Foursomes matches, also known as alternate shot, features two players from Team U.S.A. going head to head with two members of Team Europe. Each team plays with just one ball, with players taking alternate shots hitting the ball until each team has holed out.
Team USA | Match 1 - 8:00 AM (2:00 AM ET) | Team Europe |
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Morgan Pressel |
Best friends Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer will go head-to-head with European Solheim veterans Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist in the first foursome match of the 14th edition of the Solheim Cup. Pressel and Creamer have been paired together previously at the Solheim Cup, but both times in the four-ball format, earning one win (2011) and one halve (2007). Pressel and Creamer relish playing together and Pressel will likely give Captain’s pick Creamer a good boost of confidence in the opening match. The American duo will take on a formidable European team of Nordqvist and Pettersen who have won two previous Solheim Cup matches together (four-ball in 2009 and 2011). Expect Nordqvist and Pettersen to have plenty of looks at birdie. Nordqvist ranks fourth in greens in regulation on the LPGA Tour, while Pettersen is seventh. Given an equal number of greens hit in regulation though, Pressel and Creamer might have an edge. Pressel ranks 8th in putts per greens in regulation and Creamer ranks 18th. |
Anna Nordqvist |
Paula Creamer | Suzann Pettersen | |
Team USA | Match 2 - 8:15 AM (2:15 AM ET) | Team Europe |
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Michelle Wie |
The second match of the morning foursomes on Friday features two teams who can both take advantage of the soft conditions at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot. Lincicome, Wie and Hull all rank in the top 30 in driving distance on the LPGA Tour, and Reid ranks 13th on the LET. While Americans Wie and Lincicome have not been previously paired in Solheim Cup competition, Wie boasts an impressive 3-0 record in foursomes. Look for Wie and Lincicome to lean on their combined seven Solheim Cup appearances and play aggressive golf against Reid and Hull who are making only their second and third forays respectfully into the matches. While the American duo may have the edge in experience, this match will be full of fireworks. Expect both teams to use their length to generate plenty of birdie opportunities. |
Charley Hull |
Brittany Lincicome | Melissa Reid | |
Team USA | Match 3 - 8:30 AM (2:30 AM ET) | Team Europe |
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Cristie Kerr |
Match three could prove to be one of the toughest of the day. Europeans Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher have similar games from tee-to-green and exhibited strong chemistry together when they won their 2013 foursomes match against Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer. Munoz has proven to be a fierce foursome competitor with a career record of 2-1-1, while Icher holds a foursomes record of 1-1-0. While Kerr and Thompson have not previously played together in Solheim Cup competition, they did gain experience together at the 2014 International Crown where they were paired together on day two in a four-ball match that they won 3&2 over Team Spain. The chemistry between the American duo was evident with Kerr remarking that they were able to motivate each other and fight for one another. Expect both teams to hit fairways and greens which is key to success in the foursome format. All four players rank within the top 25 in greens in regulation on the LPGA Tour. |
Karine Icher |
Lexi Thompson | Azahara Munoz | |
Team USA | Match 4 - 8:45 AM (2:45 AM ET) | Team Europe |
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Stacy Lewis |
Stacy Lewis and Lizette Salas will head out in the last match of the morning wave against Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal. Lewis and Salas went out in the first foursomes match of the 2013 Solheim Cup and got easily defeated 4&2 by Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall in the only match the duo have ever played together. Matthew and Gal have never played a foursomes match together but did halve a fourball match in 2011. Matthew’s record in foursomes over seven previous Solheim Cup matches is mixed with a 4-5-4 record in foursomes, while Gal’s never played in foursomes but does have the home crowd advantage of playing in her native Germany. On paper, Lewis and Salas are the superior team. Lewis has long been one of the premier players in the world – a supreme ball striker and putter –and Salas is one of the best putters in the world. But Lewis is 1-3-0 in foursomes and 2-5-1 in the Solheim Cup while Salas was 0-1-2 in her first Solheim Cup. For the Matthew and Gal pairing, Matthew’s the superior ball striker at 22nd on the Tour in greens in regulation while Gal’s the superior putter at ninth in putts per green in regulation. |
Sandra Gal |
Lizette Salas | Catriona Matthew | |