day's end the United States lead 5-3.
Ireland's Leona Maguire and England's Georgia Hall put the first point on the board for Europe, defeating Lexi Thompson and Lilia Vu.
Maguire chipped in on the final hole to complete the victory in what could prove to be vital.
"You have to play some really good golf to win a point," said Maguire. "We will never give up."
Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh, who sat out the morning session, was pitted against the LPGA Tour's hottest property Rose Zhang and Megan Khang.
They halved their contest moments before Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant won 4&2 against Angel Yin and Ally Ewing in the anchor match.
Emily Pederson, who was paired with Hull in their Thursday morning drubbing, made a hole-in-one en route to halving her match with Maja Stark against Jennifer Kupcho and Allisen Corpuz.
.@leona_maguire wins @SolheimCupEuro first point in style #TeamEurope | #SolheimCup pic.twitter.com/RQ3WOAzbRs
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 22, 2023
In full, day one results:
Foursomes
- M. Stark, L. Grant v L. Thompson, M. Khang 2&1
- C. Boutier, G. Hall v D. Kang, A. Lee 1 Up
- L. Maguire, A. Nordqvist v N. Korda, A. Corpuz 2 Up
- C. Hull, E. Pederson v A. Ewing, C. Knight 5&4
Fourballs
- G. Dryburgh, M. Sagstrom v R. Zhang, M. Khang - Match halved
- 1 Up L. Maguire, G. Hall v L. Thompson, L. Vu
- E. Pederson, M. Stark v J. Kupcho, A. Corpuz - Match halved
- 4&2 C. Ciganda, L. Grant v A. Yin, A. Ewing
Watched our latest YouTube video?
